But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ….
(Paul to the ekklesia/called-out-ones/church in Phillipi under Roman rule, Phil. 3:20)
Drawing on the above Holy Spirit inspired words, Father Sam Pascoe exhorted us this past Sunday with these words: “We are citizens and we are saints; we are holy ones, set apart. We need to see this world through the lens of the Gospel. We need to see our citizenship in this world through the lens of our citizenship in heaven.”
Each Sunday we hold a weekly gathering of citizens and saints, what we’ve come to call “going to church.” The central purpose of this gathering is remembering—bringing again to the forefront of our lives the sovereign goodness of our Holy God, and his expansive grace in reconciling us to himself through Jesus our Savior. An essential part of our worship-full response is joining with our Father in cultivating his Shalom in our nation. This vocation remains unchanged whether we celebrate or lament the election results.
“Whatever is happening in the White House or the State House, [cultivating] shalom begins at your house, in your family, in your relations with neighbors, in your community involvement…. The results of the election do not prevent or excuse us from the work of shalom, and this is good news. We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, who can bear witness to the goodness of God by seeking the health and wholeness of our cities” (Miranda Zapor Cruz).
As we gather together this Sunday, bring with you your joy and your fear, ready to offer both through Jesus to the Ancient of Days. Also carry in your hearts Paul’s reminder that as the body of Christ, “if one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). May that awareness form our attitudes and guide our conversations in these initial post-election days.
Finally, I commend to your reading and reflection the following Scriptures that I have found helpful this week: Jeremiah 29:4-14; Psalm 146; Hebrews 13:1-21; Philippians 3:20-4:9.
And may our prayer always be as Jesus taught us: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.”
Your Pastor in Christ,
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