Hi everyone,
So I’m back from a week of holidays (well, I’ve been back for a week now after that week, but I just didn’t post in that time in spite of my every intention to do so), and it was an interesting trip. This was a bit of a first for us as it wasn’t our whole family that went, but just two of the kids and me. I’ve taken the boys on trips before, but they were mostly work related (although they didn’t do a lick of work during them), but this was the first time that I took our daughter with us.
The trip was fun, of course, but what was interesting was how we were able to do things together pretty much the entire time. Like one kid wanted to go swimming, so we all went. Another kid wanted to hang out in our room, and we all did that. I really wanted to sit down and eat, and we did that here and there as well.
We didn’t always agree on what we should do, but we did them together anyway. We didn’t agree on how we should spend our time specifically, but we still spent that time together. We most especially didn’t agree when it was time to go to sleep, but we all fell asleep around the same time anyway.
We didn’t agree always, but we were always together. Always with the same goal of being with each other. Always united in that sense.
Here are the readings for next week:
Acts 16:16-34
Psalm 97
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
John 17:20-26
And a video of these readings being read:
The thing is, we often see being united as being in agreeance (which I was told that is not an actual word but I think you know what I’m trying to say). And because people in general don’t often agree with each other 100%, we equate that with disunity. Then we conclude that we have a long way to go before Jesus’ prayer in this week’s gospel lesson is realised.
And that can be disheartening.
I mean, if Jesus’ prayer isn’t answered, what chance do we have? If Jesus’ love for us isn’t strong enough for us to get past our differences, how can we ever hope for peace? If even Jesus seems powerless to get us to get over ourselves, then how can this world ever heal, ever get better, ever be united?
But as you may have surmised with my seemingly unrelated story up there, unity doesn’t necessarily mean agreeance (again, with that possibly made-up word). Rather, unity means joined, connected, brought together somehow.
You know, like through God’s love, which we all share.
So you see, we are united. We are joined and connected. We are together, welcomed into God’s family and community, never really alone in spite of disagreement, difference, and diversity.
This is God’s promise to us. This is Jesus’ prayer for us. This is who we are as God’s people.
Thanks be to God! Have a great week, everyone!