'Peoples shall stream to it' - October 7
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 140, 142; PM Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12); Micah 3:9-4:5; Acts 24:24-25:12; Luke 8:1-15
Today’s Reflection
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. —Micah 4: 1-4
We’ve experienced many things since the shooting, loss of life, and ensuing trauma in our Parish Hall on June 16. We’ve experienced the things you would expect yet can never really prepare for fully until you are in the midst of it—like great grief for the loss of those we loved, and real trauma (or woundedness) in our minds and spirits, which may also manifest in physical symptoms in our bodies. How we experience this grief and trauma varies from person to person, but this is something that takes much time and tender care to work through, and something we should not try to rush past in our desire for normalcy and healing.
Related to that, we have also experienced beautiful kindness and generosity of spirit—both from people and churches we already knew, and from people and churches we never knew before, or didn’t know as well. There’s something about going through something challenging and sad and lifechanging that has the potential to draw people closer to one another.
One thing that has been beautiful yet very unexpected are the many new people who have come to worship with us and join our community of Christ followers over these past four months. Today’s reading from Micah reminds me of this phenomenon:
“In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’”
People will stream to it. When people see the many ways in which the love and mercy and grace of God have surrounded and filled this community of Saint Stephen’s over these past four months, they are drawn to that light and warmth as we walk with one another in the love of Christ. But notice what Micah says after the part about people streaming to the house or mountain of the LORD: “that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” Yes, it’s important to come to the mountain to worship God. And when we come, we are to come with, to use an old-fashioned phrase, ‘a teachable spirit.’ We come to the mountain so that we may learn God’s ways and how we may more faithfully walk in his paths.
As we come together at Saint Stephen’s, streaming together to share in worship and community, whether we have been here for years, are returning after a time away, or are brand-new, let us spur one another on and commit ourselves to coming with hearts and minds and spirits who want God to teach us his ways that we may walk in his paths.
Becky+
Questions for Reflection
Recall a time when you were drawn to a community, a church, or a person that encouraged you in your life and faith. What was it about that community or church or person that drew you to them? Warmth? Openness? Honesty? Kindness? Gentleness? What was it that drew you to our church community? What keeps you connected with others in following God?
Daily Challenge
Anderson Cooper just started a new podcast called All There Is, inspired by his experience of grief over the course of losing his father at a young age (when Anderson was 10), his brother as a young man (when he was 21), and his mother Gloria more recently (three years ago). I encourage you to listen to all the episodes as we continue to grapple with our own experience of grief and trauma, but especially commend his conversation with comedian Stephen Colbert, who lost his father and two of his brothers when he was 10 years old as well. It’s not a funny conversation in any way, but it is a very honest and meaningful conversation that is well worth your time.