Seek in community

”Seek first the Kingdom of God” Matthew 6:33

Seek: (verb) to go in search of, to look for, to try to discover.  Seek is an action verb.  

“The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Genesis 2:18

No man should stand alone or try to go it alone.
God built man to be in community. Everything about our hearts and souls and mind is made to be with others.

One of the greatest blessings God has given to me in my life is the community He built around me. Be that my tremendous wife who blesses me in so many ways or the men and women I call brothers and sisters. I am a very blessed man.

The one common denominator with each community is God. God is the center and core of our relationship. That doesn’t mean that we sit around and talk all about God when we are together. We’re not constantly praying and singing Kumbaya. But, He is still present in all we are together.

God’s presence among us raises our conversations to a different place. Outside the world. You never hear derogatory talk or gossip and I don’t think I’ve rarely heard a profanity. Never a use of the Lord’s Name outside of prayer or praise as intended.

I remember a blessed evening that gives a great example of this community and its raising of those within to a higher level. A close friend and brother in Christ was getting married. So, he invited a group of us out for his bachelor party. This was truly a bachelor party in which our wives had no worries. We began the night with a prayer, had dinner and some light drinks and a great evening together lifting each other up. With some lighthearted banter and joking as brothers tend to do. An all around great evening that ran totally contrary to the world’s view of what a bachelor party should be.

We have a group which gets together to strengthen our Sacramental Marriage through support and friendship. 6-7 couples who edify each other through our faith and marriages. We discuss challenges and successes as husband and wife and give thought on how to grow closer to God through this Sacrament with which He has blessed us. We are mostly friends uplifting each other in the backdrop of marriage. This community has surely blessed my wife and my marriage and life with their friendship and examples. And, I pray we have returned that blessing to them as well.

Emmaus is built around community. The Emmaus retreats, both men and women, has community at its core. Yes, it draws one into a deeper relationship with God and opens one’s heart to the many blessing we may take for granted. But, when the tremendous 48 hours of the retreat are finished and Monday morning comes, what remains is the community of brothers and sisters. Many of our smaller communities, both examples above, come from Emmaus. It is a great thing to go to a faith-based event any where within the Diocese of Pittsburgh and see an Emmaus brother or sister.

Community is currently under heavy attack by Satan. He never wants us to be joined together. The enemy will single out and attack any soul he can. But, in these God centered communities, we find unity and strength. I always would attest that these brothers and sisters hold me to a higher standard, one I am not worthy to be consider for. They make me a better man, husband, father, friend and son. Even a better employee and manager. I am looked at by some as an example, which is very humbling. I also know though, that these same men and women will not think less of me when I fall and even will come to my aid to help me back into my feet.

That is the power of a community of faith. We are many parts, with diverse gifts who come together in the Body of Christ, United by the Trinity and our love of God. Together, we are strong.

“ a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. ”. Ecclesiastes 4:12