麻豆约拍

Good morning.聽
Working in Public Relations, it鈥檚 often said that 鈥淚t鈥檚 not what you know, it鈥檚 who you know鈥�. In the PR world, there are two kinds of folk: people and people who know people. You鈥檙e only as significant as the networks you鈥檙e a part of.聽
But when you鈥檙e measured by how many 鈥榝riends鈥� or followers you have on social media, by how well connected you are...what happens to real relationships? What about the people who don鈥檛 鈥榢now people鈥�? Bit by bit we see those already on the fringes gradually being pushed out and excluded from the centres of power, from our clubs, friendship groups and churches.聽
In a way, being a follower of Jesus is a bit like working in PR 鈥� it鈥檚 not about what you know, it鈥檚 about who you know. You don鈥檛 have to be au fait with the intricacies of church doctrine or understand every letter of scripture. It鈥檚 about knowing and believing in Jesus 鈥� the rest somehow falls into place.聽
But there鈥檚 one significant difference 鈥� Jesus never bought into the lie that people are only as important as their contacts book. He doesn鈥檛 care who you know or where you鈥檙e from. 聽
The choosing of Jesus鈥� disciples was a definitive point in his ministry. He could have consulted with the Pharisees, asking them about the holiest people they knew. He could have asked his parents which of their friends were well-connected in the synagogue. Instead he chose strangers. Fishermen, tax collectors, ordinary men and women of no special status. Men and women who left everything to follow him.聽
Lord God, bless and guide our relationships. Help us to hear the voices of those on the edge of our society. May we treat people with grace, respect and care. Amen聽