JOHN 3:11-17
It is amazing how hungry Christians are to share with one another. I grew up with
an understanding of what it means to share; however, it was only on a trip to the Dominican
Republic that I came to know how important it is to receive.
It was in the small village of Mucha Aqua, which means, “much water,” that I, along with a team of Disciples from the United States and Canada worked alongside our
Dominican sisters and brothers to rebuild homes that were destroyed by a hurricane. It was there that I encountered the sweet gentle spirit of poor Christians who barely had
enough food to eat, give generously to me and other members of the work team. As I walked to the work site each day, families would call out tome to come and sit with them.
I accepted their invitation to join them, and we would shell peas together. As I would leave each home, I was always gifted with eggs, even a chicken, and by the time I arrived
at the work site, I was loaded down with gifts. I knew that these were precious gifts, given by families who needed them more than I; however, they had a need to share
with me and I had the responsibility to receive. This expression of love led me to a deeper understanding of what it means to walk in the light of Christ and to share life with our sisters and brothers. God gave the most precious gift, His son, Jesus Christ, thus giving us the gift of life. In this season of Lent, we prepare ourselves for the gift of abundant life that we receive through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ! What an awesome gift! As Jesus gifted us with the gift of life, we are called to receive that gift and to share
life with our sisters and brothers. Have you been blessed to receive a gift, re-wrapped it and gave it to another person? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we re-gifted God’s love for us to our neighbors within our community and around the world? God speaks to us through our sisters and brothers, through their witness. It is a voice, which has the power to transform us! It is in the sharing of life with sisters and brothers that we are transformed in becoming the Disciples God has called us to be.
Prayer: Generous and loving God, we gratefully receive the gift of your Son, Jesus.
Please open our hearts and hands to give and to receive the gift of love from one
another that we may fully become a community of the faithful.
Amen.
Julia Brown Karimu serves as the President of the Division of Overseas
Ministries and Co-Executive of Global Ministries, a common witness in
mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United
Church of Christ.