Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 43; Daniel 2:17-30; John 21:20-25; 1 Peter 1:22-2:3; Psalm 113
I couldn’t help but smile in reading today’s Gospel passage from John for the story revealed one of our most basic traits. Let me set that trait up for you. As Jesus, Peter, and others were walking along in the story, we are told that Peter did what many of us do. He turned his focus from his own walk and began focusing on someone else – in Peter’s case the disciple Jesus loved. When Peter shifted his focus from himself onto the other, Peter then devoted his energy in trying to decipher the other disciple’s journey. He asked Jesus, “What’s going to happen to him?” Jesus response to Peter was short and to the point: “What’s it to you?” In that short exchange, Jesus’ points out one of the most common spiritual liabilities we face. You see so often we become totally focused on others. We’ll look to someone who succeeds, for instance, and analyze their life to try to figure out their shortcomings so we can then cry out: “God, that’s not fair. I’m a good person and I struggle while so-and-so isn’t a good person and is thriving!” As a result, our spiritual lives become peppered with doses of anger and resentment. Has that ever happened to you? If so, today I would encourage you to follow Jesus’ advice and keep your focus where it belongs: on your own spiritual journey. You might be surprised at the unexpected growth that occurs in your life as you stop trying to tend to other people's gardens and start paying attention to your own. Til next time…
I couldn’t help but smile in reading today’s Gospel passage from John for the story revealed one of our most basic traits. Let me set that trait up for you. As Jesus, Peter, and others were walking along in the story, we are told that Peter did what many of us do. He turned his focus from his own walk and began focusing on someone else – in Peter’s case the disciple Jesus loved. When Peter shifted his focus from himself onto the other, Peter then devoted his energy in trying to decipher the other disciple’s journey. He asked Jesus, “What’s going to happen to him?” Jesus response to Peter was short and to the point: “What’s it to you?” In that short exchange, Jesus’ points out one of the most common spiritual liabilities we face. You see so often we become totally focused on others. We’ll look to someone who succeeds, for instance, and analyze their life to try to figure out their shortcomings so we can then cry out: “God, that’s not fair. I’m a good person and I struggle while so-and-so isn’t a good person and is thriving!” As a result, our spiritual lives become peppered with doses of anger and resentment. Has that ever happened to you? If so, today I would encourage you to follow Jesus’ advice and keep your focus where it belongs: on your own spiritual journey. You might be surprised at the unexpected growth that occurs in your life as you stop trying to tend to other people's gardens and start paying attention to your own. Til next time…
1 comment:
This passge reminds me of two Al-Anon slogans: "Whose business is it?" and "How important is it?". These slogans remind people to focus on themselves and not be distracted by other people's problems. This presents a conflict to me, remembering Jesus's commandment to love your neighbor. I guess Jesus is saying what we hear on takeoff in an airplane, "put on your own oxygen mask before helping others".
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