Hi everyone,
School is finally out for all of our kids (high school lets out a little earlier than elementary school) and just in time too as the weather finally got nice. I love summer, not just because of the weather but also the freedom that it seems to bring regardless of what age we are. Yes, the rhyme goes “no more school, no more books, no more so on and so forth”, but even as a parent who continues to work through most of the summer, it just feels like some of that pressure is lifted.
At least, until I see all the ways I can fill up that freedom. Like work on the yard, clean the exterior of the house, work on that car that has been sitting in the garage for way too long, etc etc etc. And then suddenly it doesn’t feel so free anymore. It kind of feels like work.
But the good news is, I actually enjoy working in the yard. I like that feeling of satisfaction when a job is done. And I love being able to tinker with my car.
So it’s not that I have to do these things, but it’s that I get to. I guess that is freedom after all.
Here are the readings for next week:
Isaiah 66:10-14
Psalm 66:1-9
Galatians 6:1-16
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
And a video of these texts being read:
I’m pretty familiar with the 10th chapter of Luke, as we’ve used this passage a lot in our Synod. And I usually land in the same place with it: we have a lot to do.
And with that, comes pressure. Stress. A standard we might put on ourselves to ensure that we get the job done right. If I’m honest, I didn’t really like that feeling.
But then as I kept reading it, I noticed the promise that Jesus offers: the Kingdom of God is near.
First and foremost, the Kingdom is near. It matters not how well the job was done or how welcoming we are, the Kingdom is near. Even if we aren’t received well or if the dust of our towns are kicked off in protest, the Kingdom is near.
So then every thing else before that isn’t so much something we have to do, but something we get to do. We get to talk about God. We get to share our faith. We get to be welcoming, hospitable, and be gracious while we ourselves receive welcome, hospitality, and grace.
This is the gift of God. The gift of community. The gift of the Kingdom come near.
Thanks be to God! Have a great week, everyone!