My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. – 1 John 2:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 10, 2015): 1 John 2

Technically, Tenzin Gyatso – or more commonly known as (the 14^th) Dalai Lama - is the head monk of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. And while The Gelug School rose to dominance in the early portion of the 17^th Century, still the Dalai Lama should have had marginal influence in this world of ours. Even as the holders of political power in central Tibet, the influence should be limited. But it is not. The Dalai Lama has influence over political and religious leaders who do not even agree over his theology, he is a charismatic leader who seems to have the talent of drawing people from diverse belief systems and walks of life into the conversation with him. Today, it is hard to find anyone who knows the Dalai Lama who is willing to speak ill of him. And just as the world (and not just the Christians) will mourn on the day that we are told the Billy Graham has passed away, the world will mourn when we find that the Tenzin Gyatso no longer walks among us. I know that in Buddhism, the belief is that Tenzin Gyatso is just the latest reincarnation of the Dalai Lama – a string that reaches back to the original Dalai Lama, Gendun Drup, who was born in 1391 – yet there is something very special about this 14^th version of the original.

Part of what makes the current Dalai Lama special is that he is a perfect advocate for Tibetan independence. The world has been drawn into the conversation over a region of the world that has never known real independence. Often referred to as the roof of the world – and home to Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth at 8, 848 metres (29,029 ft) above sea level – Tibet is a mountainous, land locked region of the world with a special people and history, but rarely much in political power. Except in the charismatic personality of The Dalai Lama. Whatever happens in his homeland, he will advocate for Tibet – and will do so in a peaceful way. And because of that peaceful charismatic way, the world will listen – even when they do not have an emotional understanding of the conflicts that surround Tibet. We listen simply because the Dalai Lama speaks. He has changed the landscape around the concept of Tibet.

John gives us the simple purpose of his letter; that we may not sin. In this comment he tells us two things – yes, there is sin in the lives of Christians that needs to be dealt with, and no, it does not have to be there. There is a way, and according to the letter that John is writing, and that way is the way of love. Love, of everyone around us – and essentially a way of peace – will keep us from sin. And the sinless life is the one for which we have been designed. But, if we do sin, we have an advocate. We have one who stands in the presence of God and mediates for us. We shouldn’t be in sin, but that does not deter our mediator.

And according to John, that mediator is Jesus, the Messiah and the righteous one. And it is because of what he has done, the way that this Jesus lived and died, that the Father listens. We need to understand this. It is not because of what I have done that I deserve the Father to hear me, but only because of what Jesus has done. His life of love and peace changes landscape, and because of that we can find real forgiveness.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 John 3