“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand." Matthew 12:25
Yesterday, the Smith Street Society Jazz Band played for our Pentecost worship service. I had worried the days before that people would not like the idea as we have a pretty traditional group and generally they hear fairly traditional music on Sunday mornings. We decorated the sanctuary with red balloons -some of them escaping during the set-up - and put on a festive and playful tone for the day. My fear melted away as we processed in (swaying slightly to the New Orleans style music) smiles lit up on every face and radiated all through the service. We heard the Gospel in many voices and processed outside at the end of the service to continue our reverie to everyone's delight. We witnessed a house united by the spirit and the music for a time.
Jesus knew that together his disciples could change the course of people's lives through the love of God. And he knew how hard it was for us humans to be a people united, needing to keep our egos and feelings in check while we work compassionately together for others. And yet Jesus also knew that Gos gave us all the power to be united and God will continue to do so.
Today, I want to rejoice in a community that can be so complicated and multi-faceted and still be joined together for the good of others. I want to be an agent of the spirit today which aches for our divisions to end and our lives to be a united force for healing and restoration. May God grant us the spirit's power to love even the unlovable today.
No comments:
Post a Comment