Tag Archives: Welcoming all

Angel Unaware

Eastertide

May 20, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Romans 8:12-17
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. God knows who God’s children are. We were not given the job of that discernment. Thus, we are called to love ourselves and all others. Hebrews 13:2 says it this way: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. The Vatican amplified this idea with the Angels Unawares sculpture by Timothy Schmalz installed in St. Peter’s Square on September 29, 2019, the 105th World Migrant and Refugee Day.

Dale Evans’ book Angel Unaware taught me about welcoming all people as children of God. Dale Evans and Roy Rogers were movie and TV stars who had a baby they named Robin. Robin was born with Downs Syndrome. Rather than sending her to a home for children with special needs, they chose to raise her at home and ended up changing the way all children with disabilities are welcomed. Robin died when she was two years old, and Dale Evans poured her grief into the writing of this book. She wrote it from Robin’s perspective, looking down from heaven telling God about how she had completed her mission of love. That love continues to be shared here in Oklahoma City at the Dale Rogers Training Center.

Paul reminds us in this scripture that God is the final judge, and our job is to follow God’s example of loving one another until love rules the world. Loving-kindness can restore people to wholeness, and sharing it usually grows our ability to love.

Prayer: Lord, teach us the truth of Robin, whose short sojourn in life spread love throughout our land. Please help us to do the same. 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.

Bearing Fruit

Lent
March 17, 2018

 Scripture Reading: John 12:20-33

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. –John 12:20-26

John moves Christ’s followers toward diversity in this scripture reading. The visiting Greeks were not Jews who lived in Greece or Greeks who had converted to Judaism. These Greeks were gentiles and Jesus welcomed them. He spoke about the death of seeds planted eventually bearing much fruit. In Matthew he had commanded the Disciples to Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20) In John Jesus is modeling that command.

We too live in a diverse world with multitudes of different skin tones, cultures, customs, and languages all made in the image of God, but not all always treated as God’s children.  I watched a story on TV recently telling the story of children in the Congo being held out of school to mine for minerals necessary to make our cell phones and other electronics work. Greed is the driving force as child labor is cheaper than adult labor. The children work hard, well, and long for the small sums they are paid.

Part of opening our hearts to all of God’s children is doing justice for them. When everyone in every nation has enough to be fully the people God endowed them to be, we will experience the joy of the Kingdom of God.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see our citizenship in the whole world and work together with our brothers and sisters across the earth to foster wholeness, oneness, and justice. 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.