Each week we'll highlight a current event or ongoing story from world and reflect on it through the lens of the gospel. First check out this article linked below.
From NPR
Reflect and Act:
In the gospel this week we hear Jesus in a number of different interactions trying to communicate about the urgency of the kin(g)dom of heaven and how important it was to live into the promises of that kin(g)dom. As he says in other parts of the gospel, the good news of the kin(g)dom of heaven is for the poor and the oppressed, and he describes this kin(g)dom as a place where there is no first or last, where resources are abundant, where everyone has what they need, and where forgiveness and love take priority over all else. Why is Jesus so urgent? Because he knows that the longer this kin(g)dom is delayed, the longer justice, equity, and healing will be delayed.
This past Sunday, June 19, 2022, marked the first celebration of Juneteenth as a federally recognized national holiday. Juneteenth, though, has been celebrated for a long time and marks the date in 1865 when the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas finally learned that slavery had been ended and that they were free, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was officially signed. This week's article highlights both the joy and sorrow of this holiday, recognizing that it's legacy is one marking both liberation and justice too long delayed. Where do you see justice being delayed in your community? What is one small thing you can do to expedite liberation this week? Take some time to share your thoughts with the group.