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 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 murderers, particularly if we haven’t acted on such hate; and even if we have, there is always repentance and forgiveness. 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 if we don’t have murderous hate in us. For me this is something wonderful to ponder. This means that some of us have learned to live the code of eternal 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 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 a so-called “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 those of 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? Have you “Decided to follow Jesus?” If so, you are ahead of your time and have eternal life abiding in you.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: (The Collect for Saturdays BCP p. 99)
Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 