Loving is no small matter. Loving is vital to a just society. Jesus tells us that all commandments are summed up in these words: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Yet, loving is not a simple task. We come up against disagreement regularly in our everyday lives. Unfortunately, these days, rather than listening and learning and reconciling, we are prone to take sides. Animosity has creeped into our culture.
We come together in this faith community to support one another in deliberate loving, to inspire one another to live the lives we are meant to live, in relationship with one another, in the light of Christ. We are invited to cast off the yoke of individualism and enter into a profound commitment to others, a discipleship of fellowship. This fellowship will not always be easy. At times, we will disagree. At times, we will be offended. But, our faith does not prioritize right vs. wrong. Our faith prioritizes relationship. So, here, in this faith community, we commit ourselves to forgiveness and reconciliation, to keeping our hearts open to one another, so we can faithfully collaborate in ministry.
We learn about God’s covenant with God’s people, God’s promise of love, throughout Scripture. We hear in Isaiah (54:10): “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord.” Every Sunday, in Eucharist, we receive the “Blood of the New Covenant.” We enter into Christ’s covenant, who forgives our sins and offers us new life. Covenant is deeply rooted in our faith. As we kick off a new program year, let us enter into covenant with one another to create a discipleship of fellowship.
I offer five elements for our covenantal life together. First, let us worship together, and as much as possible, in person. There is synergy in coming together. Relationships among us deepen as we recognize our common desire to love God and our dependence on one another. We are supporting and inspiring one another on our faith journeys. Second, let us assume the best in one another and trust that we can be authentically ourselves with each other. Every one of us is loved by God in our uniqueness. Third, let us forgive one another. We all need forgiveness. God forgives us, and so we forgive. Fourth, let us give ourselves to this community, sharing with each other our talents and resources. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). Fifth, in gratitude for being nurtured in our faith, let us share Christ’s love in the world. Worshipping, trusting, forgiving, sharing, loving.
Loving is no small matter and not a simple task. Let us remember these words from John’s Gospel (15:11), when Jesus is urging us to abide in his love. Jesus says, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” Discipleship does ask something of us, being deliberate in loving. Within a discipleship of fellowship, we share the journey; we inspire one another, and come to the joy that is God’s peace. Through a discipleship of fellowship, we bear witness to the world of Christ’s love. What a respite from the animosity. What a gift to the world.
Jeanne+
