In the first chapter of Genesis it says:
God created humanity in God’s own image,
in the divine image God created them,
male and female God created them.
(Genesis 1:27, Common English Bible)
It’s a claim each of us takes about our unique place in the world. Each one of us bears the imprint of God, the great cosmic divine force in the universe.
So, whenever one of us harms another person, looks down on someone, kills someone, we are trespassing on that shared divine imprint.
June is Pride month across the globe. This weekend is Pride weekend in Boston, when we celebrate the courage of people to stand up for their God-given humanity, despite the prejudice of people against them, even punishment from the authorities. It’s a time for celebrating the diversity of humanity in all of its shapes, sizes, colors, abilities, gender and sexuality.
On Sunday, we’ll look at a moment when Jesus was being a real radical about noting the God-given humanity of EVERYONE. In Mark 3:20-35, he’s acting so radically, that even his family and followers wondered if he were off his rocker. While being assailed by the religious authorities and with his family members trying to extricate him from the situation, he asserts:
Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.”
Come Sunday and we’ll explore why this is both a directive and an ongoing challenge for us today.
In faith,
Kent
Image Credit: “Through Him, All Things” by Lauren Wright Pittman, from A Sanctified Art
