Framed by Love

Here are some thoughts on this coming Sunday's second reading. This was sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. I'd like your input. Let's brainstorm. 

Second Reading: Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

1Let mutual love continue. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. 4Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” 6So we can say with confidence, 
 “The Lord is my helper;
  I will not be afraid.
 What can anyone do to me?”
  7Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 15Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

As we look to autumn, so we reconnect with the readings for the time after Pentecost. This Sunday will be the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, filled with readings about God’s love and presence. I was particularly struck by this reading from Hebrews. It is framed by love. Everything within the frame fleshes out for us what God’s love working through us looks like. It is God’s love that shapes the way we live our lives.

The very first verse gives us the theme of the passage. Then we see how that is shown: hospitality to strangers, remembering prisoners, those being tortured. The author of Hebrews then starts to meddle when he speaks of marriage and finances.

But I especially love the very middle of the passage, quoting one of the psalms, “The Lord in my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me.” We often struggle down deep inside with unacknowledged fears—whether it is fear of how we will live when we lose our spouse or will we have enough money to live on in retirement? Or what about concern for family members who are not involved in the life of God’s church? I have prayed mightily for my children. Thank God, one now is fully devoted to Christ and Christ’s church. The other one has nothing to do with church. Yet, I rejoice in small things such as the “like” on Facebook when I check in at the prayer room, asking what to pray for. Because of God’s love and presence in our lives, we shall not fear.

In all of the ups and downs of life, the Lord is our helper, our lover, our guide. The writer addresses our relationship with God and with each other because one flows out of the other. Good works cannot save us, but when we are in relationship with God, God’s love causes and enables us to love others the way Christ loves them. This is what pleases God.
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