Living in the Spirit

July 18, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Mark 6:53-56
When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

The time has come to stop debating who is right and who is wrong—who has the corner on God and who does not. We are experiencing what we have known all along if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. (Mark 3:25)   We have tested the idols of our world and found them lacking. We have learned from experience that the love of money is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10) Now we need to invite Christ to walk among us and heal our wounded souls.  God wants our love of God to be our choice as God wants us to foster a world where we all love one another by choice. Is that the vision we each see when we look in a mirror? Does our life reflect any of these ways of the world that sent Israel into exile, later allowed the temple to be destroyed, and the fall of Rome? Democracy is the image of its people.

Prayer:
Draw us in the Spirit’s tether; For when humbly, in thy name,
Two or three are met together, Thou art in the midst of them:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Touch we now thy garment’s hem.

As the brethren used to gather In the name of Christ to sup,
Then with thanks to God the Father Break the bread and bless the cup,
Alleluia! Alleluia! So knit thou our friendship up.

All our meals and all our living Make us sacraments of thee,
That be caring, helping, giving, We may true disciples be.
Alleluia! Alleluia! We will serve thee faithfully*. Amen.

*Draw us in the Spirit’s Tether, by Percy Dearmer, Chalice Hymnal page 392

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.