Reading:
Revelation 1:9-18

Reflection:
Many years after he had witnessed Jesus’ ascension, John, in solitary confinement on the Island of Patmos, has a vision of the glorified Jesus. It’s an important picture of Jesus to hold alongside the very human one of the Gospels. It reminds us that Jesus reveals the majesty and the glory, the love and the justice of God. Jesus’ divinity and his humanity are not separate things, but are completely one, and we need to work to keep both natures together in our hearts and minds – as mysterious as this can be.

John, in his description of Jesus notes a number of dramatic, symbolically important, features. His robe speaks of his monarchy, his white hair of his eternity, his eyes of his wisdom and insight, his feet of his strength and stability and his voice of his authority. Perhaps the most startling feature, though, is the sword that comes out Jesus’ mouth. In John’s Gospel, Jesus is called the Word of God, and in Hebrews 4 God’s Word is likened to a sword that cuts to our heart and reveals our true selves. The sword from Jesus’ mouth, then, reveals that he is God’s Word – God’s communication, God’s truth – that challenges, convicts and changes us. Until we are captured by a transforming vision of Jesus like this one, we haven’t truly worshipped him, and we are not yet completely following him.

How can you open yourself to be captured by this vision of the Ascended Christ today?

Practice for Today:
God’s Word, spoken in Christ, is a transforming power if we will allow it to be. As long as we’re willing to acknowledge that we still have lots of growing and learning to do, and as long as we’re ready to listen to the Word of God spoken through Jesus, we are able to be changed from glory to glory. Try to listen to God’s word more carefully today – not just in Scripture, but in your heart, in your community and relationships, and through nature (the second Bible, as the Celtic Christians called it).

Breath-Prayer for Today:
I open my ears and my heart to listen to your Word, O God.

Reading:
Acts 1:1-11

Reflection:
Today we remember the ascension of Jesus. Luke gives us two accounts of this event: one at the end of his Gospel, and this one from Acts. Here we discover that after the resurrection, Jesus’ message did not change. He was still teaching about God’s Reign. We also discover that he still promises that God’s Spirit will empower Christ’s followers to continue the work of God’s Reign. Notice how the disciples have still not completely understood what God’s Reign is about. They are still asking about the establishment of a geographic, political nation. It’s comforting to know that we’re not the only ones who have struggled to really grasp what Jesus was about.

After these words we read that Jesus was taken up into a cloud and disappeared. It’s hard to know exactly what the disciples saw, or what this experience was like for them, but we can know two things. Firstly, we know that Jesus really is Lord. In the first century, saying this, instead of “Caesar is Lord”, could get you executed for treason. But, it remains true that no empire, no ruler and no ideology that calls for our allegiance is greater – more just, peaceful, compassionate, wise, glorious and loving – than God’s Reign. And no one, other than Jesus, truly deserves our devotion. Secondly, the ascension tells us that humanity is important to God. Jesus did not lose his humanness when he ascended. He kept his body – his humanity – intact and carried it into glory. In the ascension we see God and humanity truly and inextricably becoming one. This is a huge mystery, but try to meditate on it today and see what it does in your heart!

Practice for Today:
When we acknowledge what it means that Jesus is the “Ascended Lord”, we can only respond in dedication, in giving ourselves in submission to Christ, to become one with Christ, and in living for Christ. Why not renew your commitment to Jesus today?

Breath-Prayer for Today:
Jesus, I proclaim you as Lord, and I dedicate myself to live in union with you.

Reading:
Mark 16:19-20

Reflection:
In his characteristically brief way, Mark ends his Gospel with the account of Jesus’ ascension and the impact it had on his disciples. It is appropriate to explore his words on the eve of our Ascension celebration tomorrow. Notice that, according to Mark, Jesus did not “claim” his place of honour. He was “taken up”, which is a strangely passive way of wording what happened, but confirms what Paul describes in Philippians 2:9 – God raised Jesus up to the place of honour. Even at this final moment of his ministry on earth, Jesus remains in submission and obedience to his Father.

Then, notice the impact that this has on his disciples. Just as Jesus obeyed God and fulfilled his call to preach and demonstrate God’s grace and love, so do the disciples. They don’t use their relationship with Jesus as an excuse to retreat from the world, waiting until they get to heaven. They are inspired by Jesus’ words and example to preach wherever they can, using their words and their remarkable God-empowered actions, to share Christ’s life and love with others. What Mark reveals in all of this is that Jesus truly has conquered death, evil, greed, selfishness and injustice through the power of God’s Reign of love.

How is your life being inspired by Christ’s humble obedience and love today?

Practice for Today:
It’s almost impossible, when we reflect on Jesus’ attitude, to respond in any other way than thanksgiving. Because of Christ’s humble obedience, God’s Reign is available to us now, and it can empower and inspire our lives and our witness. Let this inspire thanksgiving in you today.

Breath-Prayer for Today:
Thank you, Jesus, for your Reign of love that empowers me to share life with others.

Reading:
Psalm 93

Reflection:
This psalm of praise gives a very different perspective on God’s Reign. It is filled with images of power and majesty, which may appear to contradict Jesus’ message of love that we’ve been exploring over the last few days. But, the only reason we see a contrast is because we tend to interpret such majestic images in terms of human empires and powers. When we remember that God’s Reign was the centre of Jesus’ ministry, and that he defined God’s Reign in terms of love and justice, we realise that this psalm is not making God out to be just like the human rulers of history. Rather, we are seeing, in very graphic and poetic imagery, that God’s Reign of love is more powerful than the crashing waves or the waters of the flood.

It is God’s Reign of love that ensures that the world “stands firm and cannot be shaken”. It is God’s Reign of love that endures forever, and whose laws cannot be changed. And it is God’s Reign of love that is the mightiest power in the universe. This is why we can choose to live in love with security and faith. It may seem, at times, that God’s majestic Reign is being overcome by evil, but in the end love always wins. It reminds me of something that Jimi Hendricks, the great guitarist, is reported to have said: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, we will have peace.”

What can you do today to remember and celebrate God’s Reign of love?

Practice for Today:
In the light of today’s reflection, the practice of praise is probably the best way to allow God’s Reign of love to work in our hearts, and reflect through our lives. Give praise to God for God’s majestic Reign of love today.

Breath-Prayer for Today:
I praise you, O God, for you are my Monarch who reigns forever in love.

Reading:
1 Timothy 6:11-12

Reflection:
Today we read just two verses of Paul’s letter to the young pastor, Timothy. In it Paul describes what it’s like to be a “person of God” and to live a “godly” life. Essentially, the life Paul describes is one that emulates and reflects the same attitudes, characteristics and actions that were visible in Jesus’ life. But, here Paul lists some of the most important qualities: faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. There is no question that these are the basic elements of a Christ-like life. Then, Paul encourages Timothy to hold on to the “eternal life” to which God has called him. The characteristics Paul has just listed are the features of this life, and Timothy is encouraged to hold on to it, to live it, now – not to wait until after he has died.

It’s tragic that Christians have become known for living lives that are very different from the qualities that Paul lists here. Studies have shown that Christians are no better than non-religious people when it comes to divorce, dishonesty, greed and selfishness. It’s like we’ve put “eternal life” on hold, believing that we can do what we like now, and wait for heaven until we die – just as long as we’ve prayed the right prayer at some point. But, Paul follows the example of Jesus by pointing out that God’s life is to be lived now, and that it impacts everything. If we can’t embody God’s love-filled life now, we may not recognise it on the other side of the grave either. One of our primary tasks is to allow God’s eternal life to consume every part of our lives – and this is a lifelong journey!

What parts of your life need to be “conquered” by God’s eternal life today?

Practice for Today:
We often think of prayer in terms of sorting out our problems, or receiving something we want. But, the real heart of prayer is when we ask to be changed for the sake of the Gospel, seeking to become the people God wants us to be. Perhaps today you can risk praying for a more “godly” life?

Breath-Prayer for Today:
May my life be a reflection of your love-filled life, O God.

Thought for the Week:
This week Jesus’ “fruit-bearing” conversation continues. If there was any doubt about what kind of fruit Jesus was asking his disciples to bear, this week’s reading makes it very clear. For Jesus it’s all about love – it is always all about love. But, Jesus doesn’t just leave it at that. In these verses he says three things that help us to understand what kind of love he is talking about.

Firstly, Jesus speaks about love in terms of “remaining”. He describes the love he has for us as the same as that which he shares with the Father, and invites us to remain in this love with him. What this means is that when Jesus speaks about love, he’s talking about the same kind of intimate connection that he enjoyed within the Godhead.

Secondly, Jesus speaks about this love in terms of “friendship”. We are not “slaves”, he says, but friends to whom he tells everything. This honest, vulnerability is what true friendship is all about. And Jesus offers himself to us as a true friend.

Finally, the greatest love is laying down our lives for one another. This is the love Jesus demonstrated on the cross. It’s a self-giving, sacrificial love that puts the beloved first. Jesus loves us like this, and he asks us to love one another the same way.

It’s a tough call, but nothing else really qualifies as love. This week our task will be to open ourselves to learn to love like this a little more.

______________________________

Reading:
John 15:9-17

Reflection:
In the midst of the talk about love, Jesus makes an interesting statement – we do not choose him, he chooses us. It’s tempting to think of this in terms of “predestination”, that God has planned who will be saved and who won’t in advance. But, that’s not what Jesus is saying. Rather, he is speaking in the language of love, portraying himself as a Lover seeking a Beloved on whom to set his heart, to woo, and whose love he seeks to win. As with any loving relationship, this “choosing” requires a response. Even as we are chosen and God pours God’s love on us, so we respond by choosing God, and pouring our love out in return. God always takes the initiative when it comes to loving us, but we have the glorious opportunity to learn to love God back.

This intimate picture that Jesus paints also reveals something else about love. We become like those with whom we are intimate. That’s why Jesus speaks about giving us the same love he shares with the Father, and why he keeps using his love for us as the example for our love for one another. If we are truly in intimate relationship with Christ, we will be come just as pro-active and extravagant in our love for others.

In what ways are you becoming more like Jesus in his capacity to love?

Practice for Today:
Love always requires a response, which is why most worship gatherings have a time set aside for us to respond to God’s presence and message in some way. The most important response we can make, though, is to seek to love as we have been loved – and we can do this everyday.

Breath-Prayer for Today:
As you have loved me, Jesus, so I seek to love.

Reading:
Deuteronomy 32:44-47

Reflection:
At the end of his life and ministry, Moses called the people of Israel together and reminded them of God’s commands, warning them of the consequences of ignoring God’s guidance and the benefits of living according to God’s ways. Then he publicly handed over the leadership to Joshua. As part of his final instruction, Moses stressed that God’s commands are not empty words but are the source of abundant life.

In a similar way Jesus’ words about bearing fruit and loving one another form part of his final teaching in the Upper Room. Like Moses, Jesus stresses that his commandment to love is a source of life, and he invites his followers to stay connected to him in order to find the strength they need to be true lovers of God and of others. The important thing to remember, as we seek to obey God’s call to bear fruit and live as true citizens of God’s Reign, is that everything God asks us to do is a doorway to the fullest and most vibrant life imaginable.

How are you finding life through bearing fruit today?

Practice for Today:
Whenever we hear God’s word, we are called to respond by taking it in, owning it and living it out. Until we make this response, God’s word can do nothing for us. But, when we respond, it leads us to life. Make today a day of learning and living out God’s word.

Breath-Prayer for Today:
Today I commit to learning and doing your command to love, Jesus.

Reading:
Isaiah 42:5-9

Reflection:
One of the well-known features of Isaiah’s prophecy is the “Servant Songs” which express God’s message to, or through, the “Servant of the Lord”. Today’s reading is part of one of those songs, and it speaks about how God has “given” God’s Servant to God’s people to demonstrate righteousness (which can also mean ‘justice’), to reveal God’s covenant, and to bring liberation and wholeness to God’s people. Two things stand out in this passage, though. The first is how it starts with an affirmation that God gives life to all people – not just “God’s” people, and the second is how God’s Servant and God’s people are called to be a light to the nations.

At the start of his ministry, in Luke 4, Jesus quotes some very similar words as his “manifesto”. The Gospels very clearly identify Jesus with God’s Servant from Isaiah, and Jesus speaks about bringing liberation and wholeness as the reason he came. The name Jesus used for his message and mission was “God’s Kingdom” or the “Reign of God” and it was the fulfilment of God’s purpose throughout the Bible and for the whole of human history. Whenever we think of God’s Reign, then, Jesus is asking us to think about a new reality that we experience in this world – a reality of justice and healing that includes and embraces all people. And, when Jesus speaks about “bearing fruit” is certainly calling us to live out this amazing vision.

How can you live as part of this inclusive Reign of God today?

Practice for Today:
One of the most powerful practices we can use to inspire us to live the vision of God’s Reign is thanksgiving. When we give thanks for the life that God gives to all people through Christ, it reminds us of the vision of God’s Reign that Isaiah describes. Try to remember to give thanks throughout the day.

Breath-Prayer for Today:
Thank you God for the life that you bring to all people – and me – through Jesus.

Reading:
Acts 10:1-34

Reflection:
Although today’s reading is relatively long, it’s still only a part of a much bigger narrative. More of this story is included in the readings for Sunday, and it offers a challenging message. It’s easy to forget how shocking Peter’s actions would have been for his peers in the Church of Acts. They had been raised as Jews, and taught that it was wrong to associate with Gentiles. They didn’t share meals with Gentiles, and they didn’t believe that Gentiles could receive God’s Spirit. But, then Peter is given a vision – three times! – in which he is invited to eat all sorts of unclean foods. When he objects, he hears God telling him not to call unclean what God considers clean. Then, when he receives the invitation to go to the house of the Gentile Cornelius, he recognises that God has prepared him for this moment, and he agrees. Through this experience, his mind is opened to realise that God loves, welcomes and accepts even the people that Peter felt were unacceptable to God.

On Sunday the Gospel reading continues Jesus’ teaching about bearing fruit, calling followers of Christ to love one another. Peter’s story reveals that “one another” does not mean only those we like and who are the same as us. When Jesus says, “love one another,” he means everyone, including those we may be tempted to reject.

Who would you hope not to see in heaven? How can you reach out to them in love today?

Practice for Today:
The practice of hospitality, or welcoming others, is highly valued in the Bible. When we gather for worship, we enjoy God’s hospitality around God’s Table, but we can welcome others anywhere and anytime. This may mean sharing a meal or a cup of coffee, or just sharing a smile. Today, why not try to be as welcoming as you can?

Breath-Prayer for Today:
Today, I open my heart to welcome even those I am tempted to reject.

Reading:
Isaiah 65:17-25

Reflection:
The last part of Isaiah, most scholars believe, was written to God’s people who had returned to their homeland after years in exile. The memory of their suffering was still fresh in their minds, and they faced the difficult task of rebuilding their shattered nation. Yet, here, God gives them a vision of a whole new world – one of peace and justice, of security and compassion. Where before there had been weeping and the fear of enemies plundering their homes and possessions, now God promises laughter and safety and abundance. It’s a wonderful dream, and it gives a picture of the Reign of God that Jesus preached about, lived and died for.

When Jesus challenges us to bear fruit, it is this picture that he has in mind. It’s not that we must all become world-changing activists. Rather, as we live according to God’s values and purposes, as we stay connected with Jesus, as we allow the Spirit to direct us, we bear fruit that is a small reflection of this great dream. And, if each of us lives in this fruit-bearing way in our corner of the world, the whole world is ultimately changed. It’s like Mother Teresa once said: “If you want to make the world clean, sweep your own doorstep.”

Today, take some time to meditate on this vision of God’s gracious, peaceful world, and do what you can to live this dream now.

Practice for Today:
The practice of praise constantly lifts our awareness beyond our own perspectives and struggles to see things through God’s eyes. Today, try to constantly remember Isaiah’s vision of God’s Reign, and praise God for it, so that it sinks right into your soul.

Breath-Prayer for Today:
For your dream of peace and justice, and for the small ways that I can help to make it happen, I praise you, O God.