Hi everyone,

We had dinner with some friends last night, and inevitably the conversation was about our kids. Their kids are pretty close in age to ours, and so they are all going through similar stuff. Not exactly the same, but just similar.

Like, they’re in the same grades-ish, dealing with friends, and looking ahead at what the future might bring. But they’re also in different schools, have different interests, and face their own brand of problems.

But even in their similarities and differences, I noticed that they were all equally loved. Well, maybe I love my kids a little more than their kids, but I mean us who are parents love our kids the same, however many we might have.

In that, our love for them isn’t tied to their accomplishments or failures, their skills or lack thereof, their hopes and hope-nots. But the love that they have from their parents comes from them simply being their kids, an extension of their love, and part of the family that they created.

That doesn’t make the kids perfect, not by a long shot. But it does make them loved. And that is what really matters.

Here are the readings for next week:
Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12
And a video of them being read:

I know, we just got this gospel reading a few months ago, right? But what we just got last time was out of Luke, this one is from Matthew, and the focus is a bit different. Luke pairs his “blessings” with “woes”, while Matthew only has the blessing. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but it is something I think needs to be pointed out.

Because while Luke makes a distinction of who is blessed and who is woed, Matthew only focuses on those blessed. Not that it’s only them, but I believe also them.

In that, those on the margins, those who might not have it together, those who society seems to forget or look down on, are loved by God. But not only them, also them.

Often it feels like the world wants to pit us against each other, that if it’s them, it’s not us. And if it’s us, then it can’t be them. But I believe the story of the bible is actually that it’s all of us, together, differences, discrepancies, and divisions alike. God loves all of us.

And blesses us too. Blesses us with forgiveness, salvation, and God’s very presence in and around our lives.

It’s my hope and prayer that we see this, and are able to treat and regard each other accordingly.

Even in these difficult times, I give thanks and praise to God, our Rock and Salvation.