Reading
1 John 5:5-8
Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.
Devotion
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| Photo provided by the artist |
We see a lot of blue throughout the creation, reminding me of the water. The entry into the life of faith, for the Christian, is by baptism, an experience of water. This past week, some of us celebrated the Baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan. This marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, which will culminate in the crucifixion. The red of the blood is readily apparent as is the image of the dove as Spirit. The windows encourage us to consider looking beyond, perhaps in the words of St. Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13:12, that 'for now, we see through a glass dimly.'
The blood coming from the dove makes me think of God's intense, passionate, concern for creation. This is no distant deity but one who enters into the pathos of creation in solidarity. I take great comfort in knowing that God is 'in it' with us. The Dove looks a wee bit dirty to me as well--the Spirit works in so many ways and in places often considered 'unclean' yet always with the intention of drawing people closer to God. Finally, there is a bit of a berry-like sense to the blood. Sometimes I think the Fruits of the Spirit are produced through blood, sweat, and tears, echoing St. Paul's words in Romans 5:3-5.
What does this image of the Spirit bring to mind for you, dear reader?
Prayer
May you see God's light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall—
You do not walk alone.
Amen (From a Celtic benediction)