Hello again friends.
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monk in docks,
And I welcome you to another day reflecting on the I Am statements of Jesus as we journey through Lent towards Easter,
And again today reflecting on Jesus' words,
I am the way,
The truth,
And the life,
And the passage around it from John 14 6.
As always I invite you to get comfortable,
To take a deep breath in,
And out.
Let your body relax as you settle into stillness,
And as we begin,
Imagine yourself among the disciples,
Sitting with Jesus.
The room is quiet,
Yet filled with unspoken questions,
And then Philip breaks the silence.
He says,
Lord,
Show us the Father,
And we will be satisfied.
Jesus turns to Philip,
And to you with a gaze that's filled with both tenderness and conviction.
And Jesus says,
Have I been with you all this time,
And you still do not know me?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
Let's take a moment to pause and reflect on those words.
I'll read them to you again,
And as I do,
Let them settle into your heart.
Jesus says,
Have I been with you all this time,
And you still do not know me?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father,
Has seen God.
Let those words settle in your heart,
And as we pause for a moment,
Ponder this question.
What does it mean to truly see God in Christ?
As we ponder that question,
What does it mean to truly see God in Christ?
I invite you to join me in looking carefully at Jesus.
Look at Jesus' hands,
His face,
The way Jesus moves among the people.
His touch brings healing to body,
To mind,
To soul,
And to spirit.
His words offer mercy,
Hope,
Truth.
His actions reveal justice,
Love,
Empathy,
And compassion.
In Christ,
The fullness of God is made known.
Ponder Jesus just for a moment,
And as we pause,
I wonder,
As you ponder Jesus,
As you see him in the Gospels,
What does the actions of Jesus tell you about who God is?
What does the Christ reveal to you about God?
Perhaps this is what it means to truly see God in Christ.
And if that's the case,
I wonder,
Where in your life do you long to see God?
What parts of your heart still search for assurance,
For proof that you're seen,
That you're known,
And that you're loved?
Jesus is here.
Jesus meets you where you are,
In your joy,
And in your sorrow,
In your certainty,
And in your doubt.
When you look at him,
You see the heart of God,
A heart of infinite love.
But let's take this further.
If God is visible through the love and actions and words of Christ,
I wonder,
What does this mean for how we live?
Perhaps we too are vessels through which God can be seen to a world that truly needs to know that love,
That justice,
That mercy,
And that healing.
When you look at him,
You see the heart of God,
A heart of infinite love.
Can you rest in that truth?
That to see Jesus is to see God,
That in Christ's kindness,
Christ's compassion,
Christ's nearness,
God is revealed.
And that in the same way,
God might want to utilise you too,
As you live the way of Christ,
To reveal God to those around you.
Jesus,
Open our eyes to see you clearly.
Help us recognise the divine love in your face,
In your words,
And in your presence.
May we live in the light of this truth that in you,
We may truly see God.
And then help us to at least reconcile the truth further,
That when we live your way,
Your truth and your life,
We allow others a glimpse of the divine as well.
Go with us into this day,
We pray.
Amen.
And may grace,
Peace and love go with you,
My friend,
Every step of the way.
Peace be with you.
