In a wonderful, refreshing turn of events from the judgmental, exclusionary, punishing, and fearful ways people have all too often experienced religion, Jesus began his sermon by teaching in the language of blessing.
The greatest revelation of all is that God loves us, each and every one of us, and wants us all to share eternal life of love and peace and joy “with all God’s people on earth, and all the company of heaven.”
If we think of justice and kindness as love offerings to the God who loves us unconditionally from eternity to eternity, the drudgery of appeasement is transformed into the joy of salvation and healing.
We are personally affected by the polarization between those who want to be friends in Christ with everyone for whom Jesus gave his life at Calvary, and those who choose to be at enmity with everyone whose faith and practice does not submit in conformity to theirs.
We usually will not know how or when our prayers will be answered, but we can always move forward in our preparation to receive the blessings we seek, trusting God’s promises.
Prayer is a universal relationship shared by humanity across all religions and cultures, connecting us in love as one spiritual family in communication with our Creator and with each other.
This is the experience we want to share more bountifully and enjoy more perfectly: to know how it feels to love everyone everywhere the way God in Christ has already loved them, and us, and me.
