Churches are the people, not the buildings! Through restrictions placed during COVID-19, we discovered anew the importance of community.. We have been reminded how vital the connections between each other and with God are, even when they cannot be face-to-face.
This week’s Hebrew scripture includes the idea that god is with god’s people as they move around. God cares and promises stability. The relationship between God and David as well as David’s descendants is celebrated in the psalm. In the reading from the gospel of Mark, we see Jesus’ care for his disciples and the crowds that gather and follow him, while the letter to the Ephesians reminds us that we are all members of God’s community.
A focus on belonging and inclusion can be difficult for those who feel they are outside or not fully accepted in the communities they wish to be part of.
Personal Reflection:
Through his life, teachings, and ministry, Jesus united all peoples –even former enemies –and encouraged a move from strict adherence to legal details to a new understanding of the overall nature of God’s law: love God, love your neighbor, love self.
This week, think of a time when you were bothered by the details of obedience and felt freed by focusing instead on God’s call to love one another.