Nothing On My Own

‘I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgement is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. ‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent. ‘You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?’ John 5:30-47

I remember hearing an interview with Louise Ercich (Chippewa) years ago who told the story of being asked by cub scout leaders what a "young brave" would take into the woods with him. I heard her wise laugh when she answered that a young boy would take his mother with him. She explained that young boys, in her tradition, are taught survival skills by their mothers until they are strong enough to keep up with the men while hunting. Otherwise, they could cost lives. They were terribly offended. Jesus says, "I can do nothing on my own" and we are taken aback. No matter how strong, independent and able we are, we still need one another. When we build and maintain communities of support we are following Jesus.

Wondrous Creator, who brought us into communities

where we can learn and thrive as we become strong

help us remember the vulnerable and needy among us.

We often push away from families and communities

when we think we can do everything on our own

and find ourselves crying in the wildernesses of life.

Help us to be grateful for all who have walked with us

make us always ready to seek you in everything we need

and make us builders of support for those who need it today. Amen