Come & See
Sunday Gospel Reflections
When Andrew met Jesus, he knew that Jesus was the Messiah. That's why Andrew invited his brother Simon (later called Peter) to come and see for himself.
Come and see who we are.
Come and see God's goodness.
Come and see how we love.
Sitting in the Ditches
What if our imaginations were utilized for the glory of God?
Where equity, justice, and even angels are so normative that we expect them to be guests at our table. Where we promise to love our neighbors as ourselves and respect the dignity of every human being. Where we don’t give ourselves a pass, but sit in the ditches with those who suffer, honing our empathy.
Examining Anger
When you feel the rage, you’ve got to be able to know which one it is. Is it a rage, like that leader of the synagogue, one that leads to oppression, or one that is leading you or someone else to releasing, pardoning, or freeing? Is it one that needs a long walk by yourself, or one that burns until you speak it? Is it one that you need help with? It is one that you need to fan a little, to keep your energy faced in the right direction, towards those who need your voice?
Image credit Nazar Ivanyuk
A Time of Uncertainty
So besides loving God and our neighbor, what are we to do? In this time and place of division we must be followers of Jesus before we’re anything else. We must be seeking first the kindom of God. We must be doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God. We must be enjoying this beautiful world that God has given us, always mindful that it is a gift and a delight to be cherished and shared. We need to laugh, to find those places where we can just delight. We must be looking for those fingerprints of God, for that strange and odd work of convergence and hope, for those quick glimpses of clarity in the midst.
Healing a Little at a Time
It’s not always the huge changes that bring about healing. It’s the little things: Stopping the conversation before things get really heated. Refusing to hate. Remembering all the little ways to love and then doing them. Telling the stories of God’s faithfulness. Listening with our hearts. Inviting all. Reminding others of their belovedness.
Gifts for Our World
This Pentecost we’re invited to step again into the stream of Spirit. We’re invited to slow down. We’re invited to pay attention to the small things, to listen deeply, to love, and to be more human, comfortable and even to embrace our weaknesses and our liabilities.
These are some gifts y’all. And they are not only gifts just for us. These are gifts for the world, our world.
Jesus’ Invitation: Come
Jesus’ final message isn’t one of judgement or condemnation. It’s an invitation to all of humanity to join in the inner life of God. Come.
We’re All In This Together
Whatever it is that brings you and the world healing — whether it be swimming in fresh water, enjoying nature, loving this long, slow spring, loving one another, enjoying your family, friends, and pets, serving one another, therapy, reading, weeding, wisdom, do it. We’re all in this together.
Let’s Practice Resurrection
Resurrection reminds us, shows us, pulls us, tugs us in another way because where we are right now isn’t enough. The Good Shepherd’s love fills us up, and it is this very love that propels us, calls us, reminds us that what we have right now isn’t enough, not near enough. And we all know it.
Signs of Resurrection
If you blink, if you’re not looking you'll miss them - signs of resurrection! They point us to the new heaven and new earth that’s happening right now. They point us to the hope that lives in our bodies now, the signs of the active Body of Christ, the Church, YOU!