Third Sunday after Pentecost

In the village where we live, a group of local residents have organised a BBQ with a large screen to watch one of England’s World Cup games.  To me, this is a great gesture of community spirit.  However, of course, the modern-day notion of ‘community’ is multi-layered.  We may be members of many ‘communities’: work, friends, family, sport, common interests and others besides.  Some of the members of our communities may be in other countries of the world and connected by Skype.  However, there is another type of community that has not yet been mentioned.  This community is more important than any other.  I am talking, of course, about our Christian community – the fellowship of believers.  In the Bible passage assigned for this week, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that the most important and special community is the one that seeks to do God’s will.  This week, let us especially cherish and thank God for, our brothers and sisters in Christ – the Christian church.