“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6.
After cleaning out my grandparents’ house, random items were stacked in my uncle’s parlor for family to mull over:
random knick-knacks, grandma’s costume jewelry, old farming magazines, etc. If we wanted anything, now was the time to take it. The rest would be thrown away.
As perused the items organized on the shelves, I picked up a small wooden box. “What’s this?” I inquired.
My uncle chuckled. “Looks like an old enema box,” he said. That didn’t scare me. I opened the box.
To my surprise, about 20 hand-written letters were tucked inside envelopes with postmarks from 1903-1906 from Buffalo and Rome, New York. They were love letters between my great grandparents. I was delighted. I had discovered a secret treasure.
Can you imagine how Paul’s letters to the early Church were delivered, shared and preserved? The were like love letters to the Church. Paul wrote to encourage households and communities that were diverse to stay grounded in the One who makes us one through faith in Christ Jesus.
This Sunday we will observe World Communion Sunday, a day to embrace unity in Christ by celebrating the diversity among Christ followers across time and space. Christ is the Living Word, God’s love story for the world through His life, death and resurrection.
This month at Risen Lord, we will be reflecting upon some of the Apostle Paul’s letters and explore how they still inspire Christ’s Church. May Holy Spirit help us experience them as a treasure all these years later.
Pastor Wendy Kalan