Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
SUNDAY, June 5 7 Easter
John 17:1-11. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
In the farcical movie Raising Arizona, when trying to explain how he was able to “adopt” a baby so quickly when he had actually kidnapped the infant, Nicolas Cage’s character says, “Well, this whole thing is just who knows who. Then over here you have favoritism.”
I often think of the spiritual life in such terms. We are members of a nepotistic faith; we are saved because of who we know. We are blessed because of God’s favor- itism toward us, not our worthiness or faithfulness to God. Jesus tells us that eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent.
It all boils down to a relationship. On the one hand it’s who knows whom (God knows us) and on the other it’s favoritism (we enjoy God’s favor through Jesus Christ.)
The unfathomable mystery of God is that God is a Lover who wants to be loved. The one who created us is waiting for our response to the love that gave us our being. God not only says: “You are my Beloved.” God also asks: “Do you love me?” and offers us countless chances to say “Yes.”
—Henri Nouwen
PRAY for the Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN) and the Diocese of Nsukka (Province of the Niger, Nigeria)
Ps 68:1-10, 33-36; Acts 1:6-14; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
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A Meditation for Pentecost
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