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Sunday 12 May 2024. Easter 7. Acts 1:13-17,21-end. Psalm 1.
Abundance Looks Outwards and is Generous with Time, Care and Attention.
Acts 1. It may be relatively easy for us to imagine Jesus moving around with a group of twelve men following along, it’s a bit of a crowd but somehow manageable. However, we know from the Gospels that he was frequently accompanied by far more, for example numerous women or the group of 72 etc. Here we have the names of two who were with Jesus throughout his ministry from his baptism through to his death and resurrection.
To say that Jesus gave generously of Himself is an absurd understatement, but I wonder whether we even consider what that looked like in his daily life. In a society where we value our privacy and personal space, especially since Covid, this might seem very challenging, but how willing are we to share our lives in order to disciple others? Shared meals? Shared knowledge? Shared time and space?
According to Ps 1, those whose roots go deep into the things of God, whose hearts are set on Him, will be fruitful (v. 3). That sense of abundance is not necessarily of material things but of a deeply rooted character that is outward looking and generous to others in time, care and attention. The kind of person we all want to hang out with, in fact, a person a bit like Jesus.
Margaret Wooding Jones is a Licensed Lay Minister. As well as serving in her local parishes, she works with the Spirituality Network in Rochester Diocese and regularly leads Quiet Retreats and training days. She is hoping to publish a book shortly.
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