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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face=Arial>An
idea on next Sunday's Gospel:</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal>We are not left orphaned (John
14:18), in spite of the fact that we at times feel alone and abandoned due to
life’s ups and downs, life’s achievements followed by misfortunes.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Not only is Jesus himself coming to us,
he has left us an Advocate to be at our side.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This Advocate he calls “the Spirit of
Truth.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, we are mistaken if
we suppose the Spirit is going to defend us by giving us truth in the sense of
information, data, intellectual content or facts that we can shape into dogmas,
dogmas that we can impose as a litmus test for being a true Christian. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As we scan this Gospel reading we see
that the Spirit’s veracity is not truth to the letter, but is intimately tied up
with Jesus’ commandments and love.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>We can search all of the New Testament and we will only find one
commandment ever given by Jesus. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In
John 13:24, right before today’s passage, so it is fresh in the reader’s mind,
Jesus says “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Just as I have loved you, you also
should love one another.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That’s
the only time Jesus ever mentions a commandment from himself.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This commandment to love is the truth
that holds up in the Spirit’s court of law.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>St. Augustine in the fourth century said
“Love and do as you will.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In other
words with love we will do the right thing.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Love creates a tight circle that is
paradoxically tight and inclusive at that same time, never shunning or
exclusive.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Jesus speaks of a circle
of love.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is in the Father, and
we are in him and he is in us. (John 14:20) <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Let us look around and search out the
neglected and lonely and keep the commandment.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That’s how we profess truth.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We are not left orphaned; and we do not
orphan anyone else.</P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Bob
Eldan</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Lander
Wyoming</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face=Arial><A
href="http://preachingtip.com/">http://preachingtip.com/</A>
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