Introduction –
This week’s readings invite us into the honest terrain of faith — the place where trust is tested, courage is stretched, and God’s presence becomes our steadying strength. Each passage reminds us that following God can be costly, yet never lonely; challenging, yet always held within a love that does not let go.
On this Father’s Day, that message feels especially tender. Whether we celebrate, grieve, or hold complicated stories, we meet a God whose fathering love is both fierce and gentle — a love that sees us, protects us, and calls us into new life with compassion and purpose.
As we gather, may these scriptures open us to the God who accompanies us through every season, shaping us with mercy and strengthening us for the road ahead.
Introduction to our readings
God does not promise that the path of the disciple will be easy. Jeremiah feels the pain of rejection from those who do not want to hear what he has to say. Jesus declares that his words may bring stark division. Even so, we need not be afraid for God accounts for each hair on our heads. Though we may experience rejection, frustration, division, and death, God’s grace and love make us a new creation each day. Marked with the cross and filled with holy food, we are sent from worship to witness to Christ in the world.
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