by Richard Coble
Hebrews 4:12-16
“In other words, says Hebrews, in Christ God sees us for who we truly are, in the messiness of our humanness, in our vulnerability, that hurt that we hide from others, that fear that we deny even to ourselves that we carry, and yet, as one commentator puts it, ‘Jesus is not disappointed or saddened by our weakness but empathizes with it.’[1] Do you think when the divine, the source of all life, sees you, really sees you, do you think God is disappointed with you? No, says Hebrews, no.
. . .
That is my prayer too, for this community. That we see each other, that we see ourselves, that we let others see us how we really are. I know that is hard. It takes commitment; to keep showing up. And it takes trust, that when we show up, we will be seen and loved, not because we meet someone else’s expectations, not because we fit some preestablished image of the church, but because of who we truly are, children of God. And the good news is that the Spirit is already empowering us and making this possible in this place.”
[1] Jennifer T. Kaalund, “Hebrews 12:4-16,” Connections: A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship: Year B, Vol. 3. Joel B. Green et. al (Eds). (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2021), 381.
Watch the full GCPC service on 10/10/21 here
(Sermon begins at 49:25)