May 12, 2024

Our Lectionary texts for this Sunday are Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; and John 17:6-19.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor who was executed by the Nazis in April of 1945, days before his concentration camp was liberated by Allied forces. He wrote many powerful books challenging the Church to be faithful to its own identity and mission in the face of the temptation to merge Christian and national identity. In his wonderful book Life Together he reminds us all of how important our "life together" really is.

"Into the community you were called, the call was not meant for you alone; in the community you bear your cross, you struggle, you pray. You are not alone, even in death, and on the Last Day you will be only one member of the great congregation of Jesus Christ."