Come, Holy Spirit, and fill us that we might be
your action in this community. Amen.
You know how sometimes in school we have vocabulary tests? We study the definitions so that we know how to properly use the words. Having the right word for the right moment can be like a treasure. Well, this morning as we celebrate our patronal feast of St. Luke, I want to think about the word “church” and what it means. In particular, I want to think through what part of speech church is.
God of possible impossibilities, help us to open
our hands and let go so that we can receive your gracious love. Amen.
The rabbi and leadership consultant Edwin Friedman has a collection of fables that offer insight into the human condition. One is called “The Bridge.” The protagonist is a person who spent the first part of their life searching for truth and trying out different things, encountering both successes and failures. Through prayer and reflection, they finally have a sense of purpose; they feel like their life has a direction and destination.
A lot of people turn to religion for answers. We want to know, like Job, why bad things happen to good people. We want to know what the meaning of life is. We want to know how to live more peaceful lives. So we turn to faith, hoping for an answer. And while it’s true that faith is more about helping us to ask better questions than it is about giving us pre-formed answers, in today’s Gospel reading from Mark, Jesus actually does give us a very clear answer about life and faith. Jesus tells us that the Kingdom belongs to the little children.
