Our theme for this Sunday is “to follow is to lead.”
I don’t know about you but I have a habit of learning something and then keeping it to myself. I’m more comfortable being the sponge than the teacher.
Our gospel reading this Sunday is part of a prayer that Jesus prays to God. And, he’s praying about the disciples. At one point he prays “as you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”
Jesus followed God, the disciples followed Jesus, we follow the disciples. But what that also means is: God led Jesus; Jesus led the disciples and the disciples lead us … so … we lead too. We lead those who are going to follow us; and folks can only follow us if we lead.
What does that mean? It doesn’t mean converting people. It doesn’t mean telling people what to believe.
It does mean taking what we’ve learned by following THE ONE and showing and sharing it.
What have I learned? I’ve learned that I’m loved by God; that God wants me to live with joy and peace and comfort and love. I’ve learned from Jesus that sharing God’s love means offering comfort and support to folks who feel alone or on the outside; sharing God’s love means advocating for justice in places where I have a voice.
To follow is to lead.
What have you learned from following the disciples, Jesus and God? How does your life invite others to follow?
See you Sunday!