Greetings on Sexagesima Sunday, the second Sunday before Ash Wednesday. Entering worship being reminded that love (not an emotion) is what makes everything we do important and worthwhile.
Our invitation into worship reminds us that love is a bond of peace (wholeness) and virtue, and that without love the work we do is dead. Our Hebrew scripture from Genesis recounts Joseph revealing himself to his brothers after he had been in Egypt by their actions and the restored relationship they had once he was revealed. The Psalmist’s refrain tells us that evildoers and those shun others will suffer in the final accounting. The letter to the Corinthians was a argument about the bodily resurrection, and that God was able to do what God promises, even if we don’t recognize it. Our Gospel from Luke speaks about loving your enemies and those who treat you poorly. Jesus reminds that if we only love those who love us, are we no different than non-believers. Our love is the relationship based on God’s standards.
Points worth considering, the grace we receive from and through God is unconditional – God gives grace to those who receive it because God is God, not that someone merits grace. We are called to love those who are hard to love, to stay related to those who are not exactly like us, because together we can better see God’s presence. God’s standards are not judgement, rather they are standards for cooperative and thriving life. God’s grace makes up for the imperfect human response to God’s standards.
God’s grace doesn’t demand we ignore differences or gloss over failings. Rather, God’s grace allows us to seek reconciliation and reconnection, if possible, and if not, to go forward in love and the consequences of the demands of relationship. How is God’s love and grace guiding us forward? I invite your likes and comments,
Les+
Readings: Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38
https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/epiphany-7-sermon
