Living in the Spirit

August 16, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Thus says the Lord:
   Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come,
   and my deliverance be revealed.

And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
   to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
   and to be his servants,
all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
   and hold fast my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain,
   and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices
   will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
   for all peoples.
Thus says the Lord God,
   who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
I will gather others to them
   besides those already gathered.

I just returned from an Interim study meeting at the State Capitol regarding the status of immigration in Oklahoma. It was one of the most wonderful representations of working together to solve complex issues I have seen recently. CAIR Oklahoma, the Islamic group whose mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims, requested it.  Oklahoma welcomed 1,800 Afghan asylees after the USA withdrew its forces from Afghanistan. I was at the meeting because my church sponsors one of those families.  Representatives from other churches were there. Catholic Charities were present as the immigration coordination agency in Oklahoma, and a contingency of people from the Jewish community were present as they also were helping resettle the immigrants.  There were also not-for-profits in attendance and just individuals who had been involved.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all meetings in our State and federal capitols could meet together to find common ground for the Common Good without turning everything into a political showdown?

Prayer: Lord, guide us in building the Beloved Community you envision for us. 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.