God, I have had the privilege of growing up aware of you. I was taught; I observed; and I experienced. People of faith around me have supported me, helped me make sense of you, and watched with me while I struggled to understand and believe.
There have been times, God, when the promise of your salvation has meant little. The verbal formula, “Jesus died on the cross to take my sins away,” has prompted questions. Just how does that work? Why would you make me sinful, God? Saved from what? I can see that the grounding stories of faith are often trying to answer these questions too, and they reveal the history of our human struggle to understand who you are, God, and who we are.
I am surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, those who feel certain, in the moment, of your grace and love. Witnesses who have gone before and witnesses yet to come. Each and all are witnesses to your love for me and for all of us. Thank you for such a gift. Amen.
Today is the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost and All Saints Day. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour as Daylight Savings Time ended today. This message was adapted from “Cloud of Witnesses” written by Catherine Malotky that first appeared in the May 2011 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine.
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