Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Lent: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 61 and 62; Evening, Psalm 68:1-20(21-23)24-36;
Genesis 42:1 to 17; 1st Corinthians 5:1 to 8; Mark 3:19b to 35:
“And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35)
Our Lord Jesus is saying that those who come to God in the way he does are his family. I have a huge biological family but we often differ regarding the way we interpret the inclusiveness of God and the inherent Christian service required.
It’s Church. I have friends here in Cumberland and Hoke counties of North Carolina who are not members of my Church; some are not members of any church. They are also somewhat relationally distant from me. My Church family however shares with me our understanding of God in our lives and the lives of our collective community. For me, the good news about our church is that we love providing Christian hospitality to all people. Yes, there may be individuals some of us may have a problem with but for the most part, all are welcome. We don’t care about what others believe or don’t believe. Our covenant Baptismal Creed requires us to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves and to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. (BCP 305) To all this (and more), we answer “I will with God’s help.”
My Pondering is from the Episcopal Church perspective. I don’t apologize for that. I have found spiritual family in this Church. Our Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Michael Curry, says that we are the Episcopal path of the Jesus movement. There are many paths but this best suits me. I believe everybody should have a worship family of some kind. Even if you say you believe in little green frogs, fine, but if you do, you should be found down by the pond every now and then.
Not being in my family is in no way a bad thing. In fact if you are not, then you are on the receiving end of our love, care, and hospitality. As the Most Reverend William Temple, former Archbishop of Canterbury (1942–1944) said, “The Church is the one institution that exists for the benefit of those who do not belong to it.”
Again I appeal to all who follow this blog, regardless of what faith path you follow, to reach out in support of the Ukrainian people in prayer and deed. They are our family in Christ Jesus regardless of what their faith tradition might be. They are our family. It is the will of God for us to care for them. So you see, it is as our Lord Jesus says, “Whoever does the will of God is my family. Thank you Lord Jesus.”
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 