Advent
December 6, 2017
Scripture Reading: Psalm 65:1-2, 8-13
Praise is due to you,
O God, in Zion;
and to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.
Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy. –Psalm 65:1-2, 8
I believe that each person has a unique relationship with God and that we cluster together to serve God based on our similarities. I jokingly say, but it is true, I was born to be in a congregationally governed congregation because of my independent spirit. I have friends who are much at home in hierarchically governed churches. Some understand the Bible from a more literal sense; others glean more from its allegorical views. Is there no wonder there are more than 900 denominations? Is God not able to love each and all and to be present when any two or more gather together in God’s name (Matthew 18:20)? How else would it be possible for God to welcome all flesh that comes to God? All are called to love God and to love one another demonstrating that love can take many forms.
What about our Abrahamic relatives in faith? The Psalmist talks about all flesh coming to God not a select few. We share much good with our Jewish and Islamic cousins in faith. I was deeply disturbed by the recent release of a Twitter post of a man designated as a Muslim slamming a statue of Mary to the ground breaking it. While such an act offends Christians, it also offends Muslim. Did you know Islam venerates both Mary and Jesus? The Quran* mentions Mary more than the Bible. Whoever produced the Twitter video did not do their homework.
When all people work first toward the things upon which they can agree, we will all take a step closer to the love God envisions. When we center on our differences, our link to God suffers.
Prayer: God of Might and Miracles, make us whole, make us one. Amen.
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_in_Islam