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For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
-Matthew 18:20
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
-Romans 8:31
This year, I've been privileged to join a group of interfaith clergy that gathers for breakfast each month. Pastors Gray and Neal, myself, several other pastors, two Imams, and a Rabbi. We take turns hosting this gathering. The last was held at a nearby Mosque. We discussed many things, including the upcoming National Day of Prayer in May. We will all be present to offer prayers that day for our first responders and armed forces.
This gathering of faith community leaders from the Abrahamic traditions share a faith in one God and a faith that God has created us and loves us and is still among us. And as each of our faith communities has been attacked by gunmen in the year since our last National Day of Prayer, each gathering where we stand to pray is in defiance of the terror and violence of extremists who put their trust in hateful ideologies and not the God of peace we share and serve and love.
We gather in peace, in shalom, in salam. We gather in the name of God. And where two or more gather, God is in that place. And since God is with us, no one can be against us. On May 2, I hope you'll spend a few minutes in prayer. And I hope you'll remember those who have died for their faith and because of their faith. And I hope you will live for that peace and work for peace.
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