Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent
When we go to new places and meet new people, one of the first things people will often ask is “Where are you from?” In today’s gospel reading, Jesus explains to the Pharisees that He knows where He came from. Although the Pharisees think that Jesus is talking about Nazareth, Jesus is in fact trying to explain to them that He came from His Father, and will be returning to His Father as well. Just like Jesus, we have our beginnings with God, and He is where our journey ends. What would our lives be like if we lived our life truly resting in the belief that God has sent us just as He sent Jesus to do His will and be His light for the world?
Jesus tells the Pharisees in today’s gospel reading that He is “the light of the world” and “whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” The Pharisees doubt Jesus, since they know Him as the carpenter’s son from Nazareth. How could it be that this man would say such things! Jesus explains to the Pharisees that they recognize His human roots, but He comes from the Father who sent Him. Jesus goes on to explain that his testimony is true and valid because it is not just His word, but the Father’s word as well. Jesus is so completely aligned with the Father that He knows when people know Him they will know the Father as well.
What would it be like for us to have this same sense of knowing that we come from God? Jesus illustrates how we are called to live in this way. If we recognize that God is our source of being, then we should be grateful and obedient to His will. Just as Jesus did, we should constantly strive to know the Father and learn how He is calling us to live. We should seek God’s presence in our lives so that when people come to know us, then they should also know God.
Just like Jesus, we should be able to say that we are “the light of the world” when we allow ourselves to become aligned with God’s grace and love. Since Jesus is both human and divine, He shows us how we are to allow the Spirit to live within us so our lives can be light for those around us. As His disciples, when we think, talk and act like Jesus then we allow God’s light to shine.
Not only should we understand that God is our source and beginning, but returning to God should be the source of our hope and joy. Jesus knows this so completely that He can endure the passion and cross because He knows that after His resurrection He will return to be with the Father. This seems to empower Jesus even in the darkest moments at Gethsemane and on the cross. He knows that the Father and He are One and with the Spirit they bring all things to oneness with them.
The psalmist expresses God’s presence from our beginning through all the challenges until we come to be with Him forever in eternity. “Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil: for you are at my side.” …”Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. “
So when someone asks us “where are you from?” although you may mention Dayton, or the United States or some other city or country, stop and be reminded where you are truly from- God. When you remember this beginning, try to live your life always looking to the Source who gives you grace, so you always know He is there as He leads you home to eternal life with Him.
"Heavenly Father, You created us and said that it was “good”. You sent us Jesus to help us know You and to know how to live our lives filled with your love. Continue to fill us with your Spirit, so we can bring Your presence to the world around us. May we live our lives giving You all the glory and praise. We pray this through Christ, our LORD. Amen."
Marylynn Herchline