We. This is the word for today. Each of us is an essential member of much larger realities—families, congregations, communities, nations, relationships of all types. How we speak and act affects whether each “we” to which we belong is a heaven or a hell, whether it is life-giving or life-harming.

Jesus calls us to walk the way of we, not the way of me,… He lays out a way for us that is gracious and faithful to God’s will.

Anger and hatred must not be indulged, neither lust nor lying. These sentiments poison the soul and rip apart families, communities, and nations. They lace human care and nurture with bitterness and mistrust.

Measure words and actions by whether they nurture relationships of mutual care and concern. Resist the insatiable demands of ego to get your own way.

Seek unity with others. Take the first step to reconcile and make peace where differences divide. Speak simply and clearly that your words may be trustworthy and true (and few), avoiding all deception.

In today’s gospel, Jesus does not commend certain actions in order to gain God’s favor. Christ has already named us blessed and beloved. Everything that is in him is ours—overflowing grace, unlimited welcome, unconditional forgiveness, living water when we despair that life is gone.

Through Christ, the Holy One is creating a new world, the kingdom of heaven. We are invited to participate in this community of divine love, where the blessings of creation and the fullness of God’s favor are freely shared among everyone and everything. Walking the way of Jesus, we are Christ’s partners in this holy endeavor, essential members of the great We our Lord is creating.

From sundaysandseasons.com.

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