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   Board member David Gregory is leading a team that will launch an inclusive, progressive spiritual community in the Kingston area. Click here to learn more.
 

 

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 Greetings!  
  
   When she was eight or nine, my middle daughter added "If you love me you will ________" to her repertoire.  If we were in the grocery store check out line, she might give me one of those looks and say something like "Daddy, if you love me you'll buy me some Gummy Bears."
   You can read all sorts of stuff into that, muse about conditional love and insecurities or the nutritional value of Gummy Bears. Or, we can blame God and Jesus. I mean wasn't it Jesus who said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments?"
   Now that I've written that down, it's tempting to follow that thread and explore what Jesus meant and if what he meant was so different from what my daughter was really getting at . . . about love and how love aligns one with another and compels action. But, I'll resist . . .
   It is one thing for Jesus or my daughter to use the "If you love me" line on me; it's another thing for me - or you - to use it on God or Jesus.
   Take for example the request of Zebedee's kids in Mark 10:35-45, next Sunday's gospel lesson. First they tell Jesus they want him to do whatever they ask of him and then tell him to put one on his right and the other on his left after he takes over.
   I don't know about you, but I've been guilty of that - saying "Hey God, give me _______." And, I'll ask in Jesus's name just to make sure that I get it (Remember, Jesus said, "Whatever you ask in my name . . . "). It's an odd thing, isn't it? Or has it got to do with what we ask for? What were Zeb's boys asking for, really? And, heck, is there anything that God has that we haven't been given already?
   This feels like an uncomfortable place to stop so we'll stop here with things left undone, questions not yet raised and encourage you, as always, to step into the scripture, taste it, feel it, let it become a part of you . . .
   If you want to do more musing, check out Hebrews 5:1-10, Psalm 104, and Job 38:1-41.

   We hope that you'll share your thoughts/feeling either by dropping Steve a note [address below] or by joining us for GodTalk which meets in the second floor chapel at 85 Grand Street (aka The Brick Building), Newburgh, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening. We begin with some catch up time followed by centering music, prayer, a reading of the gospel and a no holds barred conversation. We'll be pleased to have you join our merry band (use the link below to let us know you'll be coming). 

   

We wish you abundant joy!

 

The Rev. Steve Ruelke

Ecclesia Ministries of Newburgh

P: 845-527-0405

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