What Jesus Said

Post date: Feb 07, 2020 2:47:53 PM

Blessings of God’s peace be with you!

As I’m sure you are aware, this has been a week filled with divisiveness, rancor, and just plain nastiness. It has been exhausting to witness — social media has become a place not to share expressions of joy or encouragement, but has been used as a space for argumentation and posturing. I don’t know about you, but our communities and our nation so at war with each other has burdened my soul.

Amidst all this swirling turmoil, I kept praying, repeating, chanting one Scripture text from the Gospel of John 13.34-35: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Love one another. 

As Jesus loves us.

So people can see Christ’s love through us.

This is my simple encouragement for us this Friday morning. This is my simple prayer. As followers of Christ, I invite us to practice and live out this commandment wherever we go or whomever we are with. No matter how much we may disagree with each other, let us put down our words of weapons and take up words of Love. And then maybe — just maybe — we will see God’s love go forth and heal a world, taking what is divided and making it whole and at peace.

Let us embody this new commandment from Jesus this Sunday at 10:30 AM as we gather for worship. The Joyful Noise Adult Choir will sing the anthem, “Light of the World.” I will be preaching from Isaiah 58.1-12 and Matthew 5.13-20 and my sermon title is Salt and Light. As it is the second Sunday of the month, we will take up a Deacons’ Offering to help those in need in our community.

I will see you on Sunday, beloved one of God. Go and love fiercely.

In gratitude for the privilege of being your Pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish