When
Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down,
his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them,
saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”
Matthew
5:1-3
Today our 2015 Medical Mission Team departs for Mexico where we will
conduct a four day medical clinic in the town of Leona Vicario. For
some this will be a first-time mission trip experience while others
return year after year seeking to serve and ultimately are served an
extra dose of grace and love. For in Leona, the stars shine brighter
and more profusely and we gaze at the night sky in awe and wonder.
We welcome the children with all their exuberance and their shyness,
listen to the concerns of young mothers cradling their babies and try
to discern the problems of the elderly clothed in their brightly
embroidered traditional attire and wizened smiles. While the needs
are great, to us the smiles reflect grace and love, and the pace of
life slows down even though we are very busy.
We wash our hands before meals in an almost sacramental ritual,
scrubbing in three buckets of water filled with soap, rinse water and
bleach. For a brief few days we live our lives in balance enjoying
the rhythm of prayer, hard work, welcome rest, and a community of
those who love and share the common purpose of serving as the hands
and feet of Jesus.
In this Lenten season at FPCB we will
focus on the teachings of Jesus found in the Sermon on the Mount. His
message was not what his followers expected to hear and is still
counter-cultural today. May we each take a mission trip this season,
living balanced lives that open our hearts to experience the tug of
Christ’s call to be messengers of God’s love and grace along
whatever road we may travel.
God of
grace, help us to sit and listen deeply to your call and then give us
the courage to follow where you would lead us, for we pray in Jesus’
name. Amen.
Cindy Merten
No comments:
Post a Comment