In the gospel my congregations will read on Sunday, John the Baptist points to Jesus and calls him the “Lamb of God,” saying, "The one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”
Two of John’s disciples go after Jesus to see what he’s about. And Jesus turns. "Jesus turned and saw them following, and said, 'What are you looking for?'” They confess their curiosity, and he says, “Come and see.” By the end of that day they have made the choice to follow him and Andrew has fetched his brother Simon to meet Jesus. And the next day Jesus meets Philip and says to him, “Follow me.”
Jesus says that to us each day, and each day we can choose again to turn and follow Jesus, turning both toward him, and away from all that distracts us from dwelling in Love.
The heart of this practice is to turn toward Jesus, as we turn when someone calls our name, or when something catches our attention. Some of us have known a definable moment of turning to Jesus; others have always walked with him, with moments of more intense awareness. All of us are invited, each day, to pray, “Where will I see you today, Jesus?,” to actively watch and listen and turn when we sense him near.
Turning toward Jesus, toward the Life of God, also means turning away from things, patterns, even people who draw us away from God's love. One Hebrew word for repentance means literally to “turn again.” In some early Christian baptismal rites, the candidates for baptism faced toward the west when renouncing Satan and sin, and then turned to face east (toward the rising Son…) to accept Jesus as their savior and Lord. So we are invited daily to turn away from things that distract us from God-Life and diminish our full humanity, or that of others.
Turn can become a daily spiritual practice that helps us focus on Jesus. In the morning, before you get too busy with activities, design a movement or ritual that enacts turning toward Jesus. Say good morning to him. Give thanks for all that is blessed. Talk about the day ahead – invite his help with the things that are worrying you. (You’ll find you're doing the third practice, Pray.)
And each day think about what you’d like to turn away from. Offer those things up, in the forgiving love that flows from God’s throne. Because, as we turn toward Jesus, we find him turning toward us. Remember what happened to Peter after he denied knowing Jesus? “At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter.” (Luke 22:54-62) I feel sure it was a look of love, for Peter felt immediately repentant. To paraphrase John, we turn because God first turned to us.
Many years ago I wrote a poem, when I felt the need to turn again to Jesus, which I share below. I am so blessed that I did turn to him, and can do so all through the day. You too!
My heart is but a quarter-moon, three-quarters turned away;
A harp too badly out of tune for even You to play.
But you, unceasing, ever pull me back from darkest night
Until I shine, all silver, full, another’s path to light.
And you, Creator, who can wring from cold, damp earth a song:
So tighten, Lord, I pray, each string, that I might sing along.
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