Mtr Kelli Joyce

Dear Friends in Christ,

"By this we may be sure that we are in [Christ]: whoever says, ‘I abide in him’, ought to walk just as he walked." This sentence from today's Epistle reading stopped me in my tracks when I read it. It is wonderful, truly, to rest on the assurance of God's grace. God created us and loves us, just because, and God decided to become incarnate in order to save us from sin and death, just because, and we have access to forgiveness and growth in holiness through God's Spirit, just because. We didn't earn or merit it - we couldn't have earned or merited it.

And.

And, whoever says "I abide in Christ" ought to walk just as he walked. "Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person." These are hard words. And as I reflected, it hit me - these words are hard to read because there are things I still think I want more than I want to follow Jesus. I choose to walk according to my own pride, or to protect my sense of myself as a good person, or to ensure that I'm safe, and the people I love are safe, or I choose to do what will avoid upsetting others and causing controversy... instead of choosing to follow in the way that Jesus walked. Jesus accepted humiliation and indignity. Jesus gave up on safety, and didn't promise safety to his family and dearest friends either. Jesus hurt people's feelings and challenged their sin and indifference to injustice, even when the people he started conflicts with had social or political power over him.

Sometimes I don't want to walk in his way, or follow his commands. Sometimes the kind of love he demonstrated in his life and teachings seems too difficult for me.

But this is the call. This is not Advanced Placement Christianity, for the especially holy, the professional, the extra-pious. This is what you are called to. This is what I am called to. Thanks be to God, this is not the only thing today's Epistle tells us.

"But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."

We will fall short. We will miss the mark. But in Christ, our failings are not the end of the story. No mistake is "game over." By grace, God tenderly picks us back up, dusts us off, and we set out to try again. To continue striving for the same goal - the perfect love and perfect holiness of Jesus of Nazareth, God made man. And we are never called to do this alone, or under our own power. No, God gives us the gifts of the Spirit and of the Church, to aid and inspire us as we seek to grow in righteousness. We are called to walk in the way of Christ - but we are never called to walk alone. Thanks be to God.

In peace,
Mtr Kelli