Tuesday after Epiphany
I write this having just finished watching Star Wars IX. A movie which continues to challenge us to not only look for the good in ourselves and others, but to choose to do that which is good. I was walking on a very congested street a few days ago and a woman with mobility issues on her motorized scooter was having trouble making it down the sidewalk. I know with the holidays people are in a hurry, but this lady was trying desperately to catch up with her family from whom she was separated. At one point there were four of us trying to direct traffic and move her chair to get her through. All went well and we were all on our way. I was struck as I reflected on the situation about how many people did not recognize or were unwilling to help. I was grateful for those whose love made them stop and help.
Out of love God created us. Out of love God recognized that we struggle with good and evil and needed help. Out of love God revealed God’s love for us by sending his Son so that we might have life. God is love and does not need anything from us per say. However, we are made to know love and serve God. We can do nothing to earn God’s love, but we are called to be disciples of radical love. Radically and authentically loving all of God’s creation and one another is our living proof of knowing and loving God. Our serving our fellow human beings puts that genuine love and our belief in God action.
Radical discipleship means putting our love in action in specific ways. In the gospel, Jesus asks his disciples to feed the five thousand, they are so confounded that Jesus out of pity for the people feeds the five thousand. But Jesus’s challenge to the disciples is his challenge to us; we are to go and feed the hungry. Lord help us to see with spiritual eyes the goodness in others so that we can share our love by choosing to do what is good.
- Deacon Michael Montgomery