When it is time to write one of these articles, the Lord usually gives me the topic at one of the Charismatic gatherings of this Diocese. Praise His Name! The Lord seems to be speaking this time about how we are to surrender our own agendas so we can be fitted or "knit" together into a unity--one body--ready, receptive, and obedient to His will. Fundamental to our call to follow Jesus is to trust and obey as He did. He too had to learn to listen for and listen to and to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit for His Father's will to be done.
Let us begin by reflecting on two Scripture passages, John 17:23 and 14:35.
The question is; "Is our love for one another do different/greater than the world's love for one another that no one can mistake that we are Jesus' disciples?" Even though "we are only too aware of our own failings, this is not to be dismissed lightly as being impossible. We are again confronted with the reality that this is a work that the Spirit has to do within each one. Let's reflect on a few key points that might help us to be more disposed and receptive to the Holy Spirit.
First, this is a command. It is core to following Jesus. We read in other places: "Love your neighbor as your self." [Mt. 5:43] "Love one another as I have loved you." [Jn. 15:12] These commands have no judgement or blaming of another person or ourselves in them, because there is nothing about another's behavior in them. Rather it is what "I" do. A person acts out of one's own attitude or disposition toward another. What is implied here is an unconditional acceptance of the other as valued, but not based on his or her behavior. What does this love look like? When we read the accounts of Jesus' actions in the Gospels we see it. As we reflect and study these attitudes and behaviors we learn what this love is like.
It's easy to see how different we are, so secondly we are faced with a choice based on whom we follow. In every situation I can ask that well known question from the book In His Steps; "What would Jesus do?"
This command for a follower of Jesus becomes a foundational principal for Christian living. It is part of the greatest commandment. [Mt. 22:37-39]
Frequently for many, what gets in the way is expectations. I have an expectation and someone does not measure up. I really do not know what is motivating the other. Do I move into judgement, blaming, and fixing, or rather do I let the other be responsible for his own behavior and put it all in the Lord's hands? My responsibility is for my response to the situation and to the other person.
In James 3:16-4:1 we read that God's kind of peace is not ambitious or jealous. In kindness and consideration, full of compassion, doing good I sew the seeds for love and holiness. Then I allow that revolution to take place in my own mind [Eph. 4:23,24]. As I seek harmony and to be of a common mind [Ph. 2:1-3] this profound witness of love can come about.
The Spirit comes to create unity [Eph. 4:15, 16 & 1 Cor. 12 & 13]. Jesus' priestly prayer is full of the desire for Trinitarian unity between Him and His disciples, and them, one to another [Jn. 13-17].
In 1 Cor. 12 we read about the unity that must exist within the body. We know this is a metaphor for the Body of Christ, those who believe and follow the Lord Jesus. "No one can say, `Jesus is Lord' accept if he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit." [1 Cor. 12:3]
We will encounter an amazing coincidence in late June of this year. The National Charismatic Retreat Conference coincides with the anniversary of the beginning of Mary's apparitions in Medjugorje, June 24, 1981. That is also the eve of the International March for Jesus, June 25th this year. That is a day when christian believers throughout the world are invited to demonstrate their oneness in Jesus by taking "church" into the streets and walking in unity, in praise and worship of the one Lord, whom we all adore.
Perhaps this is just a coincidence, that is, of the kind I recently heard defined as an "anonymous manifestation of God in our midst!"
Yes, we say! Alleluia!
Printed in the May 1994 issue of the "Living Water." Published for the Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese of San Jose, California. Permission to copy is granted, as long as proper credit is given.
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