Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 2nd Week of Easter: Year 1
Morning, Psalms 20 and 21:1 to 7; Evening Psalm 110:1 to 5, 116 and 117;
Daniel 3:19 to 30; 1st John 3:11 to 18; Luke 4:1 to 13:
“All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them.” (1st John 3:15)
I do believe that hate is bad and one should learn to not let one’s self be reduced to hate. It was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said, after a racial encounter with a Southern U. S. policeman, that he has seen firsthand what hate can do to a person. And he vowed to never let hate happen to him. I personally don’t believe that, because we have hate in us, that we are murders, if we haven’t acted on such hate. We can overcome hate, and we do it with love.
In 1st John 3:15 there is also the idea that eternal life is already abiding in us. For me this is something wonderful to ponder. This means that some of us have learned to live the code eternal of life while still walking around in this mortal body. I want that. Having eternal life abiding in me now will make the transition to that next life so much more doable.
Also, having eternal life abiding in us now, more fully brings us to God’s will being done “on earth as in heaven.” Eternal life abiding in us now is a way to narrow the separation between heaven and earth. It is the coming of the Lord back to us in ways we didn’t expect. It is the gradual, but steady move of humanity to more fully embrace the concept of love for all people. It sounds impossible. And, for many people it probably is. But remember, for God, nothing is impossible.
God may infuse the abiding love of eternal life in us, a few people at a time, until we have “herd immunity” against hate. For us, we think in terms of how much time this will take. God doesn’t seem to be concerned with time as God has no beginning and no end. But God has made provision for us who already have eternal life abiding in us. Are you one of those who have decided to not let hate rule you? Are you one of those who have decided to let love rule? Are you one of those who has eternal life abiding in you now? If so, you are ahead of your time.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine, Russia, South Sudan and our schools.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 