Living in Community

“I give you a new commandment: Love each other. 
Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other.”
~ John 13:34

I ended our last reflection with the idea of Jesus as teacher and I think most of us probably think of him that way, as a great or the greatest teacher, but I read today that some people have a problem with that idea.  They say that Jesus is more than that, he is Lord.  I’m not disputing that of course, but I do think he was definitely a great teacher, a sage even.  I think this was his purpose here on earth, to teach us, to share his wisdom, to help us better know God, to help us to live more fully, more lovingly, to see the bigger picture.

I think he is still teaching us today, well, he’s trying to anyway, if only we will listen and hear what he has to say to us.

I’m of the belief that Jesus can use the best of times and the worst of times to teach us.  He can use even a tiny mustard seed!  

I believe that God can use children to teach us the simple lessons on love that we need to learn.  

Jesus was called teacher, rabbi, great one, or master roughly 60 times in the Bible.  He was addressed directly in the New Testament only ninety or so times so… he was obviously thought of as a teacher. 

He taught through parables, through scripture, but he also taught by example – by how he lived, how he treated others, how he loved, how he walked through his short earthly life.

When my kids were little and even still really, I tried to do the same.  I tried to set the example for them on how to best live their life.  Whether it was finances, cooking, caring for others, sharing, I always tried to keep in mind that they were watching me and learning from my actions.  Sometimes I failed but that was a lesson too – for us both. 

All those lessons on sharing, caring, loving even cooking and finances were lessons on living in community.

Sometimes, I get caught up in my own little world and forget about this lesson of community.  I get caught up in my own little home, my reading, my housework and so on and forget about being in community with others. 

Jesus and later his apostles worked hard to teach about living in community, about loving others, sharing what we have with others, helping others, being there for others, crying, laughing, listening with others.

This is something I’ve been trying to bring back into the forefront of my life.  I’m trying reach out to friends, who I maybe don’t talk to often enough.  I’ve been trying to spend real time with them letting them know I care and love them. 

I think this is so important for those we reach out to but also for us.  I honestly believe we were created, we were put here on this earth to love one another, not just in word but in deed.

So that’s what I’m working on this Lent as well, giving of myself to my friends and neighbors by spending time with them, cooking for them, listening to them.  Honestly, by just being present with them.

Jesus often dropped what he was doing to heal or help someone.  I’m no healer but perhaps by being present I can help bring a little healing to my little world – not physical healing but healing of the soul from loneliness or grief or…whatever… through laughter, food, listening, and the sharing of time. 

Perhaps you can too.

Dear Teacher,
It’s me and my friends again.  Thank you for your teachings and your living example on how to love, how be in community.  Help us as we work to implement these lessons into our lives and communities.

Amen.

Until next time,
♥️ Sherri