I recently saw a bumper sticker that said:  I am the one Jesus loves.  While I have no doubt that Jesus loves the person driving that vehicle (and every other vehicle bearing that message), the wording suggests that Jesus’ love is reserved exclusively for a very few.  Such a claim stands in direct opposition to Jesus’ expansive, inclusive welcome.  “Whoever does the will of God,” Jesus said, “is my brother and sister and mother”.  (Mark 3:35)

We are part of a very big family, indeed.  It’s no surprise that when Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, the focus is on the many, not the one.  “Our Father”…  “give us…” etc. (see Matthew 6:9-13).  In the coming week, if you pray the Lord’s Prayer, focus on the sense of community the prayer holds, and in your own prayers, try using words like “us”, “we”, and “our” as often as you can.    As followers of Jesus, we are all in this together!    Pr. Tammy