The Image of True Relationship
BY JACKIE BOVA | May 28, 2018
Sunday’s Readings
Once a week during my years as a student at Saint Louis University, a group of us would prepare a simple meal, pile into vans, and head out to the streets of downtown St. Louis to visit our friends living on the streets.
When I first started going out with the Labre Homeless Ministry group, I felt good about the fact that I was living the commissioning that Jesus issues to “go and make disciples of all nations.” I hoped that bringing people a meal would somehow invite them deeper into the love of Christ.
However, my understanding of the commissioning was too small. I thought about others out there who needed what I had to give but did not really think about what they had to share with me. I thought of the transaction instead of the relationship.

[Saint Louis University via Facebook]
Because we are all children of God by the Spirit of adoption, we are all called to carry the grace of God’s love out into the world. That means that we also must be open to receiving that grace from others, and in doing so, see God in them. I entered into those nights with Labre expecting the commissioning of Jesus to be transactional, that I would bring something to others in need. However, the friends I got to know on the streets of St. Louis taught me that we are all sent out not for transaction but for relationship.
We are each made in the image of the Trinity, the image of true self-giving relationship. As we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity, may we strive to live Jesus’ call to go out and encounter one another in genuine relationship.

Jackie Bova is a graduate of Saint Louis University, a former campus minister, and a fan of Cleveland sports. She is passionate about ending stigmas surrounding homelessness and disability. Jackie is currently seeking God in all things, including triathlons, business classes, and ice cream.
I see God’s work is love, and love does not exist in isolation. Love always breaks through in the relationship we call community. I see community as everyone and everything on earth. I see love as always seeking the good of the other, thus God’s Love works in and through each of us to restore unity with God and each other in Christ. Becoming Beloved Community in The Jesus Movement!
May it be so in all all of us as we seek to live our lives in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Creator.
Amen. Alleluia!
Connecting with others through meaningful relationships we are partners in a new world-building enterprise.