Welcoming God

I know we are all feeling penned in, having been encouraged to social distance and with much of the commercial and public spaces closed. 

With parts of our community re-opening, even if in a heavily restricted way, their is a strong urge to break free of our physical limits and restrictions.

I certainly feel it. 

My desire to do the right thing and my health concerns for spreading the virus has dulled by fatigue and impatience for this to be over.

I want to be close with my friends and family and do normal things like share a meal together. I want to be present with you my parish family, to worship, sing, and talk. 

But the truth is we are not through this yet. Until there is a vaccine or a treatment that  gives us an upper hand, we all remain vulnerable to a deadly virus.

The virus doesn’t care if we are tired of our self kept safety bubbles. 

So, I am encouraging you to continue to be vigilant and be safe.

Our reading for this Sunday is from Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 10 verses 40 to 42. Our passage today is the last three verse of his instructions to his disciples before Jesus sends them to bring restoration and healing to those in society and culture who are harassed and helpless. Jesus says to them,

 “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” 1

Here is the video with prayers and a message for this Sunday:

The full set of readings for this Sunday can be found here.

Be Well and God Bless.

Peace,

The Rev’d Canon Rob Park

P.S. If you are looking for even more church this Sunday be sure to check out our diocesan Facebook page and YouTube page for more live-streamed (at 10am on Facebook) and recorded liturgies from Bishop Susan Bell.

  1. Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.