New Brothers and Sisters - October 30

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 41, 52; PM Psalm 44; Zech. 1:7-17; Rev. 1:4-20; Matt. 12:43-50

In the postscript from Sebastian Junger’s book Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, Junger tells a story that he found in some research about the Cree Indians.  He tells a story from anthropologist Eleanor Leacock who went on a hunting trip with a Cree named Thomas.  They were deep in the bush when they encountered two men who were total strangers, lost and hungry and completely out of food.  Thomas’s response was to give them all of his flour and lard, resulting in having to cut their own hunting trip short.  When Thomas is asked why he did this, he responds to Leacock, “Suppose, now, not to give them flour, lard,” he said.  “Just dead inside.”[1]

Junger’s work is on tribalism, and he aims at trying to understand why soldiers have such a challenging time returning to an affluent and Western culture after war.  I find it deeply compelling and continue to return to his book year after year.   His answer is purpose.  To not help another human being is to be dead inside. 

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is expanding his tribe. He is making a rather profound statement when he looks at his friends and sees them as his mother and his brothers.   Because we will care for our family. When we expand our notion of who our family really is and who we are responsible for, we expand our capacity to care.  This is at the thrust of Christianity which understands human relationships to comprise of the body of Christ.  We are adopted into God’s family. 

I share the reflection from Junger because in our capacity to care for one another, we actually find life.  It might be why people show up to church, looking for meaningful ways to live out their faith, or why people show up at an outreach event wanting to contribute meaningful work.  We find life when we extend care to one another.  Jesus said that he came so that we might have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10).  Maybe it’s in learning to see each other as our sisters and brothers, together as the human family.

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  Who do you find it easy to help and who do you find it difficult to help?  Why do you think this is?  Who is your tribe?  Is that helpful or limiting? 

[1] 136, Junger, Sebastian. Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging.  Twelve Publishing, New York, 2016.