“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2)
Vacations or holidays are often taken during the summer months, perhaps because of the weather. I recently went on vacation, and as usual, I had to take some time to plan what I was going to take with me.
I didn't want to pack too much as I’m limited when flying to 23 kilograms. But I didn’t want to pack too little and not have what I needed when I needed it. It’s always a long think to figure out what to take with me.
Jesus sent out his disciples a couple of times (Matthew 10, Luke 9-10), not so much on holiday, but to go tell people about the Good News of God’s love for them and help heal them. He especially told them to go to the oppressed and downtrodden.
Yet, curiously, he told them not to take very much but to rely on others’ generosity and hospitality.
In fact, he went further to tell them to not focus on what they did not have or could not afford but to work with what was available to them. The resources they needed to accomplish their mission were within their own reach.
It seems we too often focus often on our limitations and what we lack and not on what God
has already provided for us.
I have often said that, especially in the Gospel of John, God is revealed as a God of abundance, not of scarcity. Jesus gave the wedding party more wine than they could drink, the 5,000 more bread than they could eat, and the disciples more fish than they hoped for. God has already given us so much, and we are called to make creative use of the resources already around us for the transformation of the world into the Kingdom of God.
The hard part is trusting God and knowing we are enough. Together we ca - like the early disciples - offer our willing hearts and hands to do what we can to make a difference in the lives of those God has sent us to.
We can be thankful that the God of abundance is with us as we lovingly share the Good News that because of Jesus, the healing power of God’s grace and love is available to the world wherever you go this summer.
“He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Luke 10:2)
Grace and peace,
Reverend Kevin Highfield
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