Reflections
Conversations that I have heard in the past month:
-As I was restocking the Blessing Box an older, well-dressed man asked me, “I see all kinds of people taking things from there. How do you know the food is going to those who really need it?”
-“I saw fewer ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Jesus is Lord’ signs this year. What’s happening to our country. We are supposed to be a Christian country!”
-“If everyone just believed in Jesus they’d get a job and we wouldn’t need welfare…and we certainly wouldn’t need to expand Medicaid.”
Words that I have yet to hear from Jesus:
To those listening to what became known as the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are you who are the ‘deserving’ poor.” Luke 6:20
To the woman caught in adultery: “You are getting what you deserved.” John 8:10-11.
To Zacchaeus, tax collector: “I can’t come to your house because you are a traitor and a cheat to your people.” Luke 19:5
To Duncan Gray: “I love you more than the any of the above because you have a job, pay your bills and don’t cheat the system.” Luke 18:11
Hard work, fiscal responsibility and accountability are all important parts of our common life as citizens. They are crucial to the health of our country. However, we should never equate those virtues with the love of God, a love that forever overflows whatever limits we wish to impose on grace. None of us deserves the love that we are given. That’s why we sing about “Amazing” grace, a gift that overflows to us, but which we always look for ways to limit and restrict.
It’s just one old man’s opinion, but I sure wish that, rather than concentrate on the Protestant Reformation’s insight about the individual’s personal relationship with God, we remember Jesus’s calling together of a community . Rather than concentrate on me and mine, how much differently we might behave if we remember St. Paul’s admonition that we are all a part of a larger whole, where no part of the body of Christ, or the body politic, can say to the other, “I have no need of you.” 1 Corinthians 12:21
I wish that we could remember when Cain, after killing his brother, responded to God’s inquiry about the whereabouts of Abel by saying, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The implication in God’s silence is clearly, “Yes, Cain. You are.”
As we wrestle-Democrat and Republican, believer and non-believer- to make this country stronger, kinder and wiser, I have heard these words over and over again from Michael Curry, our Presiding Bishop: “If it’s not about love, then it’s not about God.”
So, yes, our willingness to follow Jesus will often make us appear foolish and unrealistic. That is how it has been since the beginning, and I don’t see Jesus making any changes to discipleship any time soon!
Other Matters of Interest
Mark Your Calendars!
Prior to Bishop Seage’s visit on Sunday, February 12, we will be having a party at Fountain Square to honor him and those being baptized (1), confirmed(1) and reaffirming their faith (2). The party will be on Saturday, February 11 from 5-7:00pm. It will be a casual, multi-generational gathering with barbecue as the catered entree, a Grateful Dead theme (Bishop Seage’s favorite!) and lots of fun! Singing, games, a special mystery guest and the wonderful fellowship of this congregation will make this a very special night.
Because it will be a catered affair, the planning committee would like to have a good estimate of the number of folks to count on. We are looking at a variety of ways to RSVP.
There is a sign-up sheet at the church to indicate your plans to attend; you can click here to sign up via our google form; or you may contact me at dmgrayiii@gmail, or by text at 601-260-1937. Better written down than simply telling me/us!
I am so looking forward to that special weekend!
See you Sunday!
Peace,
Duncan
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