PREPARING FOR WORSHIP May 6
Worship this week will be “brief” due to the meeting following the service and the Fiesta following that. The focus scripture is 1 John 4:7-21
7Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
14And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.
17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19We love because he first loved us. 20Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

This passage is rich with good news and profound wisdom. We are reminded of the centrality of love to the church and the life of the followers of Jesus and reminded that words about loving God mean little if we do not love our sisters and brothers. We are told not to fear and that love casts out fear.
So how is it with you when you read those words? It may in fact be easier to love what you do not see. We are able to fantasize about what we do not see and project many virtues and qualities onto that unknown being. It is much harder to find virtues and fine qualities in those we see too well. As for fear and punishment: not a day goes by I am not reminded of the horrible consequences that will happen if I do not vote for this candidate or buy that product or support this cause. The church is nt different, we have used fear as a tool and technique for centuries.
So how about it? Can you say “yes” to John? Or do you wonder in what world he lives and writes?
Read the passage and reflect upon it. How do you overcome fear? Have you used fear and punishment to bend people to your will? On what terms are you with those closest to you to by blood or geography?
Then again, I have seen countless examples of people who have persisted in very hard situations.
There are parents who have exercised great care and patience in difficult days. Children care for parents, or grandparents, who are in need and who show love and joy while doing the tasks of daily living for them. People serve food to hungry folks who, because they have no other place to show their power, snarl at those who offer them a meal. “The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.” Mother Teresa

Kate Huey offers these for further reflection and prayer
William Sloane Coffin, 20th century
I think, therefore I am? Nonsense! I love, therefore I am.

Richard Rohr, 20th century
True religion is always a deep intuition that we are already participating in something very good, in spite of our best efforts to deny it or avoid it.
William Pickens, in a speech to a meeting of Congregationalists, Oak Park, Illinois, November 2, 1932
Living together is an art.
Weekly Prayer
God, you sent your Son into the world that we might live through him. May we abide in his risen life so that we may bear the fruit of love for one another and know the fullness of joy. Amen.