The Power of Community - December 11

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 25; PM Psalm 9, 15; Amos 7:1-9; Rev. 1:1-8; Matt. 22:23-33 

Yesterday morning, I worshiped at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and Anglican cathedral in Buenos Aires. I was late by twenty minutes as plans had gone awry due to the investiture of the new Argentinian president taking place that day. A parade was taking place, and it took some fancy maneuvering to get through the crowds of people.  I wandered downtown and up the steps of the cathedral to walk into worship with about thirty others, including a few expats, but mostly people from Argentina.   

I walked in during the sermon, not understanding anything.  By the creed, an usher brought me a bilingual guide.  The church was using our Book of Common Prayer for worship, a more than comforting realization.  A young woman had taken the three children to children’s chapel and brought them back for Holy Eucharist, a similar practice to our own worship at Saint Stephen’s.  We walked forward to receive communion, kneeling at the rail as I would at most Anglican/Episcopal churches.   

Following the service, I was invited to coffee hour, and enjoyed some fellowship and hospitality with the twenty or so who lingered, including a lunch with a retired American professor of Latin American studies and fellow Episcopalian.  It was deeply moving to find Christian community and hospitality and life in worship. 

As I waited at coffee hour, I talked with an Argentinian man who worked as a tailor as he shared how he struggled some with his faith as his parents aged, especially when one was in the hospital.  We talked about the second coming of Christ, and in our own way encouraged each other in our faith. 

As Jesus encounters the Sadducees in today’s Gospel passage, they are struggling to believe in the resurrection.  Jesus teaches them and all walk away amazed.  He encourages them to believe in what they could not believe in their own.  Community has this power, to help each other in what we struggle to believe on our own. 

This is what we do for each other.  The power of community is that God gives us faith through each other, encouraging each other, lifting each other up, and helping each other see what we can’t see on our own.  Thanks be to God for how you share Christ with others, and my prayer is you see the power of the Holy Spirit working in you to build up those around you.  Thanks be to God. 

Faithfully, 

John+ 

Questions for Self-Reflection:  What have others helped you to believe?  Are you aware of helping others grow in their faith, in what way?