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Know what you know
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Tenth Day of Christmas
1 John 3:1-2
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now.
Saying that I know Jesus seems difficult, to say the least. This spiritual knowing ebbs and flows within me. Jesus was flesh and blood, but he is flesh and blood no longer. Jesus walked with his disciples, but when I perceive that he is walking with me, it is through my spiritual senses, not my physical ones.
Consequently, I am often drawn off by what John calls “the world.” And when I am, then certainly the world does not know me as a child of God. And in less time than it takes to skin a snake, I don’t know me as a child of God, either.
So I could not be more grateful for John’s assurance: “Beloved, we are God’s children now.” This is not dependent on what I know or who I know. It’s about God knowing me. “See what love” is poured out on us? See?
Well, I only sometimes see. But once is really enough, and then I know. I know enough.
Does this “seeing” and “knowing” happen to us all, in very personal ways brought about by our Father, the Source of our breath and blood, the author of our lives, our Creator? I think so. We are quick to abandon these momentary visions, these knowings, but they belong to us nonetheless.
And we help each other along the way. When have you remembered God’s touch as a friend’s deep heart heard yours? When have you done this for someone God loves? We are touchpoints for each other’s epiphanies, and our Father depends on us being God-with-skin-on for each other.
That shouldn’t be such a surprise to me. As Jesus taught us, God’s children learn the ways of their Father, to listen and love, love and listen.
This listening takes time, Lord, and you always seem to have plenty of time to listen to me. Then your presence is easy to discern, and in our silent companionship your love swells inside my heart.  And so I sing to you with joy.
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