“For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” Thessalonians 4:3
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.” Colossians 3:15
“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you,” John 13:34
Dear Friends of the Wholeness Service,
I’m glad that the Beatitude I was asked to meditate on is to be “pure of heart,” because for me, it requires a lot of thinking and praying about. One of the things that popped into my head was “The Scout Law. A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.” To this we’ll add “earnest and sincere, honest, and humble.”
On Sunday, February 26, we will be devoting our time to a consideration of this “pure of heart” beatitude. It occurs to me that if I’m successful in becoming more pure of heart, I will also become more at peace, both with myself and with others.
I have recently been taught the difference between “negative peace” and “positive peace.” Negative peace is “the absence of violence and even of the fear of violence.” A ceasefire after a military conflict brings ‘negative peace.’ On the other hand, positive peace includes “attitudes, institutions, and structures that lead to peaceful societies.” In other words, while negative peace is the cessation of negative circumstances to bring about peace, positive peace builds with positive building blocks to achieve peace.
Some years ago, I listened to a homily by a much-admired minister who said very simply “God loves us. All He asks is that we love Him back.” Almost as simple is what Jesus told us to do: “Love God and love your neighbor.” I don’t believe we are living in a peaceful society at this moment. I don’t believe humankind ever has, but perhaps we are making some progress. I know we are invited to enter The Kingdom of God now, in the present! A favorite saying of mine is: “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” I know I’ll continue to wrestle with the paradoxes of being Christian for as long as I live. So contradictory it is to consider myself Christian but engage in so much conflict. I will strive to reconcile this command to love everybody even when they don’t seem to act “neighborly” to me.
We look forward to seeing you in the beautiful sanctuary of San Gabriel Presbyterian Church on FEBRUARY 26, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.. We will share an hour of beautiful contemplative (Taizé) music, as we worship in the Holy Spirit, share in The Lord’s Supper, and receive blessing and anointing, as we choose.
Hope to see you then!
God Bless Us All-Every One!
Jim Deuser
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Address: San Gabriel Presbyterian Church, 5404 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX 78633
