Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Matthew 7:1-11, by Mary Cory


It has been such an interesting Lent season as we try to discern God's word.

We have studied the beatitudes and how we can become a disciple community.
We have discussed how to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”.
We have discussed how Jesus calls us to love.
Finally, we studied how to keep our focus on God and not ourselves.

Now, on this fifth Sunday of Lent we are called to look within ourselves. Jesus asks us to “take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye”.

I know how easy it is for me to see everyone's faults. I sometimes look at friends and relatives and I can't understand why they don't stop that annoying habit, try to be nicer, show more concern for others, not talk behind friends backs, on and on and on. I must admit it is so discouraging to take a step back and see that not only am I as bad as them but in some cases even worse.

We need to examine ourselves as individuals and as a disciple community. To examine our hearts and make those changes in our lives to make us the person and disciple He knows we can be. Only God is perfect and He knows just what we need to serve Him better.

As we work to draft a vision statement, we need to continue to discuss as a congregation. We need to study together and individually and we need to pray. If we “ask, it will be given; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you”. The journey we have been on for the last year has been amazing. I feel more connected than ever to my Sunnyside family. I think we have discovered much in our community of faith about ourselves and the direction this discerning process is taking us.

I feel the next step will truly be a gift from God in our journey.