God.

Family is hard.

Jacob lied to his dad, he embezzled from his brother, he played favorites with his mom.

And that’s a biblical family. That’s a family that you put in the middle of your plans and promises.

Just about every family we read about has tension and trouble. Just about every family we read about has missing members. Even your family, Jesus. Brothers who teased and mocked, a mother who pushed.

And yet.

And yet you choose the picture of family to help us understand how you relate to us, how we can relate to each other. You redeem the image and offer hope.

Relieve us from the expectations that we carry and are false.

Forgive us for the expectations we’ve created and are false.

Remind us of the ways that being your children matters most. In our loneliness, in our calling, in our community.

Give us wisdom and compassion as we care for our sisters and brothers, in Christ, in blood, in humanity.

And heal us, we ask.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen

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Reflecting on a story from Genesis 28:10-19a.