Glorious

 John 13:31-35

There is a song we are singing in this spring concert called Glorious. It talks about how singing together in life and finding our own note is glorious. What a tapestry it weaves of unique combinations of harmony and it is all glorious.

It is hard to feel glorious with the spring rains never seeming to take a break. Yet when the sun shines it is that much more glorious. It is also a way of life. We have times of rain and sun yet the whole is one that makes us who we are.

There is so much of this in this lesson from John. Jesus begins to equip the disciples for life without him. Which is not what the interpretation of glorious is to them. They don't want to go through what is about to happen yet they have to. And to top it off through it all they have to abide in love with one another. Even through doubts, fears, and being left adrift.

First we have to abide in Jesus. Now what does it mean to abide in Jesus? How many of us take the time to sit in silence? Do we listen for Jesus and begin to feel the deep well of abiding in the Presence? It is important to take that time. Whether it is outside or inside, whether we are busy or not, whether we avoid silence in to take up busy-ness we need this time of gentle surrender. Where the world is turned smaller or even bigger and our selves seem to melt away. It is a time of gentleness and truth.

Next they will know if we have abided by our actions. Do we sound just like everyone else? Do we act just like everyone else? Or have we found a graciousness in our abiding which shows the love Jesus taught? Do we act as if we are loved and pour that love out to a world which desperately needs something different than scathing remarks and how right or wrong someone is?

They should know us by our acts of love. Love in community with one another. Then love poured out beyond our doors. Love which shows everyone Christ is present and glorified in the world around us. This love of neighbor can pour out in creation, with others as we bless them and they bless us, or in simple acts of kindness which a weary world is yearning for.

This is all a part of the glorious strains of life's song. The one that bids us to participate in it and sing along. In whatever harmony we choose. We only add to the glory of it by starting to come to it. So sing in life and sing gloriously of the love of Jesus to and for all.