Eastertide
April 4, 2018
Scripture Reading: Psalm 133
How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing,
life for evermore.
God likes it when we get along. The world was designed with just that in mind. The earth is a very complex ecosystem that supports a beautiful diversity of plants and animals, earth and water, men and women. All are important and necessary for our world to thrive. This is the oneness Christ desired for us.
Our response is lukewarm at best and downright evil at worst. Humans are capable of being selfish. We will work toward oneness when there is something in it for us, which is not true oneness at all. This is best illustrated by Heaven and Hell: The Parable of the Long Spoons* by Sofo Archon. Hell is a place full of starving people who would not be starving if they feed each other. Heaven is the opposite, a place where people readily feed each other and flourish as a result.
God created humans with the power of choice. Along with that responsibility, we are also required to face the consequences of our choices. God did not leave us without guidance. Many of the stories of God and God’s peoples are recorded for our use, prophets brought messages from God in ancient times and still speak today. God sent Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to help us make wise choices. Perhaps the most important choice we make is accessing and applying these readily available resources.
Prayer: Thank you God for the world in which we live, the freedom to think and make choices, and the ever-present help you provide in our journey of faith. Amen.