In general, we tend to think of heaven and earth as two separate places. Heaven is where God lives; earth is where humans live. Heaven is perfect; earth is fallen. In today’s passage from Genesis, Jacob probably thought the same
thing – that is, until he sees a dream of the Lord and the Lord’s angels present with him. When Jacob wakes, he proclaims: “Surely the Lord is in this place – and I did not know it! How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. After seeing the Lord and his angels, Jacob realizes that heaven and earth are not so very separate after all. God does not just live in heaven, but here on earth, with us. The very ground we walk on is the house of God, and the air we breathe is the gate to heaven.
In the wake of the incarnation, we are struck by the same realization: this is none other than the house of God. With Jesus’s birth, God has made God’s home here – the earth itself has become God’s cradle. Through Christ, our whole world is sanctified. As Christ’s church, therefore, we are called to honor the world as God’s home, believing that it is sacred and deserving of our care and respect.
Creator God, remind us that this earth is your home, made holy through your presence with us. Inspire us to care for your creation as we seek to share your great love for the world. Amen.
Rev. Sarah Rutherford
Resident Minister, UKirk at UMich
Alum, United Campus Ministry in Aggieland (College Station, TX)
Words for Waiting 