Streams of Mercy

In John 17, we have what is called Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. This is a prayer in three parts: Jesus prays for himself, he prays for his disciples and he prays for the church universal throughout the ages. In praying for the church, Jesus asks that “they may be one, as we are one … so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me (John 17:22-24) … so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them (John 17:26) … so they may have my joy made complete in themselves.” (John 17: 43)

“In other words,” writes Outlook Editor, Jill Duffield, “if we love Jesus, we will keep his commandments. If we love Jesus, we will love one another no less than Jesus loves us. If we love one another, God loves us.” While this cycle of love, from God through Jesus to us and through us to one another, and back to God above, is good and hope-filled news, Duffield has this to say about that hope:

“I survey the state of creation and giving a defense for the hope within me is challenging because that hope feels lacking. The pandemic's toll grows. The virus' destructive tentacles leave no aspect of our world free of its impact. Somehow our divisiveness has reached the point that the use - or not - of face masks is partisan. Even expressions of unity and the value of each human being - seemingly indisputably good values held by all - are met by derision and personal attacks. In short, I do not feel the love of God swirling and growing, transforming and reconciling in the ways I wish I did.”

(“Looking into the Lectionary,” Jill Duffield, Presbyterian Outlook, May 11, 2020)

I feel much the same way these days. There’s so much blaming and finger-pointing and self-congratulating; events of each day are politicized and viewpoints polarize. In the midst of so much distrust and political rancor, where is concern for the common good? Where is the voice of loving concern that challenges us to look beyond what we want for ourselves to a greater common good? And then there are any number of “conspiracy theories” that cast suspicion on network news, foreign nations, and even pharmaceutical companies. Some religious leaders speak of the pandemic being the work of Satan to deceive, divide and destroy God’s people.

In Holy Chaos: Creating Connections in Divisive Times, Amanda Henderson, interfaith leader, activist and pastor, helps us find connections in the midst of the religious and political divides in our countries, our communities, and our families and friendships. “With warmth, wisdom, compassion, and even humor, Henderson reflects on the core principles of radical loving in chaotic times: rooting down; embracing fear; engaging curiosity; showing up; accepting our brokenness; finding joy in each other; and letting go to chart a way forward with integrity and love in an increasingly hostile world.”

I’m grateful to learn of these “core principles of radical loving - possibilities for “creating connections” among us as we find our way through these troubling and uncertain days. I’m grateful, too, for those streams of mercy, never ceasing, carrying us through this life into all that is to come.

Elizabeth