Living in the Spirit
June 16, 2018
Scripture Reading: Mark 4:26-34
He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’ –Mark 4:26-29
Charles, who does my yard work, had one of his staff trim the two crepe myrtles in my front yard yesterday. Over the late spring, the bushes both had become very scruffy and were blocking sunlight from reaching the earth surrounding their trunks. Charles suggested that I buy some grass seed and spread it on the revealed bare ground.
My scruffy crepe myrtles are a great metaphor for what is happening in our world today. Hate and greed and lust for power are blocking the love of God from reaching all of God’s children. Those of us who have heard the call to be part of the Body of Christ have an urgent call to overcome where ever possible those things that are blocking God’s light by our love nurturing our world so that God’s children cannot just survive but thrive.
Families with children are fleeing a plague of violence in Central and South America that is killing adults and children. Separating the children from the parents at the border as an incentive to reduce refugees seeking asylum is ludicrous. While these parents mourn the loss of contact with their children, the parents are putting faith in the USA to not kill them. The sad thing is our public officials do not even know that. We the people are better than what our government is doing in our names.
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. –Matthew 5:14-16
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we fail to be conduits of your light throughout the world. Amen.