New Leaven

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

The House of Bishops is an interesting place like none other. We are a very complex and mixed bag of people, who although leaders, are also normal humans in needs of colleague and companions. Despite some of the tedium, I am often inspired by the kindness and sacrificial nature of so many. Some of our bishops do their ministry on a shoestring, and with great creativity and spirit face the constant challenges. They humble and inspire me to offer God my best where ever I am planted.

The writer of the letter to the Corinthians challenges them to live humbly. Instead of boasting, they are reminded to be sincere and truthful, putting aside malice and evil. God invites us today to be made new through Christ, sharing the joys of simple things and celebrating the true blessings of life - one another. We are called to rejoice in the goodness that God has showered upon us and not compete or judge each other. God promises if we are live sincerely and humbly, we will be renewed, remade and transformed.

Today I ask God to help me put aside all competition and comparison. May we instead see the tremendous gifts we have in the relationships around us. May we rejoice in the blessings we have, simple or grand, knowing all that we have comes from God. May we share the blessings we have today with a word aching to be invited to the table of joy.