e-vo for week of June 15

Dearest e-votees-

This coming Sunday is Holy Trinity Sunday. It is a Sunday set aside to emphasize the unique community found within Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is also a time where we can think about the community we are called to abide in and sustain as members of the body of Christ.

Peace,
Karl

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11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

2 Corinthians 13:11-13, NRSV

These are the closing words of the two part epistle to the church at Corinth. The Corinthian fellowship had its share of squabbles and disagreements and moral missteps. The parting admonitions were ones of peace, harmony and order. Affection is instructed and the words that so many churches speak as an invocation were written as a benediction to these saints.

We could take these words and try to live into them in our own strength. We could force ourselves to be gracious and loving; peaceable and agreeable, affectionate and orderly in order to merit God’s peace and God’s love. We could try—perhaps. But our efforts would not prove so very successful. We could easily get tired and jaded and to the point of feeling unappreciated. Even when our motives are at their best our old Adams and old Eves are right there inside struggling to twist things to his or her advantage. In our own power, effort, merit and struggle we will not live into the righteousness that we need and that God desires.

What we need is for God who is gracious and loving and merciful to show us how to be community. We need grace as shown by Jesus’ life, ministry, death on a cross and post-resurrection appearances that always start with “Peace, peace.” We need love as shown by God who pours out all that is available including God’s own Son in order for us to truly experience what love is meant to look like—deeply sacrificial, faithful and enduring agaph(ah-gah-pay) love. We need community and fellowship as shown by the indwelling Holy Spirit that comforts, guides, reminds, inspires and groans in intercessory prayers when our own words fail us.

In short, we need Paul’s benediction and our worship’s invocation as the starting point of every day, every moment, every venture and every new start. We need the blessings and presence and community of the Holy Trinity. As we are drawn into that community, grace and love will become more firmly rooted in our lives. As we are drawn into that community peace and concord—real peace and real concord—will come in sharp focus. As we are drawn into that community we won’t only kiss one another but seek to dress the wounds that happen on the road to Jericho and wash the feet of those who have been sullied by the world. As we are drawn into that community order—real order—will come into play that will remind us of God speaking order into the chaos before creation.

God, draw us into Your community. Help us love You with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength. As You work your ways in us we will truly learn how to love neighbor as ourselves—all to Your glory. Amen.