03-22-26

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
March 22, 2026
In today’s sermon verse from the Grab Bag of verses, we find the words, “…those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them.” The word translated as “remain” can also be translated as “dwell” or “abide.” Does this mean that if we cease to remain in love that we no longer remain in God, and even more concerning to me is whether that means God no longer remains in us? Personally, it’s not how I see God working, yet as we feel disconnected from love in our personal lives, there is often what feels like a void when it comes to God’s presence. The emptiness compounds upon itself, and without tangible experiences of love, it sure appears as if God has chosen to no longer abide with us. With all seriousness, this is where church can be so important. In those challenging moments, when it might be hard to motivate ourselves to even go to church, the presence of others who speak and embody love can inspire our awareness. As a friend once said, “It’s like trying to find your keys. They’re not where you thought you left them, and for that reason, you walk right past them a dozen times because of the expectation you have.” I think God is sometimes screaming and jumping up and down, yet for some reason the emptiness leaves us unaware and maybe even a little callous to the presence of God. That hug, a word of kindness, or even the true spirit of welcome at the Lord’s Supper can soften us just enough to see the God who says, “I’ve been here all along, just waiting for you.” 

Today, I give you thanks, O Abiding Spirit, for the way your unconditional love resides and remains even when I am in a place where I cannot see it. Amen.