For the past couple weeks, on the Gratitude Journey, we’ve considered when we are thankful for God in Nature, and how we can see our History and our Heritage as ways to be grateful to God. There have been images on Facebook of ways I am Grateful for these parts of my life. This week, I’m offering Community as a place to look for God.
It doesn’t matter whether you live in a small or large town,
you are surrounded by people. They are part of your extended community. Then there is
your church community, your work community, your friends, and even the online
community. This coming weekend, I’ll be hanging out with some of the women of
the Diocese of the Rio Grande. Each time we gather, there are different women
present. It is an ever changing, ever expanding, and wonderful community.There are many ways we are interconnected. Paul reminds us that we, as humans, are One Body. Our stories all start with birth and end with death. We are, as I noted last week, more similar than different.
The Old Testament lesson for Sunday is Haggai 1:15b-2:9. In it, God reminds the people returning from exile in Babylon that God is with the people. God promises God is with them still. “Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.” (Haggai 2:3-5)
God calls the people to become a community and rebuild the Temple because “The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity.” (Haggai 2:9)
In the Epistle this week, Paul encourages the community that is the church in Thessolonica in Greece. He says, “we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God…called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15)
Even though Paul was born and raised a Jew, he has learned to find common ground and community with the Gentile Greeks. He is a friend and mentor to them. Often our communities are similar to who we are. We choose to hang out with others who share our beliefs and who look like us. It’s comfortable that way. The Sunday School song Jesus Loves the Little Children asks us to expand our community definitions.
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red, and yellow, black, and white,
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
All the children of the world.
Red, and yellow, black, and white,
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Each of us is beloved by God. Each of us is precious to God. Each one we meet is also beloved and precious. How might our reactions change if we looked each person in the eye and saw God? The Indian greeting of Namaste recognizes that the Divine is present in the one we are greeting. Maybe we can practice Namaste this week.
I'll be posting images of community on Facebook this week. Join me in expanding your community.
What does your community look like?
What are some of your communities and how are they inter-related?
What if God is calling us to a broader definition of community?
If you need Biblical inspiration, consider some of these Bible verses:
1 John 1:7
Col. 3:13
Gal 6
Prov 17
Matt 18:20
Rom 12
John 15:12-13
1 Peter 2:9-10
