Love in Deed and Truth
“I support Adam as Zara would’ve wanted and recognise the soul crushing guilt that he faces.”
With these words, Anna, the mother of the late Zara Mitchell, acted in deed and in truth, as St John encouraged readers in his first letter, “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.” Adam had driven while ‘high’, he had continued to drive when told by the police to take his unsafe vehicle off the road, and he had driven with lights off into a tree. Anna’s daughter died as a result of the crash. Many in this situation would bay for the young drivers own blood, Anna asked only that he would live a life worthy of her daughter. And Zara’s sister said, “I have no words to express the tragedy that fell upon me and us – that day will forever haunt me. But from that night onwards, he (Adam) has gained respect from us.”
In the reading from Acts, Saul is understandably feared by the disciples in Jerusalem when he arrives, and they are reticent when he tries to join them. Someone needed to speak for him, and Barnabas took charge of this, and of Saul. Commending Saul to the disciples, and speaking of what had happened to him. How he had been changed, experienced metanoia on the way.
St John in the Gospel recalls Jesus’s words concerning the disciple’s growth, through attachment to him, and through being pruned by his words. Pruning would seem a process that is not without pain. There is loss as well as growth into the future.
The Mitchell family experienced the most painful of losses, the death of their daughter and sister. And into this darkness they have brought light – whether disciples or not, they have brought the Light Of Christ!
As we continue to enjoy these Easter autumn days, and continue to reflect on the presence of the Risen Lord, may we recognise that discipleship does include pruning. It does include even preparing ourselves for times when we may be called, like the Mitchells, to respond remarkably, bringing light into times of darkness. A light that scatters the darkness, and brings hope and new life.
With prayers, patrick
