The 5th Sunday After Pentecost:
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Luke 10:25-37
Key Verse: “God’s commandment is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.” (Deuteronomy 30:14)
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Hello, This is Jade.
Welcome to Yi.kigai
A space for all to explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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Is there a rule, a value, or principle that you were taught to believe and obey from your childhood? There were many that my parents taught me to abide by when I was little. It’s interesting that I can practically still hear some of their teachings in my head after living apart from them for many years. Their teachings have influenced most of my intuitive decision making more than I realize.
The scriptures in Deuteronomy 30:9-14 say that God’s commandment is not something hard for us to observe since it has been written in our heart. It sounds like it shouldn’t be a new teaching or a random exciting idea that we are asked to observe without any purpose. It is a blueprint of our way of living together designed by God, not alone but among God’s people who influence each other's ways of living. Who wouldn’t want to be part of this community that never gives in to hatred?
Last Monday, the fourth of July, my family and I took a walk in the Arboretum. For us, like most families, it was a day to rest and celebrate. Soon after we started walking, we learned about the Highland Park parade shooting in Illinois, which is about 7 miles north of where my daughter lives. After this shooting, several parades in other cities were also canceled. More details about the shooting emerged throughout the day. It wasn’t a great day anymore in terms of celebrating the meaning of the fourth of July, especially to those living in the metropolitan Chicago area.
Whenever such tragedies happen, the most well asked question is, “How did anyone become so angry, hateful, or resentful enough to take it out on innocent people who were just having a family day out?” That morning around 10:15 am, roughly 15 minutes after the parade had started, more than 70 rounds were fired into the crowds, 7 people died and at least 46 others were injured.
There is no doubt that the most urgent response as a society is to have sensible gun laws and as a faith community we should pray for all victims and their families. However, what could be a long term response to such tragedies that have been happening so frequently in this nation? Does God care? Our answer is yes if we have been staying with God closely through ups and downs in our lives. What does God offer to support us in such unbearable situations through our way of living together that is enriched with God’s mercy?
The story from Luke 10:25-37 says that a lawyer tested Jesus on what he should do to inherit eternal life. After reciting God’s commandment, he asked Jesus who his neighbor was. Like the lawyer, we are challenged to think in a new way of defining ‘neighbor’. Normally we define who our neighbors are depending on where we live and where we call home. In my reflection on June 21, I encouraged us to expand our understanding of home and re-define it.
Through our faith in what Jesus has accomplished in his life, death, and resurrection, we all have inherited eternal life that comes from God. Therefore, all that we are and all that we have come from God alone, and God is our home. Since God is omnipresent, which means God’s presence is everywhere at the same time. Then our presence in Christ is also wherever God is. Residing in God, to whom we show mercy in time of need, we are their neighbors.
God’s mercy flows in us and through us constantly at each given moment in our own vulnerability. Are we confident enough to let God’s mercy flow through our way of living to others? Or is it too good to share to keep it as our own? Or are we too concerned that our way of living might not be good enough to let God’s mercy flow? If so, we overestimate ourselves. Our fallen humanity might stop us from sharing God’s mercy but doesn’t have the power to contaminate God’s mercy.
Our neighbors are individuals and communities that desire to be enriched by God’s mercy just as we do. The more we abide by God’s commandment, the way of our living together becomes a sign of a well-trodden path where we attract others to join. God is closer to us than we think. Let God’s commandment be written in our heart and give thanks to God for each other and for loving God and ourselves as others.
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May your coming week be blessed by God’s grace
As together we explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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