Sunday Reflection (May 19, 2019)

The history of Christian mission is God embracing those outside the covenant, and making them a part of the people of Christ filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:1-18). Together, all of us share in God’s grace and compassion and in turn share God’s grace and compassion with the world; yet, as the history of Christianity has shown, Christianity has not always embraced this equality and deemed some second-class Christians. It could be Christians of another denomination, different culture, geographic area, social-economic standing, the color of their skin, or citizenship status.

Who do you deem a second class Christian? With whom would you not share a meal?
With whom would you not extend the handshake of equality and friendship? To expand that a bit further, who do you consider to be a second class human being? Remember: We are all created in God’s Image! We who follow Christ are all part of the same Church, Christ’s Church. We are all involved in the mission of sharing God’s grace and love with the world to make the world a better place for all, especially the most vulnerable, and the “least of these” as Jesus calls the most vulnerable.
urned 21 in prison doing life without parole. No one could steer me right, but mama tried. Mama tried, to raise me better, but her pleading I denied, that leaves only me to blame cause mama tried (Merle Haggard).” As the young man brought pain to himself and his mother by rejecting her voice, we bring pain to ourselves and others when we reject the voice of the Good Shepherd (John 10:22-27).

When it comes to steering us right, the Holy Spirit has tried, but have we listened? I know I have had trouble listening and following the voice of the divine Shepherd through the Holy Spirit. It is not that God has not spoken, it is that I have not listened with the intent to follow. Do we hear the voice of Christ speaking to us? May we listen with the intent to follow.