Christian Reflection and Prayer

Verse

But they were silent, for on the way they had argued
with one another about who was the greatest. He sat
down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever
wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”
Mark 9:33-35

Voice

Those who love their dream of a Christian community
more than they love the Christian community itself
become destroyers of that Christian community even
though their personal intentions may be ever so honest,
earnest, and sacrificial.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Prayer

O God, even as we turn our ear towards all anger, all
regret, all cynicism aimed at the church, we pray that
you give us strength to love our communities themselves.
Amen.