Peter, in writing to newly converted Christians scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,¹ does so to offer them strength and a sense of purpose in their new found faith. Today, in such different circumstances, time and place it is easy to dismiss these words as being a remnant of the past, not longer relevant. To do so would be to lose an opportunity to reflect.

Let us reading this today consider who is our chosen generation, what is our royal priesthood, our holy nation. In these times of individualism it is easy to feel apart from rather than a part of, and yet as humans among humans we cannot be separate. We are bound in blood, in genetics, in spirit. We may have lost our way, wondering aimlessly in spiritually barren wastelands, or bound up in the bondage of self, isolated, stuck, but we never lose our potential—the potential to reconnect, to be one: one people, one nation, chosen by one another to serve the greater purpose of rescuing humanity from its slide into individual isolation, and the consequent loneliness, anxiety and depression that creates.

Daily, even hourly or by the minute we are called out of our darkness into the marvellous light. All it takes is for us to change direction, sometimes only slightly, and head towards it. All are embraced. We are all chosen if we choose one another.

¹ 1 Peter 1:1