September 27th

"'The kingdom of heaven is like . . .'" Matthew 13:44a

the restaurant where there
are no reserved seats
and the hungry do not
need to prove they deserve a table.
the stranger who sees someone
standing alone at a gathering
and invites them to join
the conversation.
the streets where doors
are left unlocked because
neighbors know they are responsible
for the safety of others.
the politician who knows
that power is not a throne
but a towel and basin.
every faith community which asks
‘who is missing?’ and not
who belongs here?’
the bread which is broken
not hoarded and the grace
shared before it is earned.
enemies who realize that
the other has a face, a story,
a struggle, a name.
God’s Beloved Community
breaks through the cracks
of our world—
wherever mercy has the last word,
justice welcomes the forgotten,
love makes up the spare room,
for it does not come
with trumpets and lightning
but when we actually live
as if it is already here.

(c) 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman