Juneteenth 2024

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. ‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling-block comes! ‘If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire. Matthew 18:1-9

We live in a land with a painful history. Some many horrible travesties done in the name of freedom. Our Creator gave us freedom and love from our beginnings, yet we regularly have violated, killed and limited people. We have tied the chains of slavery as a millstone on many generations. We have been stumbling blocks when we were called to care, welcome and honor. May this Juneteeth be a moment of change for each of us. A time of renewed commitment to peace among us all. As Canon Ed Rodman used to remind us all, "let there be peace among us, and let us not be instruments of our own or others' oppression."

 Juneteenth 2024

Wondrous Creator, you brought us forth

into a beautiful, verdant and diverse world

so we might learn how your love is everywhere

and how to walk among one another in peace.

Instead we are jealous and always angry

grabbing for ourselves others' toil and gain

capturing and enslaving in our great greed

and never seeing the love that is present here.

Help us to move from righteous to humble

from privilege to joy in welcome and aid

let our lives be dedicated peace among us

and the end to all oppression in our world. Amen.