As with most close relationships, our connections with siblings can be rather complex. Often our family members are simultaneously the most invaluable and the most infuriating people in our lives.
Even among the brothers and sisters in our broader Christian family, we encounter a full range of experiences from happiness to hostility. Holy Scripture is replete with broken relationships, sibling rivalry and family dysfunction. These are part of the human condition.
Whether our relationships are completely caring or consistently complicated, we have hope, because ultimately, we are defined first and foremost by our identity as followers of Jesus Christ. We are a family. An imperfect, struggling, growing, amazing, powerful family of God. May God continue to strengthen our family ties as siblings in Christ.
Today is Siblings Day. This message is an excerpt of “Sisters and brothers” by Angela T. Khabeb in the April 2017 issue of Gather magazine. We remember Mikael Agricola, bishop of Turku, who died in 1557. Today is Monday in Holy Week. The readings are Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11.
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