Eastertide
May 15, 2019
Scripture Reading: Psalm 148
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord! –Psalm 148:11-14
One of the greatest challenges churches face is melding together the rich and the poor, the powerful and the masses, the young and the old combined with racial/ethnic and sexual diversity. How do we become one in such a dynamic environment in what, I think, is a technological/communication revolution that may eventually exceed the challenges of the industrial revolution of the 19th century?
The church is one of the places, if not the primary place, where all these groups come together with what should be a common cause. Therein, may lie the solution. People who are truly dedicated to a common cause are people who get things done despite differences. I watch on TV as diverse people rush to rescue those threatened with floods, parents of children killed in school shootings cluster in advocacy for change, saving boys stranded in a cave. Do we have to wait for life and death situations to create a world ruled by love? Where do we look to find our common cause?
Perhaps in all the complexity in which we find ourselves, it is time for us to keep it simple. Loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves is the best place to start. I think limiting ourselves to working on the list Jesus is quoted as saying in Matthew 25 about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, restoring those in prison, and welcoming the stranger are our common cause. Anything that distracts us from those actions is not a priority of God’s.
Prayer: Lord, help us find you simple service that means life for so many. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.