Keepers of the Word!

Jesus and Satan have a discussion as to who is the better computer programmer. This goes on for a few hours until they come to an agreement to hold a contest with God as the judge.
They sit themselves at their computers and begin. They type furiously, lines of code streaming up the screen for several hours straight. Seconds before the end of the competition a bolt of lightning strikes, taking out the electricity. Moments later, the power is restored and God announces that the contest is over.
God asks Satan to show what he has come up with. Satan is visibly upset and cries, “I have nothing. I lost it all when the power went out.”
"Very well, then,” says God, “let us see if Jesus fared any better.”
Jesus enters a command and the screen comes to life in vivid display and the voices of an angelic choir pour forth from the speakers. Satan is astonished.
He stutters, “Bu-b-but how?  I lost everything, yet Jesus’ program is intact.  How did he do it?”
God smiled all-knowingly, “Jesus saves.”

The Gospel reading this weekend is from John.  I am moved by the words of Jesus . . .”if anyone loves me, they will carefully keep my word – and the One who sent me will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”  I have been pondering what it means to “keep my word.”  For I know that when someone asks that we keep a secret, we hold it in confidence for the other- not sharing it in anyway.  When we are asked to keep something, we hold onto it – possessing it.  And then there are a plethora of other “keep phrases,” such as: keep back, keep time, keep to oneself, to keep at, keep track, keep a stiff upper lip, keep an eye out, keep a straight face, keep the change, keep watch, and keep on keeping on!.

But I have pondered that the keeping that Jesus is speaking about is not possessing but giving  - the giving of oneself – living the words, teachings, values, attitudes of Jesus – embracing it all and allowing him and the One who sent him to move into our deep down sacred self Home within  –  with bag and baggage – Word and Wisdom – Mystery and Mercy – with everything and every grace that God is – to empower us all to be disciples of the Word – to be Keepers of the story, Keepers of the Spirit!  The feast of Pentecost is soon to be celebrated. It is the great outpouring – as said by Richard Rohr – where everyone spoke in different languages about the love of God, and everyone understood!

Jesus is “Word” – his life is story, movement, flame, mystery, power, unconditional love,  reign of God . . .He comes to us again and again in the Scriptures, in the faithful assembly and in the sharing of the cup and the breaking of the bread. So to keep his Word is really to give it away – to gently hold it, and to share it with all peoples, and all creation.