Scripture Reading: John 13: 34 – 35
Reference Scripture:
Isaiah 49:15-16 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! 16. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;”
Never a Sunday morning went by but I greeted him. While still firmly gripping my hand, and looking squarely into my eyes he demands of me each time, “Do you know my name?” Some parishioners would nod in my direction in perceived acknowledgment that time was slowly claiming another victim. His face now bearing the signs of yet one more approaching fall season, is consumed in a smile of contentment at my expression of gratitude for the privilege of knowing him. But there is something more to be said about those lines that mark his face than just being signs of age. Those lines tell the unique story of adventures undertaken, of battles won or lost, of love felt, of heartbreaking separations, of honors gained. Here is a story of life’s experience passing through the medium of one more human soul, begging to be allowed to help some other pilgrim of the way. “Do you know my name?”
I propose that everyone, especially as they leave a place of sanctuary and worship, share a sincere longing to be known in just such a way as my friend who asks, ” Do you know my name?” Everyone you meet regardless of age has a story of a life’s experience that is being molded by its passage through their unique soul.
To love another is to share in their life’s story with them. This love is not to gain full disclosure of the other person, based upon prying or curious investigatory pursuits. To share in the unique story of another’s life is a ‘Spiritual Occurrence’ that originates and continues with love.
In the final analysis, is this not truly the raison d’etre of the Church of Jesus Christ? Was the church not established so that no individual might be compelled to write their life’s story in isolation? ” By this shall everyone know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” (John 13: 35).
Moreso, than in any other place in the world, the church should be the place to respond with love to anyone’s inquiry, ” Do you know me”? Not merely as one more faceless human waiting to receive a lifeless handclasp, but do you know my name? Noticing wrinkles of age on the face of another, or observing a sparkling light in the eyes of youth are unspoken invitations to you, to share in events passing through the medium of that soul, which could have the potential of making this world a more beautiful place for us all?
In an age that demands instant gratification for all things, it is of extreme importance to take time for each other. The building of personalities, fit to inherit the Kingdom of God, is the mission of every disciple of Jesus Christ. It demands the opening of the flood gates of one’s own experience of ‘ The Spirit.’ Spirit with Spirit must meet! There is no higher expression of “Love” than that! One’s experience of the Christ within you must embrace the spirit of Christ within another person. In such a desire, the immanent Presence of Jesus Christ in the world will fulfill God’s desire to provide light for our journey homeward.
As the present Scripture text indicates, God’s love for his people, Israel, compelled Him to engrave their name upon His hand in memory of both their faithfulness and their need. To the degree that we have the names of others engraved upon our hearts in Christ’s Name, here on earth, can we hope to find our names engraved upon the hand of God in remembrance of our earthly journey, when we get Home! (1)
PRAYER TO FOLLOW THIS MEDITATION
Our Father,
No one of us is ever singled out by You as being more deserving than any other member in your family. Father, Your love is the greatest equalizer in all creation! With incredible tenderness, you keep strict observation of the unique gifts You store inside each individual. You marvel at the unique creation which ‘human ingenuity and skill’ fashion out of Your investment – the talents You entrusted us. Then You endow us, fellow travelers of the way, with one more vital task, that of encouragement and empathetic sharing. We each contribute to the content and spirited details of each individual’s life! In this way is the whole round earth bound by gold chains about Your feet, O God. Amen.
HYMN: O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
EDITORIAL NOTES
- Suggested Additional Reading: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/maclaren/isaiah/49.htm
- Photo: stock image