After raising Lazarus, Jesus and the others gathered at Martha's house for a meal. As they gathered around a meal of fellowship, memories of a few day earlier came to mind. After Lazarus died, many of their neighbors gathered around Martha and Mary to support them in their time of grief and sorrow. The same can be said for the upper room when Jesus gathered with his disciples, as Jesus needed community around him. In the Garden, Jesus took three three of his disciples with him for support and witness, and while on the cross those closest to him (his mother Mary and John his disciple), gathered around him.
Brothers and Sisters, this twenty-first day of Lent is all about community and how community cares for one another. When we speak of church we must be careful not to link the word church to bricks and mortar and a structure. When we do this we limit what true community is and disregard the fact that when a community of God is formed, they are stronger than the strongest concrete or steel.
A few weeks ago our community lost one of its dearest and most beloved members. When this occurred the church community formed around the family in support and fellowship just as the community gathered around Martha and Mary. Friends, we need people around us to live a full life, and we need to be there for other people as they live life, celebrate, mourn, and as they pass to eternity with Christ.
As I prepared this morning's message I contemplated what image to place on this page, as I thought and prayed I decided on a picture that is an image of a healthy community. The picture is of a group of young ones gathered around a table in laughter and fellowship, a better image of how Christ calls us to fellowship in community never existed.
My prayer for all of us this day twenty-one of Lent is that we all have a community of Christ loving support around all of us, and as we are community, we allow others to be community with us.
Thanks for letting me be part of your community
Pastor Tim.
Day Twenty-One Bible Readings
John 12:1
John 11:19
Romans 12:15,16
Mark 2:2-12
James 2:15-17
No comments:
Post a Comment