Easter Day

 

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You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:6-8

How many things happen every day that are purely an act of love that I do not notice.  Most behaviour is part of an interaction.  I want my loved one to see the sacrifice I've made for them.  Greater than this are the sacrifices made that are not seen or understood.  I washed the bird muck off my wife's car.  What if she does not notice?

Peter Kropotkin, the Russian naturalist and philosopher did many studies of how animals act selflessly for one another.  This natural philosophy he saw this as a counter to the selfish individualism of interpretations of Darwin the capitalist West.  

Jesus' behaviour however, as clearly explained in Paul's letter to the Roman Church, shows that true love does not count the cost.  What if there is nothing to be gained for me, not even for my group?

As John Powel (Unconditional Love, 1978) says, the 'life principle' Jesus offers us is to walk in the opposite direction from all other 'life principles', power (from Adler), pleasure (from Freud) and diminished responsibility (Skinner).  

Jesus helps us to turn about and walk in this opposite direction straight into the face of common sense.  No wonder we keep bumping into people.

PRAYER:  As I turn about, I see the light, and realise that it comes straight from you.  And I walk towards this blinding light.