It is such an irony, God. Church should be the place where we can most fully own who we are, both good and bad. Church is where we gather, in usual times, in the name of Jesus Christ, the one who assures us that we are precious to God. How ironic then that we so often hide in church, revealing only our best self and burying the self of which we are less proud.
No wonder so many outside our church ranks consider us hypocrites, shining our shoes for Sunday but leaving our homes and families a mess. Why am I afraid of my own failure when I know limited vision is part of my humanity?
God, through your gift of Jesus, you showed us that you love us, without condition. Help us celebrate and honor who we are—what we show and what we hide.
This message was adapted from “Measuring Up” by Catherine Malotky that appeared in the April 2004 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine. Today is the ninth Sunday after Pentecost.
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