Church of the Advent | Anglican Church in Colwood

Good day, everyone! It is the festival of lights (also known as Hanukkah) and Jesus is walking through Solomon’s Porch in this week’s Gospel reading, John 10:22-30. The Jews gather around and question Him yet again: "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus replies, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."

Recently I wrote about the topic of belief within the context of the church’s post-Easter conversations, and how my faith cannot lean on it alone. I used the analogy of a table upon which my faith practice rests. The four legs of that table represent believing, trusting, receiving and knowing. In this week’s reading Jesus’ merit is being questioned again and no matter how many times He has proven Himself as Messiah, His followers still want more evidence. Taking His word and witnessing Him in action seems insufficient in convincing them - belief in and of itself not quite cutting it. So, what will it take?

We can ask the same thing of ourselves. How many repetitions in verses, rituals and liturgical study will it take to deepen our belief and understanding? At a certain point we must be willing to let go of all the mental gymnastics and take that great leap in faith. Faith is experiential and the only way to dance with it is to dive in completely and discover it for ourselves. As illustrated in the table analogy, this approach encourages us to engage with the Divine in a more receptive and responsive way. When you lean on trust, you are yielding to life’s oftentimes subtle messages and redirections. When you are willing to receive, you shift attitudes and behaviours that may be blocking God’s blessings and insights. And when you begin to honour what you know by listening to your own intuition and allowing that wisdom to lead, you no longer need to seek answers outside of yourself. The leap requires that you allow yourself to be completely guided by an inner compass that is the Divine Source.

Jesus, in this reading, is asking us to take that leap of faith. It didn’t matter how many times He repeated Himself or demonstrated to others who He was, He knew that the only next step was for them to finally be willing to trust and embody the truths He shared. Jesus wanted us to turn inward and know God intimately in our own way. “My sheep hear my voice,” He says, understanding that in seeking the guidance that arises within, we align ourselves - body, mind and spirit - with God’s infinite intelligence. Like the table with its legs firmly planted, this type of connection and congruency is grounding. We become resilient and invulnerable to life’s superficial ups and downs and discover that nothing has the power to “snatch” away this firm foundation that is also our freedom.

If we only keep our faith to the realm of the intellect, we will surely find ourselves in shallow waters. Convincing our minds alone will not take us much deeper. But in taking the leap by tuning inward, we are given “eternal life” in the sense that we are forever connected to our authentic power source. When we are truly plugged into this power, passing doubts can no longer diminish us, because we are open and responsive to the steadfast guidance within that only exists to serve our highest good. Now we really are allowing God to “shepherd” us. Regardless of how you are reconciling your beliefs in this moment, trust whatever arises in you and follow it. You are beautiful, creative manifestations of Source, and you always have inner access to all the divine intelligence and wisdom that you need.

Have a wonderful week. Here are your parish announcements.

Blessings,

Caroline DeCiantis