How do we connect worship on Sunday to life on Monday? How is “Gospel justice” proclaimed in our everyday lives here in North Portland? Being a believer means that we live a certain way – walking with the Lord, doing justice, loving kindness, and living peaceably among all people. True Christian discipleship means practicing what Jesus preached. How are we doing when it comes to listening to Him closely and following Him faithfully? Our discipleship is found, after all, in our relationship with Christ and our commitment to His mission of “bringing good news to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and setting the downtrodden free.” (Isaiah 61)
Along with all other people, we all have unique talents, gifts from God that we are called to develop and share. We are encouraged to celebrate this diversity. How aware and active are we when it comes to using our skills and expertise for the common good, the service of others, the protection of creation, and in being good stewards of the gifts we have been given? When we labor with honesty, serve those in need, work for justice, and contribute to charity, we use our talents to show our love in practical ways – and God’s love, too – for our brothers and sisters. Last weekend, the Gospel challenged us to plant, plant, and plant some more. God is in charge of the growth, His ways are unique, and He is ever-faithful to accomplishing His good in us.
Let us pray. “Eternal Father, you created us in your own image and likeness, but sin has warped our minds and hearts. Here at home and throughout the world there is so much injustice and so much carelessness of the rights of other people and personal responsibility. When you, Lord, are excluded from our hearts and consciences, the inevitable result is that people suffer, injustice spreads, and the common good is all but forgotten. Restore us, heal us, remind us that the poor, the captives, the blind, and the downtrodden still await the good news of liberty, sight, and freedom. Use us as you see fit to establish your justice more and more. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
