Brothers and sisters and neighbors

Saturday May 23^rd, John 17: In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I'm consecrating myself for their sakes so they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission. The truth is that the Christian mission is not about pro-choice or anti-choice, not about who can get married and what their sexual orientation might be, or any of the other hot button issues out there.  Being a Christian is about living as a child of God, knowing salvation is yours and about loving as a child of God, knowing salvation is also theirs.  When you help the least, lost and lonely, you help a brother or sister in Christ, and you help Christ (Matt. 25).  When you help bring about justice (exemplified by balanced scales and economic justice) you are helping a brother or sister in Christ and you are helping Christ (Matt. 25).  When you consider war as your first option, you are killing a brother or sister in Christ and you are killing Christ (Matt. 25).  When God created the heavens and the earth, God called it good.  All too often when we see parts of the heavens and the earth out of our control and possible use for profit, we do not recognize the gift of creation from which we were formed as a gift for which all of humanity is called to be in relationship with. Recognizing that God called all of creation good is step one, doing something about it in the way we live is step two.  Celebrating with your new brothers and sisters here now and in the life to come is heaven and it is step three.