Come, and See

LENTEN MEDITATION FOR FEBRUARY 15, 2013 For Your Reading:John 1:35 - 42 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, 'What are you looking for?' They said to him, 'Rabbi' (which translated means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' He said to them, 'Come and see.' They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. John 1: 38b-39a How many times have you been struck by curiosity about a great teacher you have read or heard about? If you had the chance, would you seek out that great teacher to try to learn more, and perhaps, even try to talk to him or her? How would you begin that conversation, since you haven't met the teacher yet? Might you say, "Where are you staying?" Jesus says to the two disciples of John the Baptist, "Come and see."  That is the fundamental invitation in evangelism, to come and see.  Evangelism means bringing good news. The invitation to those who hear the good news is to come and see. Come hear the good news of God's love for humankind that is greater than anything we know or understand. Come hear the story of how God came down to earth in human form to his mother Mary and to all the generations of humankind.  Through the Good News of God in Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection, humankind is redeemed as God's own beloved and commissioned by Jesus to share the good news of God's love with everyone, everywhere. As baptized followers of Jesus, we are anointed and called to be evangelists, to be carriers of the invitation to come and see. As members of Christ's Church, his body on earth, we are all empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the good news of God's great love and compassion for humankind.  Everything we are and everything we have is given to us by God, because God loves us unconditionally. We don't deserve anything, but we have everything, because of God's love for us.  Will you answer God's call to share the good news of Jesus Christ by inviting others to come and see - to join in our worship services where we celebrate the good news and to join in our service projects where we share God's love with others? When someone asks you, "Where are you staying, where do you spend your time," will you invite him or her to come and see where your heart of love for Jesus is renewed each week? Will you invite others to lift their voices in praise and to break the consecrated bread with you, to come and see and receive the love of God in Christ beside you? For Your Prayer:  God our Creator, we thank you for the gift of Jesus, our Lord and our brother, whose words of teaching challenge us to share the good news of his love and sacrifice for the redemption of the world. Holy Spirit our Sanctifier, we ask your help each day of our lives that we may walk in love, do justice, and love mercy. Jesus our Redeemer, we pray all this in your holy name. AMEN. For Your Reflection: 1.    Can you name ten ways in which your life has been blessed by God? Think about them, and write them down. 2.    Choose three of those ways in which you have been blessed, and write down how you would share those stories with another person from work or school or your community. 3.    As you think about how to share those stories, where do you see God being active in your life? [The Diocese of Colorado, of which I am a member, publishes daily Lenten Meditations from various lay and clergy leaders everyday in Lent. This is my offering this year.]