‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20
This weekend, I will be participating in a gathering to "Honor Our Sacred Gifts" with some of the six nations or the Haudenosaunee, the keepers of the great peace. Long before our nation existed, the lived together in a democratic and participatory government, a highly egalitarian and sophisticated political system found nowhere else in the world. They and my people were dismissed as savages, yet they were more aligned with Jesus' teaching than the colonists. Jesus was teaching that the laws of nature and the laws of the Creator were critical, not only to our survival, but to truly be alive. We often fail at following what Jesus called us to do and be. May we always be willing to sit with others in peace and use our time for teaching and building up.
Great Creator, you taught us how to live together
with nations coming to the sacred fire to listen
and to learn your ways of love from one another.
We have quickly judged and summarily dismissed
the ways of those who differ from us in culture
losing the gifts of love and learning from another.
Teach us, dear Lord, to sit with our neighbors
listening to their hearts and meeting their needs
so we might follow your command to love one another. Amen.
