Admission & Admonishment: Take Up the Cross
The heartbeat of racism is denial; the heartbeat of antiracism is confession, says historian of discrimination Ibram X. Kendi. We begin our worship with confession, admitting that we have not loved our neighbor as ourself. We ask that God empower us to turn from sin and walk the path of discipleship. As we follow Jesus, we know it will not be easy. In the readings for today,
Jeremiah feels the pain of rejection from those who do not want to hear what he has to say. Jesus declares that his words may bring stark division and admonishes us to love God more than anything else, to take up the cross. But even as we do, we need not be afraid, for God accounts for each hair on our heads. Though we may experience rejection, frustration, division, and even death, God’s grace and love make us a new creation each day, and at the last defeats even death.
