Yesterday, we explored the relationship between loving Jesus and following his commands. Though these can be summed up generally as loving God and our neighbor, he gave plenty that were specific: “Love your enemies.” “Give to anyone who asks.” “Take up your cross and follow me.” “Proclaim the Good News and heal the sick.” Many of Jesus’ commandments are so counter-cultural, counter-intuitive, not to mention inconvenient, that keeping them is possible for us only from a place of love.
Such love also enables us to receive the gift Jesus promised his disciples that night before he was taken from them: ”And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.”
Jesus calls the Spirit “another Advocate,” suggesting "advocate" had been one of his roles with them, to stand with them against spiritual danger, to strengthen them in God’s mission. In this role, he was limited by his time in this earthly life. But the Advocate whom the Father will send, he says, will be with them forever - a promise with no close-out clause.
Jesus says this "Spirit of truth” is a force whom the world - humanity at large - does not see or recognize, and therefore cannot receive. The gift of the Holy Spirit is given to all who have the capacity to receive him – and what increases our capacity is love, giving and receiving love. Swimmers and singers find their capacity for taking in and holding breath increases with practice. It is the same with love. Our capacity grows as we exercise it.
In what ways do you feel you are inhibited in giving love?
What gets in the way of your ability to receive love?
What are some ways you might expand your capacity for love, given and received?
You might try on a discipline of learning to love someone whom you find challenging – start by praying for them each day to be blessed. Or is there someone whose love you keep at a distance, or someone who wants to help you in some way that you won’t allow… can you, as an experiment, allow that person into your life a little more, allow the assistance they could render?
When our capacity to give and receive love increases, it has a ripple effect. Our being more loving invites the people around us to receive more and give more in turn. Imagine if we lived in a culture based on love and more love? Think how many stuck systems and stuck people might be released to function in wholeness.
We don’t have to dwell in such utopian visions – let’s just start with ourselves, and our own hearts, inviting the Spirit to expand our capacity for love. That's the way we can help God with the big picture.
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