For this Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, as we continue our journey with Jesus and his disciples through the Gospel of Matthew and follow Jesus’ call to discipleship. The path of discipleship isn’t easy. We question and wrestle with the demands and commandments of being disciples of Jesus. Simultaneously, Jesus offers us mercy and grace as a way to deal with the challenges of being his disciples. How will we respond? Jesus gathers us around word, water, and meal for support and to refresh us for ministry.

On another note, this is the Fourth of July weekend is when we celebrate the birth of these United States. We thank God for this nation. The Fourth of July is also a time when we remember that all people are created equal in the eyes of God and we are called to work for the common good.