Week of April 29, 2009
Pastor Tracie

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light."
     1 Peter 2:9

Our Scripture reading on Sunday from 1 Peter 2 ended with these words: "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light." At one time you were not God's people, but now you are God's people; at one time you did not know God's mercy, but now you have received his mercy. (CEV)

These verses are a powerful proclamation of who we are as God's people, the church. It is a powerful reminder that we are God's own people, not because of what wonderful things we do, but because of how loving and gracious God is to us. God has made us his own through God's actions of mercy and grace. What a tremendous gift. To be made worthy, to be called somebody, all because God declares it to be true. And as the church, as recipients of God's gracious love and mercy, we are able to proclaim to all the world just how wonderful God is. Now that we know God's mercy, we can show that mercy to others. We rejoice together in this gift of abundant love that comes to us from God's generous goodness. Thanks be to God.

Almighty and gracious God, you are always ready to shower us with your abundance, which we neither deserve nor appreciate. Open our eyes to your gifts. Open our hearts to your love. Empower us to share with others the grace and mercy shown to us. Use your church to proclaim your wondrous deeds in Christ Jesus. AMEN.

Contributed by Pastor Tracie
Published Monday April 29, 2002
Week 22 of Liturgical Year A