Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on January 4, 2022

Reverend Ian MacInnes-Green| The Petoskey News-Review

Now comes the time of the year, where we are not sure what to wear week to week; for it could be 45 degrees Fahrenheit one week and 15 below zero Fahrenheit the next. In the letter to the Colossians, the author writes how to dress, regardless of the weather; but rather how to dress ourselves for the faith we confess.

To begin with, we need to take off the clothing and beliefs we have, much like Moses before the burning bush, he is to take off his shoes for he is standing on holy ground. The Hebrew word that is translated into English for take off is literally means to shed. Much like a snake sheds its skin on a regular basis, so we too must take notice what we wear when it comes to our faith and beliefs.

In the third chapter in the letter to the Colossians, we read that we are to begin to cloth ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience and thankfulness. When we start to cloth ourselves with these attributes, we learn how to deal with our neighbors and with our own sense of self. We are called to forgive each other; how many start off with being able to forgive themselves for the actions we take or do not take? How many of us hold on to the mistakes that we make and wrap ourselves in chains to drag around for the rest of our lives. It has been said that holding on to grudges we have of others is like offering poison to the person, but we drink the poison ourselves hoping the other person dies.

We are called to cloth ourselves with love, which binds everything in perfect harmony. One of the hardest people we have to learn to love is ourselves. In this political and emotional time, the separation of each other is getting wider and wider. What would it look like, if we were able to love ourselves and each other? Throughout the Christian scriptures, we are called to forgive, love and pray for each other; including those we perceive to be our enemies.

We are to continue to dress from the inside out: clothing our hearts with the peace of Christ. The Hebrew word shalom is often translated into the English as peace. Shalom does not mean the absence of war, but the wholeness of God to be within us and each other. Shalom is the love, justice, healing and reconciliation with God, ourselves and each other. This will lead us to be thankful not only for each other, but for all of humanity and creation as well; for God created All.

As we let the word of Christ dwell within us, we will learn to live faithful lives with the richness that God calls for us. With Christ dwelling and residing within us, our thoughts and actions are transformed. It will be with every heartbeat and breath that the Divine will flow through us to all of creation, including each other.

We are called to teach and admonish one another in wisdom and love. In order to teach and admonish each other, we need to start with ourselves. We are called to recognize the venom, painful and hurtful words we speak to each other, but also that we speak with our own inner thoughts. Let the power of God bring forgiveness and love before we start to teach and admonish each other; then we can speak words of power, love, grace and forgiveness from within and without.

This past week, Archbishop Desmond Tutu died. He was known for his ability to speak the truth and love to those in powerful positions. Tutu did not mince his words when speaking truth to power; he was able to speak shinning and healing light where darkness of humanity and power reside. He not only called out his enemies, but also called out his allies when they were headed into the darkness of power over the powerless.

As we move into this new year, with COVID-19 and political divide running ramped, leading us into the darkness of humanity; let us cloth ourselves, inside and out with Christ as our guide, in word and deed. We remember that Christ is the Light and Word of God, rushing into the darkness to bring Gods grace, and the darkness can not overcome the light. Speak truth to your own power within you, and then slowly to others; but in all things, give thanks to God for everything we are to embody.

With prayers of peace, grace and love as we journey together into this new calendar year…

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Merry Christmas and happy New Year - Petoskey News-Review

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