This last Sunday, I had the privilege and delight to lead worship at St Michael’s Uniting Church, Collins Street, Melbourne. The set readings included the beginning of the Gospel of John, the narrative of Jesus being around since before time itself. I used the reading, seeped in Greek philosophy and including the germs of antisemitism (“his own did not accept him”) to affirm to us that the writers of John were simply searching for an origin story which made sense of the changes they could see in the Jesus followers they knew in their personal experience. Somehow, those who followed Jesus and gathered with each other to celebrate, also had the courage to face the Roman occupiers. They also had the mettle to help as they could, to share wealth, to share food and resource, to bring hope and healing to others. The changes for the good around them said to John’s writers that there had to be more to Jesus than the classic Nativity culled from the other Gospels.
The writers were searching; as are we. They had occasional knowing; as do we. A number of years ago, I did this painting, its own narrative here. It was a gift I didn’t expect to help me, and others I hope, understand that faith is no more complicated than a search, a knowing, that knowing leading to more search, then new knowing. It’s a flow of searching for only one criteria – that of Love. The more we come to new knowing of new ways of Love, the more we know how powerful Love is. We search again, and find it fresh again. That’s all faith is. I apologise for making it seem so simple. There we are.
