Clergy Corner: May 21, 2026

May is often called the “Queen of Seasons.” After the long, biting winter, spring transitions into summer almost before we notice. Even the crisp comfort of autumn is fleeting, May allows us to linger at the peak of spring, soaking in the fresh fragrance of lilacs. The vast fields are now blanketed in the vibrant green of new wheat, interspersed with patches of yellow canola blossoms blending into the wild grass. This grand landscape is a masterpiece of God’s handiwork—a sight uniquely reserved for the countryside.

May is also a season of bustling activity. It begins with Mother’s Day and continues with a whirlwind of graduations and community events. Farmers, too, grow busier as they tune up their heavy machinery. I’ve been told that in this region, crops shouldn’t be planted until late May to avoid the threat of sudden frost. Last month, unaware of this rule, I bought a cherry tomato pot from Walmart. The weather seemed mild, so I left it outside, only to have a sudden cold snap freeze it overnight. It was a casualty of the drastic temperature swings—and perhaps my own ignorance as I adapt to rural life.

However, the most significant reason May is the “Queen of Seasons” to me is that in Korea, it is “Family Month,” featuring Children’s Day on the 5th and Parents’ Day on the 8th. The family is the very first gift God gave to humanity in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:24 says: “A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Through the family, God bestowed the blessing to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth.

Are we truly enjoying this original blessing? What does He define as a “blessed life”? In Genesis 1:28, it says: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over…’” Interestingly, the Hebrew word for blessing, Barak, also means “to kneel.” For humans created in the image of God, the greatest blessing is to know and worship Him. John 17:3 tells us: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” When we know the source of life and worship in His presence, we experience the true righteousness, joy, and peace of His kingdom regardless of our circumstances. This is the true blessing of God.

To “be fruitful” means that once we are reborn in God’s image, we become blessed beings who bear the fruits of the Spirit and of life within Christ. Only then can we truly live a life of “ruling over”—tending to all creation with God’s justice and love, expanding the kingdom where He reigns.

All of this is realized through the family with God as its head. This is why the home—established in the beginning by creating man and woman to live together—is the origin of all blessings. In today’s world, where many families are fractured, we can still experience this through our community of faith. It is the blessing of overcoming the world through the Word of Jesus Christ.

In this beautiful month of May, I hope we all restore our homes as places of worship. Through the Holy Spirit, may our wounds be healed, may we be united in love, and may we fully enjoy the blessings God gave us from the very beginning.