Pastor Thoughts for November 7th
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” Gal 6:10
From Luther’s lecture on Galatians,
“Behold, how great the breadth of Christian benevolence is! For it must be all-encompassing as Christ also says in Mt 5:46: ‘If you love those who love you what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do this? Nevertheless, Paul gives precedence to those who are of the household of faith, because we have been bound to them with a closer tie, inasmuch as they are from the same house, the church, from the same household of Christ, and have one faith, one Baptism, one hope, one Lord, and everything the same” LW AE 27:401
Through the third use of the law [the Christian guide], God shows us how to love our neighbor. Likewise, Paul teaches them to “bear another’s burdens”[v.2], or “you who are spiritual should restore in a spirit of gentleness”[v.1]. Especially to those who are the household of faith as we are bound closer to them in “one faith, one Baptism, one hope, one Lord and everything the same”.
For the short time I have been here, I have seen many of you embody these words of St Paul. Loving and praying, supporting and comforting one another. And I pray that through constant receiving of the Word and Sacrament, we may continue to grow together in one faith.
We are a family, and we stick together because of what binds us together. Not because we like the same tv shows, or the same hobbies/sports teams, or our personalities align but rather, we are one family because of The Word.
I encourage you to look around on Sunday, and if you haven’t seen someone in church for a while, give them a call and see how they are doing. If you see someone at church that is struggling, ask them, “how can we pray for you?” Or if you see someone at church that you have never spoken to, give them a “hello!”. After all we are a family, and we walk together, united together in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
+PrJ