Soul Threads: Trusting the God Who Weaves New Life

Rev. AndreaGrace and the BeLoved Community pray together every Sunday at 10 AM ET in a variety of ways - through word, music, meditation, visio divino and more. We learn from and pray with both the Saints (canonized) and saints (holy people) using inclusive language and images. 

These highlights from our service on June 21, 2026, 12th Sunday Ordinary Time Cycle A, are shared here as a resource for your prayer, reflection, and continued spiritual practice. 

Intro

Our readings invite us to explore the journey of faith and trusting God – even in the face of suffering. We come on the weekend of Juneteenth – a remembrance of the formal emancipation of the last enslaved people on the United States… and on Father’s Day in a month that celebrate Gay & Lesbian Pride. 

Expanding our Image of the Trinity

We gather in the name of our Abba Daddy God

Jesus – Who helped us envision God as a Dad

The Holy Spirit – that gives us grace to communicate with God and others

 In this Holy Trinity of Grace we place ourselves.

Praying with Music

• Lift our Voices – with what is considered the African-American National Anthem, a song that echoes faith even during difficulties. 

• Psalm 121 – “I lift my eyes to the mountain – from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of Heaven and Earth.” We’ll hear a rendition called “My Help” from the Brooklyn Tabernacle choir 

• Through All of It

Liturgy of the Word

1. Reading from the 2nd Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-10: Our first reading today is from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in Southern Greece. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest and contemporary theologian who co-founded the Center for Action and Contemplation. The Center sends daily and weekly reflections. This week focused on “The Way of the Early Church.” They write: 

“From the perspective of occupying Roman powers, the Christian sect was radical because it encouraged alternative behaviors that were both attractive to those at the bottom and threatening to the worldview of empire. During Paul’s lifetime, the Christian church was not yet an institution or a centrally organized set of common practices and beliefs. It was a living organism that communicated the gospel primarily through relationships. These scattered Christians were not numerous. They were not wealthy or powerful, and they were in constant danger of being killed. Yet they had laid hold of an inner peace that found expression in a joy that was uncontainable. Love is what Jesus preached—and what he embodied. In the early church devout Christians tried to embody God’s love and to experience God in such a way that love reshaped their lives.” 

2. Live in Grace: Walk in Love. A 365-Day Journey: When we look at Jesus life and death… and the early Church, we see people suffering and being misunderstood because of their decision to choose love. Jesus was killed for the way he lived and loved. Bob Goff, is an attorney, author and speaker who reflects on this in his book:

An excerpt from Essay 199. If you're getting criticized for loving the wrong people, you're probably doing something right. 

Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who [loves God] and does what is right.” Acts 10: 34- 35

… Peter knew he would be misunderstood if he loved people the way Jesus did, and that's exactly what happened. A few years after Jesus left, Peter, who was Jewish, met a guy named Cornelius, who was a Gentile - when the Jews weren't supposed to associate with. Through his friendship with Cornelius, Peter came to realize the Jews had been wrong to tell an entire group of people they couldn't join their community. And since Gentiles meant anyone that wasn't Jewish, that basically meant just about everyone was in. Peter put himself out there and reached out to the Gentiles even when he knew his own people would criticize him for it. He said: “I now realize how true it is that God doesn't show favoritism.” In other words, we're all tied for first in God's view. 

This is what it looks like to follow Jesus. When we're criticized by religious people for sticking up for those who are pushed out, we're probably doing something right. Loving people the way Jesus did means a life of catching heat because of the way you love. If that's happening to you, you're in good company. Who have you been neglecting to put first when it comes to sharing love?

3. A Gospel reading attributed to Matthew 10:5-14,17-20: In today’s gospel from Matthew, Jesus sends out the 12. Matthew was Jewish and writing for Jews. Twelve harkens back to the 12 tribes of Israel. Elsewhere in the gospels, we read about Jesus sending out more disciples with similar instructions. Jesus is sending us out, also, in our own families and communities. He is telling all of us to trust… God will be with us and will provide. 

AndreaGrace’s Reflection

This week, I had an experience – but let me back up. You might remember that last year, I was clearly led to go to a writing retreat. During the week, my writing leader suggested I lead a workshop this year. I prayed about it and while I was still on retreat last year, quickly put together an outline for series of workshops on “spiritual journaling.” When applications for presentations was opened, I applied and the workshop was accepted.  Meanwhile, God was working on my “authoring” – and now, I’m preparing to re-launch my career in the intergenerational world. I never could have imagined this last autumn on that retreat. This week, I submitted my manuscript for a new book to my editor. I was also accepted to present at the state senior center conference in this autumn. And I got a call – that my spiritual journaling workshop did not have enough people signed up and so they had to cancel it. I thanked the woman who called me. At the end, she thanked me for my “graciousness.” I prayerfully pondered her remark… and realized that I was able to be “gracious” because I trust that God is leading me. That I am where I am meant to be. I trust in the Paschal Mystery – out of death comes new life. I am confident that in the right time and space, I will offer a workshop on “spiritual journaling.” If you are interested – let me know… 

This little experience of trust shines a light on today’s readings.

Trust in the Paschal Mystery: When I was with the Benedictine Sisters in Erie, they often reflected on the Paschal Mystery. We heard St. Paul reference that in our first reading. I’ve come to understand that Jesus died as a result of his choice to love and to follow God’s way – rather than the institution’s way. He experienced death. And out of his death, came new life. out of his own one life, came a community that spread across the world and has survived through two millenia. We are invited to trust God…. To continue to choose love and life – even in the face of difficulties. Even when we are fearful. Even when we face persecution – in our families, in our church, in our institutions. We continue to choose love and community even in the face of possible excommunication. In this month that we celebrate Gay and Lesbian Pride, can we choose to celebrate and honor love in all its forms – even as some institutions condemn this type of love? As Bob Goff said: If we're getting criticized for loving the wrong people, we're probably doing something right.

Trust that God will provide – everything! Jesus encourages us to go – take nothing – trust that housing, food and our every need will be met. Yet – he cautions – look for suitable people – companions who are like-minded and hearted. That’s how we build community, create safety nets and strengthen the movement. See if there is peace in the place. If not, move on. He doesn’t want us wasting our time or beating our head against the wall. Sometimes, he does ask some of us to stay in difficult situations to make a change – but in those cases, he assures that we are supported. I think of Harriet Tubman who escaped enslavement, then prayerfully brought 70 enslaved people to freedom with the support of the Underground Railroad and then later ended up leading 150 Union Army soldiers. How could Harriet ever have imagined her life’s journey? We need to be in community AND we need to trust God to reveal the next right step for us and then we need to have the courage to take it – not knowing what will transpire. 

Trust that God will give us the words. In this reading we hear one of my favorite lines in Scripture: It is not you who will be speaking, but the Spirit of your loving God speaking through you. I have turned this into a prayer when myself – or someone I know – needs to give a speech: May the words you say not be yours but those of God speaking through you. It is amazing how the Holy Spirit shows up with just the right words. We can also pray that people’s hearts are prepared and open to what God wants people to hear. 

Notice the journey! Spiritual remembering… this is a journey. Fatherhood – it’s a journey. From making love, to finding out a baby is on the way, through pregnancy, labor, delivery, holding a newborn, the toddler years…. tumultuous teen years… graduations, weddings, becoming a grandfather… what a journey! Ups and downs. Highs and lows. Exuberant joy accompanied with pride. Deep pain that feels like our heart will break into pieces. And yet – a constant, abiding love. What we hear about God, we see reflected in our perfectly imperfect fathers: compassion, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, love to the thousandth generation…. 

Prayer Exercise:  Spiritual Remembering 

Our relationship with God is a journey. Let’s sit with God now – ask God to help us see our journey with God’s eyes – revealing to us what God would have us know…. Pause for 3 minutes… How do you think God feels about us ?

Eucharistic Liturgy 

Read our standard prayers here.

Honoring and Blessing Fathers  

an adapted Prayer of Kirk Loadman and Debra Mooney, PhD 

We honor and bless those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice.

We honor and bless those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a

worthy and virtuous father.

We honor and bless fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has nurtured a thriving life.

We honor and bless those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step-children's love and respect.

 We honor and bless those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.

 We honor and bless those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.

We honor and bless those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.

We honor and bless those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their

children.

And we honor and bless those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love

continues to nurture us.

Amen. 

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