The Lamb of God

My last post was on the power of God to transform us from our "natural' selves into children of God--people who act like God instead of like "human" nature, the "empty way of life handed down to us by our fathers," as Peter puts it.  Even if we have the natural capacity to be "good people," what we cannot do for ourselves is enter into communion, or fellowship, with the Father, with the Son, and with the Holy Spirit.  Of ourselves, we cannot know the great adventure that life is when we walk with God, sit with God, and stand with God;  we cannot give ourselves love, peace, and/or joy, no matter how "good" we think we are. These are gifts from the hand of God Himself, given to those who receive His Son and are made children of God.

Today, in Give Us This Day, I find this:

The Lamb of God

 

In front of the power and armies of Caesar,

in front of their mighty weapons,

stands a lamb, the lamb of God. 

What can this lamb do?

The lamb will break down the walls of fear, of aggression, of violence, of sin

which imprison people in themselves

and incite them to seek their own glory.

He will liberate in each person a new life of communion with God,

with other people, and with what is deepest in the self,

sowing seeds for universal peace.

 

In our world today are some prophets like John the Baptizer

who are spectacular.

They prepare our hearts to receive Jesus.

But when Jesus comes, he comes not as a spectacular God of power,

but as a gentle lamb,

the Chosen One of God, the Beloved.

 

He comes in a very simple way, opening our hearts to people

with the breath of peace and a quiet shaft of light, a gentle kiss.

He comes into that part of our being that is our treasure,

that sacred space within us,

hidden under all the fears, walls, and anger in us

so that we may grow in the spirit of love.

 

Yesterday, as today, John the Baptizer is calling people to be attentive

to the quiet voice and presence of Jesus,

calling us trust him

and to enter into friendship with him.

We are being called to be gentle followers of the Lamb,

not people of power.

--Jean Vanier, Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John

 

As much as I want to elaborate, my words can add nothing to the power of re-reading Vanier's poem slowly, meditatively, asking for the wisdom of God to descend upon our hearts and minds.