Thursday, April 16, 2015

Today’s Reading  |  1 John 1:1–10
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (NRSV)

Reflection
The idea that joy (chara in the Greek) is made complete, or fulfilled, when connection is made with another comes to us via Jesus, in John’s Gospel. No fewer than three times in his farewell discourse with his disciples Jesus talks about his joy being made complete in his relationship with them. Perhaps it’s only in making this kind of connection with others—building a relationship with fellow believers and with God that is based on authentic experience—that the joy God intends for us is realized.

In a piece about why young adults are returning to the churches they once left (http://goo.gl/EMp1C9), Erin S. Lane writes, “Our on-again, off-again relationship with the church may have more to do with our impossibly high standards for commitment rather than the common complaint that we don’t take it seriously enough.” Like many of us, young adults balk at the idea of placing themselves under anyone else’s understanding of God in order to gain membership in a community. Yet if the point is that in community we all achieve a fuller understanding and greater joy in God, together, then maybe young adults are more ready to accept 1 John’s invitation to engagement than one might think. Again, Lane tells us, “Many of my friends have started returning to their childhood church communities, if for no other reason than it feels more faithful to recommit to what they already know than commit to uncertainty. As for me, . . . I am less interested in fidelity to an institution than belonging to the people who make it up.”

Prayer
Loving God, remind me that you have called me to live in faithful relationship with you and with all your children. Help me ignore the cynical voices in my head that urge me to poke holes in the truths you would speak to me through others’ mouths. Make me attentive to the quiet voice in my heart that speaks to me of the joys I might find if only I would commit to being present to those around me. Through the one who taught us about the joy that endures in the face of death, your Son Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Written by Hardy H. Kim, Associate Pastor for Evangelism and Young Adults

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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