Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from Genesis 2 verse 18, “The Lord God said: It is not good that man should be alone,” (NRSVB). The Garden of Eden must have been the most perfect environment to have lived in; but, the human being had an innate need for constant companionship. God created humans with the need to communicate and be among other humans. Being alone is one of the fears of the human race. Most of the creatures of God congregate in groups and find community and safety in these groups. God saw the need of Adam to have a companion that was likewise, but also different, and God created Eve. The relationship between Adam and Eve also endured misunderstanding and ultimately they had to leave the perfect environment of Paradise and learn to live on earth by toiling together. This togetherness causes people to feel connected and give them hope of survival and overcoming problems jointly. Adam and Eve must have been the most compatible partnership, created for each other, and even they had times of disagreement that ultimately cost them losing their privilege of being in God’s Paradise. The possibility of being alone is shown throughout the history of humans. Adam and Eve felt deep loneliness and loss after the death of their second son Abel, who was murdered by his elder brother, Cain. Adam and Eve had to banish their eldest son, due to his misdeed. They suffered the deepest anguish possible; death in the physical and emotional realm, for their son Abel was physically dead, and Cain was lost to them. Being human means to have to face loneliness, for in life and in death, human bonds are severed. But God earnestly remembered the human beings He created and blessed them and promised them his companionship on earth and his ultimate redemption through the coming of his Son. David speaks of finding in God the perfect companion, “Nevertheless I am continually with You: You do hold my right hand,” Psalm 73 verse 23, (Amplified Bible). We travel the road of birth and death alone, despite the presence of others round us. God assures us of his presence and his holding of our hand to guide and guard us. We are blessed with the joy of companionship of other humans, but we are assured that when the bonds of earthly relationships fail, God will never leave us, nor forsake us, and sustains us with his presence that gives us unknown peace.
“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home,” John 19 verse 26 to 27, (NRSVB). The pain of Jesus’ mother, seeing her Son suffering the unfair death, (to redeem Cain and all humanity and restore us to the Father), was unbearable. Christ saw her suffering and secured for her “a son” in the disciple John. For John, the loss of Christ, his Master and Friend, was incomprehensible. Jesus knew that both his mother and his friend would be able to help each other and address their loss and fear by supporting one another, remembering the words and work of Christ. For it was only in the time after Jesus’ ascension that the purpose of his life, work, suffering, death and resurrection was revealed. “But take notice, the hour is coming, when you will all be dispersed, leaving Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me,” John 16 verse 33.
Jesus Christ died a God-forsaken death for us, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” He suffered in order to break the bonds of alienation and loneliness for each and everyone, so that we can enter God’s presence and receive his joy and comfort.
“And I will ask the Father, He will give you the Spirit, for He lives with you and will be in you,” Amen.