But we have never met in person before! - April 30

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 37:1–18; PM Psalm 37:19–42: Exod. 20:1–21; Col. 1:24–2:7; Matt. 4:1–11

In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he is addressing a specific community, the one in Colossae, and yet in this section of the letter, he also wants those who have yet to see his face, to be encouraged as they “are knit together in love, to have all the riches of assured understating and the knowledge of God’s ministry.” Paul is writing to people he has yet to meet and they are connected by a letter or epistle. They are united in the faith and a part of the same community by virtue of how they are seeking to support and encourage each other.

I keep wondering when things will return to normal. Last Sunday, we were scheduled to have a Newcomers gathering at my home, one of those events that was dropped when everything else was. And yet I wonder, as we grow in how we connect with one another, will the necessity of having met in person recede? Can you be part of a community if you have never met anyone in that community face to face? How we geographical boundaries and social boundaries shift as the church lives into her mission in the 21st Century?

These are interesting questions to suggest when most of us are attending church online. One thought would be to consider how often we look to find our connection to others through the social values and connections that we all hold when looking to build community within our own tradition. Where do you work? Do you have children? Where do they go to school? Where do you live? Do you know Bob or Sue or Pete? I wonder if these surface-level questions become obsolete when we become connected on something much deeper, our faith in God, and a desire to deepen that faith through a willingness to grow and seek unity with a diversity of believers. Maybe this will make our own faith much richer because it will expand our understanding of the Body of Christ. All we need is a little openness to be willing to go there.

-John+

Questions for Self-Reflection

  • When you last walked through the doors of a church, who were the people that you sought out to connect with? Why?

Daily Challenge

  • If you are connecting to worship, through the internet, spend time today and tomorrow paying attention to what you can learn from someone else. Maybe it will come through their greeting or prayer requests.

John Burruss