The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

[Excerpted from “We Are One, We Are Many,” Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Ed., Herald Publishing House, 2012, pp. 68–69]

We are Community of Christ, and we are walking the path together. We sing “joy” in thousands of congregations. We say “hope” in scores of languages. We proclaim peace in almost 60 nations. We are one and we are many. We are diverse, yet we are community, for we belong to Christ.

We live in a world where the face of Jesus is torn. Humans hurt each other, rending the body of Christ. Systems and institutions crush the spirit and imprison the mind. Christ mourns where bullets, barricades of burning tires, barbed-wire fences, cultural prohibitions, violence, and mine fields separate humanity. Christ shares the burdens of poverty, AIDS, orphans, imperialism, wealth, and conflict. Christ is persecuted with those who suffer in his name and forsaken when his servants forget indigenous communities.

The church also tears the face of Jesus. We show the world the lamb and the lion and the child, but we fail to resolve conflicts in our own families and congregations. We are sometimes so focused on our own relationships that we risk losing our relationship with Jesus, who is also found in the stranger and the enemy. We are hostile to culture in some nations and taken hostage by culture in others. We risk division on the tense topics of human sexuality, rebaptism, and membership. We struggle to represent leadership from around the world as we decide important matters in the life of the church.

We, too, have torn the face of Jesus. Yet God chooses us.

We are many, but we are one.

Prayer Phrase

“What can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Spiritual Practice

Breathe Hope

Find a quiet space where you can sit without distractions. Light a candle. Take a few deep breaths, allowing your body to relax with each exhale. As you breathe, let go of any tension or worries you may be holding onto. Take notice of the way the flame dances and flickers, casting light and shadow in the room. As you observe the flame, imagine it symbolizing the spark of hope within you. With each breath, imagine the flame growing brighter and stronger. Visualize this light spreading throughout your body, filling you with a sense of hope and positivity. Take a moment to express gratitude for the blessings in your life, no matter how small they may seem.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.