Relationships

This week’s lectionary can be quite challenging for preachers. It certainly was a test for me. Yet, if we look at three of the scriptures appointed for this Sunday, there is a thread that runs through them all: That of relationships and how important they are to God – and to us.

Genesis:  

“The Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner”  Loneliness, even in the presence of God shows that human beings are wired for companionship. We have been made in the image of God and part of reflecting God’s image is to live in community together. With the creation of woman out of the rib of Adam, God gives us a clear picture that the relationship he created between Adam and Eve was designed to reflect his love, unity and faithfulness.

Hebrews:

“…but in these last days, he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds…” The Son of God forsook his relationship with his Abba-Father to lower himself into a position to establish a better and closer relationship between humans and God. In establishing a more intimate relationship with humans, we now call him our Brother.

Mark:

“But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.”   This is a message that does in fact honor the marital relationship between husband and wife while at the same time, Jesus’ larger message is that God desires that we each have many blessings and positive experiences from every human relationship – the way God originally desired for us all.

“ Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” We are all God’s children. God includes all of us in God’s kingdom in a relationship like that of the unquestioning trust by the child and obedience to the will of the parents. God’s Kingdom is for all of us, the children, the weak, the vulnerable, the sick, the disenfranchised – All of us!

Hoping you will join us this Sunday as we explore the meaning of relationships in our world, our church and in our lives!

In God’s love and peace,

Deacon Claire