All God’s Children - July 7
Today’s Readings - Psalm 5, 6; Num. 35:1-3,9-15,30-34; Rom. 8:31-39; Matt. 23:13-26
Several years ago, one of our children came home from school visibly upset. When I asked what was wrong, he told me a friend of his needed a place to live. He had argued with his mother, and she had asked him to leave. I never knew the whole story, but it was enough to know that he needed to feel welcome and safe and our home had plenty of room. After several months the young man was able to move back home. I never asked him what had caused the rift, but I’ll never forget the expression on his face as he walked in our front door, the pain from rejection was palatable.
Unfortunately, I’ve heard other similar stories. Every time one of my children told me about a friend who found themselves in a heartbreaking situation like this, I would assure them that could never happen in our home, that no matter what they would always be loved, and our home would always be their home. However, I think deep inside, every child harbors the fear of being alone, of doing something or being someone so unforgiveable they lose the one place where they have belonged, where they felt loved. In a way it makes sense. A child’s parents represent everything that brings security, emotionally and physically, even their ability to survive. Additionally, we are all born craving acceptance, coupled with the need to belong. Even as adults I believe we all harbor traces of these feelings, needs and insecurities.
In today’s epistle from Paul to the Romans, Paul is confronting the division that has grown between the Jewish people of the church in Rome and the Gentiles who now are in the majority. Paul addresses the Jewish member’s fears that God has abandoned them, his chosen people. Paul is assuring the Jews in much the same way that a parent might reassure his children, that God’s promises to them are just as certain now as they were when God first made them. God’s covenant remains intact. Like a parent who has more than one child it is possible that God can love all of God’s children. God’s history with the Hebrew people was one of a covenantal nature. With the birth of Jesus and his death and resurrection that covenant now includes all of God’s children, Jew, and Gentile, free or slave.
As Paul argues elsewhere in his epistle, our salvation is not based on good deeds, it’s not transactional. Our salvation just like God’s love through Jesus Christ is based on nothing we’ve done or not done, rather it is based on God’s grace, a grace that frees us from a “Naughty or Nice” tally sheet. Knowing God has never asked anything of us but our love almost feels too easy at times, as if we’d feel better about it if we were required to earn at least some of God’s grace. The beauty of grace is just that however, it can’t be earned and in turn it can’t be taken away for lack of brownie points.
Just as we are loved unconditionally so are our neighbors, so are those we’d rather not sit next to on the bus, along with those bullies we still avoid even though 6th grade was a lifetime ago. I’m not sure we ever completely outgrow the deep craving to feel secure and loved. But if we can acknowledge that in ourselves, can we recognize that everyone else holds that same need? And if we can recognize that then surely, we must recognize we are all undeserving yet loved, accepted despite our imperfections. Ultimately, we are all more similar than we may like to admit, the question is can we live together, sharing God’s grace and work together to build up the Kingdom of God?
Faithfully,
Sally+
Questions for Reflection and Challenge - How often have you wondered how God could possibly love you in spite of all those things you’re not proud of? Now stop and close your eyes, open your heart and your arms to the loving grace of God then try to imagine what this world would be like if everyone knew that same kind of acceptance and love.