Beloveds,
On my weekly clergy cohort call yesterday, a colleague shared that their congregation had received an unsolicited substantial donation from someone unfamiliar to them. They contacted the donor to make sure it wasn’t a mistake, and the donor mentioned how they had recently found God and wanted to tithe. (The church’s level of community outreach was a determining factor of the donor’s choice.) An unexpected gift of love for just doing what the church is called to do. Considering the negative light that White Christian Nationalism has brought to Christianity, it is exciting to hear that people observe the positive work being done by the church.
Marcia McFee of Worship Design Studio offers this reflection on Matthew 21:1-11 (Jesus’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem) in relation to the unexpected:
“The disciples must have been excited and terrified all at once. The entrance into Jerusalem for Passover week had turned into a big deal. How would Jesus be received – by the people and by the authorities? And an entrance can define perception! Surely they would make as big a splash of confidence as possible. And then Jesus asks for a donkey. ‘A … donkey?!’ Once again, Jesus demonstrates a love for peace and a love for common people by creating an entrance that proclaimed the power of God’s ‘kin-dom of heaven,’ not Herod’s kingdom of oppression. Looking for love? Keep your eyes out for it in unexpected places.”
What is your story of finding acts of love in unexpected places?
I look forward to seeing you at 10 am Sunday on 1130 Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream as we “Look for the Unexpected” reflecting upon the Matthew 21:1-11 and Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 texts, with a dash of Isaiah 50:4 and Philippians 2:5-11 added to the mix.
Love,
Rev. Michael