Before the end of the Last Supper, Jesus winds down his last words to the disciples by offering compassion and the Holy Spirit. He knows they are sad, afraid, having a hard time bearing it all. He assures them their grief will turn to joy, like when a mother's love for her newborn child wipes away her crying. Our commitment to neighboring, not othering, is sealed by the knowledge that we are alike in our grieving and in our desire for joy. We proclaim that no one, especially those who seek to harm or destroy, can take away the joy that comes from God's Ever-Present Love, nor can they deter us from riding the highs and lows of life together as friends who are called to love one another. Join us this week in our common struggle of holding joy and grief, the fabric of Love Itself.

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