This blog provides a meditation on the Episcopal daily readings along with a headline from world news: TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE MIDWIFE

God is not supernatural power to be tapped but love to be shown

1 John 3:11-18
11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. 16We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
If John’s “brothers and sisters” applies only to members of the believing community then it is no better (but no worse) than the standard Jewish understanding of love “for neighbour” as love for one’s fellow Jew.
It’s not always easy, but not unusual, to show love for those who think as we do and belong to the same group as we do. The idiots shouting U-S-A the other night at the killing of Bin Laden were doubtless showing love for their fellow Americans.

love for our own people

Jesus specifically taught his disciples to love to outcast, the unclean and the enemy; and demonstrated this love in his ministry.
Love for fellow Christians is good in itself and can lead to more good. The existence of a loving church community is also a precious good thing. But this is not yet the love that Jesus preached or the community he desired to bring into being. He requires that love also embraces outsiders and enemies as well as friends and that the believing community should do the same. When we have this love, yes, we have passed from death to life.
It may that John’s “love” means more than love for fellow Christians. I would like to think so but can find no clear indication of it in this letter.
Luke 4:1-134Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ 4Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.” ’
5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ 8Jesus answered him, ‘It is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.” ’
9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you”,
11and “On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’
12Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’ 13When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. 
If you can’t turn stones into bread, can you be the Son of God? Yes, if you know what really enables people to live.
If you reject gaining power by worldly means, can you be the Son of God? Yes, if you worship the Creator.
If you can’t perform spectacular miracles, can you be the Son of God? Yes, if you know that God is not supernatural power to be tapped but love to be shown.
I think an interpretation on these lines is better than the one usually given which involves crediting Jesus with supernatural powers which he chooses not to use.