Feeding the flame, Teacher
James Cathcart
May 07, 2024
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Listen to this daily worship
John 14: 18-27 (NRSVA)
18 ‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’ 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’ 23 Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
25 ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
The Holy Spirit reminds us of everything Jesus teaches us. How wonderful is that?
How beautiful is it that Jesus realises we need regular reminders!
We are a species that benefits from reminders.
Some animals have kind of wee magnetic or hormonal or glandular (can you tell I’m out of my depth?) triggers that help them, little in-built apps that remind them of the important things. Such bio-tech can help them navigate enormous distances over migrations to find exact locations.
While we have nagging, post-its, and alarms set on our phone.
We regularly need reminded of all kinds of things. We also have birthdays, anniversaries, festivals, and holidays that serve a similar purpose.
We continually need reminded of the things we already know, not because our brains are so small, but because they are so impossibly huge. We need help accessing the right bit at the right time.
Special celebrations remind us to say what sometimes otherwise ‘goes without saying’.
I have written about this before but I think there’s not much in life that ‘goes without saying’! If you love someone — tell them! Often! It doesn’t go without saying. If you appreciate someone, tell them! It does not go without saying. There are of course emotions that can’t be put into words, and the comfortable silence of dear friends, but these are the slow burning logs that keep a fire contentedly burning.
What about the kindling?
It’s in the saying, regularly (through words and actions) that we feed the flames, allow the new sparks to catch.
The musicality and animation, and dynamism of our friend the Holy Spirit reminds us of the central truths from God and Jesus’s teaching. The Holy Spirit tells us the Kingdom doesn’t go without saying! We need reminded to apply and reapply the Gospel!
Prayer:
Holy Spirit,
Teacher,
Friend,
What are you teaching us this season?
What do we need reminding of?
What celebrations and parties would you have us
have
What words would you have us
say
What truths would you have us
live out?
Amen.
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