05/31/2026
“Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other.”— Romans 12:9-10 (CEB)
In Romans 12:9–10 (CEB), Paul offers a simple but powerful vision for Christian life: “Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other.” These words remind us that faith is not only something we believe; it is something we practice through how we treat one another.
Peace and justice begin with this kind of love. When love is sincere, it moves beyond words into action. It seeks what is good for others, honors the dignity of every person, and works toward communities where fairness, compassion, and mercy are lived out each day.
This calling is at the heart of Peace with Justice Sunday, one of the six churchwide Special Sundays recognized by The United Methodist Church. This Special Sunday invites congregations to support ministries that equip communities to work for peace, fairness, and opportunity in their local contexts. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, these ministries help individuals and congregations live out the love Paul describes in Romans.
Many people may not fully understand how The United Methodist Church works, but its ministry is built on a covenant to walk together in faith. Congregations are connected through shared mission so that no church carries the work of ministry alone. Through connectional giving, local churches join their resources and their prayers to support ministries that extend far beyond their own communities.
When we give through Peace with Justice Sunday, our gifts are joined with those from congregations across the connection. Together, those gifts help support ministries that encourage peace, strengthen communities, and address the causes of injustice. Often these ministries serve people we may never meet, but whom God deeply loves.
This Sunday also often falls near Trinity Sunday, when the church reflects on the mystery of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three persons living in perfect unity and love. The life of the Trinity reminds us that faith is not lived in isolation. It is lived in relationship. The church mirrors that relational life when people care for one another and work together for the good of their neighbors.
Every gift tells a story. Sometimes that story begins with a small act of generosity. Sometimes it begins when a congregation chooses to participate in connectional giving. Over time, those gifts become part of larger stories—stories of communities strengthened, ministries supported, and people experiencing the love of Christ in tangible ways.
Paul’s words in Romans remind us that love should be genuine and active. When the church lives out that love together, it becomes a witness to God’s peace and justice in the world.
Reflection Question:
How might your generosity and your daily actions help reflect Christ’s love in ways that strengthen peace and justice in your community?
