We are called to community. Consider that the word “religion” shares the same Latin root as “ligament” – a word meaning “to bind.” For many of us living in the United States, this concept is counter cultural. We are called to Christian community which focuses on interdependence, rather than independence. Communities of faith are not so much about pulling oneself up by the bootstraps, but about working together to provide boots for those who have none and to help each other put them on.
Proverbs 31:8-9 reads: “Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” When we live in community, speaking out means not trying to be the voice of the voiceless, but learning to become better listeners and advocates so that all voices can be heard. At its best, community is the mirror that shows us the face of God in everyone we see, leading us and guiding us to the next best thing for the good of ourselves and for the good of the whole.
This message is excerpted from “Darkness is your candle.” by Violet Cucciniello Little in the April 2020 Gather magazine.
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