Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.
For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.
He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
O ften life calls upon us and demands that we trust. We don't know what's going to happen; we don't understand what's going on. We planned for something and something else happened. Or we had forgotten something important, and we're suddenly adrift amid a current of events and eventualities and we're not sure where this is all going.
When we lose a loved one, our lives may become unmoored. Losses of loved ones, a job, or home, or a situation; and many losses in a short period of months: can leave us distressed and anxious. We may have entrusted the dead to the mercy of God but we're not sure that God, or life, or the world is trustworthy.
During those crises, the faithful turn to the testimony of Jesus Christ; because, as he says, "Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy." They have practiced faith in good times and in bad; their practice is familiar and their habits run deep. They have forgotten old, useless, and unacceptable routines which they might have used in their foolish youth. And so prayer comes easily to their minds and lips; their hearts know what to say because they have learned to recite their prayers by heart.
In difficult times the Lord's disciples experience no rationing of the Spirit. Their confidence remains even when they do not know what might happen, or what to do or say. They say, "The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him;" and "God is still in charge."
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.