Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity • Day 6 • January 23, 2012
.
Jesus Walks with Two Disciples
at Emmaus
.
Changed
by God's Steadfast Love
Readings
Habakkuk
3:17-19 God, the Lord is my strength
Psalms
136:1-4.23-26 His steadfast love endures forever
1
John 5:1-6 This is the victory that conquers the world, our faith
John
15:9-17 No one has greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends
Commentary
In the Old Testament text, it is faith in God that keeps hope alive
in spite of all failure. Habakkuk’s lamentation turns to joy in God’s fidelity
that supplies strength in the face of despair.
Psalm 136 confirms that the memory of the marvelous deeds of God in
Israel’s history is a proof of God’s steadfast love. Because of God’s intervention,
the people of Israel experienced extraordinary and surprising victories.
Recalling God’s great works of salvation is a source of joy, gratitude
and hope, which believers have for centuries expressed in prayer, hymns
of praise, and music.
The epistle reminds us that that which has been born of God is what
overcomes the world. This does not necessarily mean victories which can
be measured by human standards. Victory in Christ involves a change of
heart, perceiving earthly reality from the perspective of eternity, and
believing in the final victory over death. This victorious force is faith,
the bestower and source of which is God. And its most perfect manifestation
is love.
In the words of the gospel, Christ assures his disciples of God’s love,
the final confirmation of which is the Savior’s death on the cross. At
the same time, He invites and challenges them to show love to one another.
Jesus’ relationship to his disciples is based on love. He does not treat
them merely as disciples, but calls them his friends. Their service of
Christ consists in conforming their lives to the one commandment of love,
resulting from internal conviction and faith. In a spirit of love, even
when the progress on the way to full visible unity seems slow, we do not
lose hope. God’s steadfast love will enable us to overcome the greatest
opponent and the deepest divisions. That is why the victory that conquers
the world is our faith and the transforming power of God’s love.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, by your Resurrection You
have triumphed over death, and have become the Lord of life. Out of love
for us You have chosen us to be Your friends. May the Holy Spirit unite
us to You and to one other in the bonds of friendship, that we may faithfully
serve you in this world as witnesses to your steadfast love; for You live
and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
Amen.
Family Reflection
I was in the high Alps this summer, and on one occasion we looked up
to the highest ridges of the mountains in front of us, and there we saw
the tiny outline of two goats against the sky, balancing on the rocks in
the wind. If you have watched goats or deer in the mountains you will know
that they travel along narrow ledges and paths that to us seem very dangerous,
and very risky. But God has made them with an amazing sense of balance
so they can go to places we would never dare to. Our lives as Christians
can be like those of deer in the mountains. On occasions everything can
seem to be going wrong around us. But internally, because God is with us
and has changed us, we are peaceful and secure. It is like God has given
us special feet to climb the difficulties and challenges, the mountains,
of our lives.
Where in your life are there things that are like difficult mountains
to you? Have you asked God to give you his help to deal with them? Have
you invited him into all areas of your life, where He can be with you day
by day, hour by hour? |
