Our scripture readings this weekend speak to the importance of relationship. In our reading from Genesis, we will hear part of the story of creation that speaks to our connection with God, one another, and all of creation. The creation story teaches us that we are meant to live in harmony with God, who gives us life, with one another, with whom we share a common bond of life, and with all of creation around us, with whom we share this planet. Together we make up the circle of life that begins and ends in God.
Over the past several Sunday’s, our readings from Mark’s gospel have presented a side of Jesus that may perhaps surprise us. We typically find Jesus challenging the status quo, encouraging people to become their best selves, and offering healing, forgiveness, and compassion. Yet last weekend we heard Jesus tell us, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off". Jesus is not encouraging us to literally cut off our hand, but rather, he is challenging us to think, to look inside ourselves, to assess our motivations and desires and to keep them in check with our call to be people of love.
When Jesus addressed the issue of divorce and adultery, which we hear this weekend, he was speaking to an injustice. The sin of adultery is not about sexual pleasure, but about the damage to a relationship, the broken promise and covenant between two people. When we keep secrets, it eats away at us; it keeps us from freely loving and being fully loved in return – that’s where sin comes into the equation.
When we look into ourselves, when we form our conscience, we realize that sin impacts other people in a powerful way, it not only damages relationships and undermines the value and dignity of other people, but it also separates us from God as well. People all too easily become collateral damage of our actions, and as we build walls to protect ourselves, we lose our connections with one another and ultimately step back from God, who is always inviting us closer.
Jesus came to lead us toward a better path, to help show us how we can find that balance for which our hearts yearn, to become people of love. We can’t underestimate the healing power of love. Both compassion and forgiveness are integral parts of love. And, for us, forgiving others and seeking forgiveness when we are wrong are healing exercises that ultimately bring us closer to our God of Love and to the world around us. Jesus is inviting us to rest in God’s love and to let that love flow in and through us, healing not only ourselves, but all of creation.
May God bless you and your loved ones today, tomorrow, and forever more.