Bishop Jones Writes ...
The command to love as Jesus loved is at the heart of our Easter faith. When we hear the words, “just as I have loved you”, we are reminded of total giving, the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus’ life.
But Jesus went further in his instructions to his disciples in the Farewell Discourses of the Gospel of John (Chapters 13-17). He said, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another (John 13:34 NRSV).” That mission has now been entrusted to us. In baptism, we are bound to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves (BCP, p. 293)”. We love because God first loved us.
I saw an extraordinary example of self-giving love in a visit to a Sioux reservation in South Dakota. One Sunday afternoon, I had the privilege of attending a powwow on a reservation. The powwow was actually a “giveaway.” The tradition in that culture was to honor a departed relative by giving gifts to others in memory of the diseased. The family hosting the powwow had been preparing for a year to give away as much as they could to show their love and respect for the deceased.
Sitting near me was a young couple with a baby. They were obviously tourists and had happened upon the powwow shortly after I had arrived. The family hosting the giveaway noticed the young couple. Without even being introduced, a member of the family walked over to them and presented a hand-made baby quilt. It had obviously taken hours and hours to prepare. It was beautiful. Needless to say, the two young parents were absolutely astounded. Their eyes filled with tears. They had never before experienced that kind of generosity. They had just happened upon the powwow, attracted by the sound of the drums. They had not expected to receive anything.
For a moment that Sunday afternoon, the young couple experienced a glimpse of the extravagant generosity of God. They caught a fleeting glimpse of giving for the sake of giving – giving with no expectation of receiving something in return.
Such is the Christian story – the giving of God’s son for the purposes of God. It is in that spirit that we give and that we serve. Where is your love being channeled today? Whom will you serve?
Faithfully,
+ David
David Colin Jones
Bishop in Residence
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