John 14:15-21
In this scripture Jesus tells us that if we love him, we’ll keep his commandments. Often when we read that we think of the 10 commandments. Folks are often saying the world would be better if we just posted those in every school and courthouse. It always feels to me when people say that, that they assume we aren’t keeping those commandments now and need visible reminders everywhere. I’ve never thought that telling people everything they are doing is wrong brings about better behavior. In Jesus day the law wasn’t just the 10 commandments, but the 613 laws of the Torah and all the sub-laws which explained how to keep those. It was widely believed that if everyone followed those laws perfectly for just one day the reign of God would come on earth. Clearly, that was harder than it sounds since it doesn’t appear to have happened.
On second thought, this says we must keep Jesus commandments. When he was asked which were the most important, he said two things: love God, love your neighbor as yourself. That’s it. If we love Jesus, we will love God, one another, and ourselves.
Then Jesus tells us that in order to help us love, he’s going to give us the Holy Spirit. Indeed, when we love the Spirit is already in us. When Jesus is taken away by death, the holy spirit reminds us that he is still with us – and with God – and God is with us. How does all of that happen? Because God is love, when we love, we are in God and God is in us. It all sounds rather circular, but that’s how John writes. One thing leads to another and everything is all wrapped up together. At the heart of all that matters is love.
This has been a crazy week for most of us and for our world. In spite of all the things on our to-do list, or maybe because of them, it’s been a week filled with love. I was trying to think of some of the many ways love has been infused into this week:
This week all the generous gifts of furniture and household items went into an apartment to welcome a new refugee family. More than a dozen folks rallied on Wednesday to put all those gifts into trucks and cars, carry them up to a third floor apartment and arrange them with care. It was hot, hard work; there were lots of ideas about how best to do it; sometimes what was done was undone the next minute – and yet there weren’t any arguments. We just worked it out with love.
Wednesday afternoon Rosemary, who had researched fruits native to Colombia, bought every one of them and more and carried them up to the third floor. It was an abundance of love.
Thursday night Jane helped us meet the new family at the airport at midnight so someone would speak Spanish and they could understand what was happening. She stayed up until almost 2:00 even though she had a contractor coming at 7 a.m. That’s love.
Thursday the same people heard about a family newly arrived from Afghanistan. They had come seeking asylum because it wasn’t safe for them to stay in Afghanistan until they had refugee status. That means they have no support from government programs. A friend helped them by renting an apartment and a truck and we took what was left from the Wednesday work and furnished an apartment for them. The family had two little girls and Kelly found beds for them on almost a moment’s notice. She’s looking for toys. That’s love.
Aderissa heard about the family coming and that they might be hungry when they arrived. She prepared a special meal from her native Philippines to welcome them. That’s love.
Friday Olivia came first thing in the morning and fixed the toilet that was broken. She comes every time I call with a smile on her face. She does her job well. That’s love.
All this week Kim’s family has been praying for their sister who was seriously ill. They kept their phones busy with messages of support and encouragement. Now she’s better. That’s love.
Yesterday was commencement at UND and Northlands. Families came to celebrate with their students. They were excited that some of their dreams were coming true and now a new future waits for each one. All that pride is love.
Today families got up early and made breakfast in bed for Moms, children made special cards, dads bought flowers, restaurants will be crowded with celebrants. That’s love.
This week the superintendent of the Fargo schools announced that no matter what laws state and federal governments made harming some students, his school district was going to support and encourage everyone. Each student would be treated with respect and given the learning environment they needed. That’s love.
This weekend we took food left from Elaine Sundberg’s funeral and fed 30 people dinner at LaGrave on First. The family was generous. The residents were grateful. That’s love.
Where have you seen love in this past week? Where have you been love?
Jesus wants us to know that the way to have the very best life now and forever is to live full of love. To go the extra mile, share your bread or your second outfit, listen when you’re tired, accept folks you don’t understand, welcome strangers, wish everyone well. Love is the essence of God, the presence of Jesus, the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Love isn’t a warm fuzzy feeling, it’s going out in the middle of the night to say “Welcome home.” Wherever love is, God is. Wherever God is, is holy. Sometimes love is hard work, long hours, tired bones at the end of the day. That too is holy.
This has been a busy week. A chaotic week. A long week. A holy week.
Often these days the world seems broken. When you are discouraged about all the things that need to be better, look around you for the places love is showing up. Watch for the ways you are being invited to love. Notice those who are loving you. In those places, God is healing the world through you. All those places are holy.