Of all the things Jesus could have chosen in that moment, he prayed for unity, for communion and fellowship.

If it was important enough for Jesus to consider in the hours before his death, are we willing to re-consider the importance of our relational intimacy?

"Content used to be a competitive advantage. For the most part, it isn’t any more. What is deeply scarce right now are community and connection… …people are more isolated than ever. That’s playing out the crisis in mental health, rising addictions and the fractionalized tribes we’ve seen form in our culture. Authentic, loving and genuine community are more scarce than they have ever been in our lifetime. Every church should be running to fill that hole. Community means connecting people to each other in groups, serving, friendship and relationships. Nobody should be able to out-community the local church."
-Carey Nieuwhof

Ideal vs. Reality

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
-C.S. Lewis

In social isolation, we have learned the truth of Frederick Buechner’s words: “You can survive on your own; you can grow strong on your own; you can prevail on your own; but you cannot become human on your own.”
-Peter Marty

Verses for further study/reflection:
Acts 2:42
Romans 15:26
1 Corinthians 1:9
1 Corinthians 10:16
1 Corinthians 10:16
2 Corinthians 6:14
2 Corinthians 8:4
2 Corinthians 9:13
2 Corinthians 13:14
Galatians 2:9
Ephesians 3:9
Philippians 1:5
Philippians 2:1-5
Philippians 3:10
Philemon 1:6
Hebrews 13:16
1 John 1:3
1 John 1:3
1 John 1:6
1 John 1:7