You are the Mirror - April 17
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 1, 2, 3; PM Psalm 4, 7; Dan. 1:1-21; 1 John 1:1-10; John 17:1-11
Most of my summers from age fifteen to twenty-two were spent in a small town in northeastern Arkansas working at a Boy Scout Camp. Most summers I worked on acquiring more freckles serving on the Waterfront Staff and my last summer I was the Program Director of the camp. Every year, we would have around thirty staff members and many young people only came to work one summer.
One of the greatest lessons I learned was from one of my first bosses, who told me that we shouldn’t be judged on how good of a job we do. My boss shared, “I expect you to do a good job. However, you will be remembered by how well you build up the people around you who will carry on the work.” Making sure you train up your replacement was critical for the success of the camp because we couldn’t work at the camp forever, even if many of us wanted to.
I thought of that advice while reading today’s Gospel from John when Jesus says in verse 8 “for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.” Jesus has received God’s word and empowered his disciples to carry on the work of Christ.
The 50 days of Easter are designed for you and me to learn to see the manifestation of Christ in this world. To proclaim God’s resurrection is to be open to seeing God’s resurrection lived out. It begins with curiosity and openness. However, we are also recipients of a faith that has been passed down to us, and we have been equipped to be the bearers of God’s Good News. This creates an interesting dichotomy: We are the image bearers of the image we seek to discover.
Maybe Easter should be a reminder that if we need to know there is goodness and beauty and resurrection in this world, we should look no further than a mirror. The profound truth is that no matter how much we have messed up, come up short, left things undone, God’s grace and love are a reminder that we are the image of Christ to others. We get to pass down this great truth and legacy to those who come after us. What a beautiful gift to live into! Happy Easter.
Faithfully,
John+
Questions for Self-Reflection: Consider who you are good news for? Who are the people whom your life has a positive and joyful impact on?
Daily Challenge: Consider who you might be a mentor in the faith for. Spend some time considering how you might be more intentional about mentoring that person.