Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
“Because I always do what is pleasing to him.” (John 8:29)
I think about a recent day, and am all but ashamed to call myself a Christian.
It started before dawn with grumbling and complaining. A couple of good hours followed, then more complaining, seasoned with some sniping. A bit of gossiping came next, and then some whining. Some service and joy ensued, but they faded away in the face of judging, along with large dollops of crabbiness and crankiness.
And after all that, I wondered why I felt so tired and drained at the end of the day. It was plain as could be. I was a Pharisee. I was an Israelite. I had spent large swathes of my day pushing the Lord away, doing what I wanted in the moment rather than what I knew in my heart and soul would be pleasing to Him.
We hear all the time about the two greatest commandments: Love God, and love others as yourself. Great, challenging advice. But John reminds us in today’s lectionary Gospel reading why we should follow it: because it’s pleasing to the Father, and what could be better than to please Him?
