Beloved Friends-
One of the new realities of ministry at Trinity since 2020 is that our sermons for the upcoming Sundays must be crafted and recorded earlier in the week. So as I sit down to write to you this week I do so after recording my sermon for this Sunday. It is, I pray, a sermon that pulls us closer together as we hear the story of Jesus’ multiple healings in the gospel of Matthew. I have long been fascinated with miracle healings and I share why that might be as well as how those stories might speak to us today.
We are in the middle of June- both Gay Pride and Gun Violence Awareness month. Both are worthy of our time and attention and I am so grateful for a community that can both celebrate and dance with joy as well as grieve and protest with righteous indignation. All of it necessary as disciples of Jesus; all of it imperative as we follow the path of Love.
As Episcopalians, at the time of baptism, we make 5 promises- the first three are focused on ourselves- promises to learn and grow in the context of a faith community, to seek and ask for forgiveness when needed and to be about the Good News in all we say and do. They are promises of formation; ways in which we choose to structure how we live and grow as Christians. Likewise, the last two promises shape who we are, and they carry extra weight these days for me in light of how out-of-control the world seems to be spinning.
Here are the final two questions we are asked:
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
And to each of the five questions the response is the same: I will, with God’s help.
It is in that response we find hope and remember we are not expected to walk this road alone. Left to our own devices we will surely fail to discover a better future than much of the reality and mess we have made today. But clinging to the conviction of these promises made in the context of a faith community, especially these last two questions, give us a path forward with clarity and purpose.
Following Jesus means following a path of love- the “I am willing to put you first; I will fight with and for you; I will listen more and talk less; I will move over so you have a place at the table too” kind of love.
Come home this Sunday either at 9:00 (or anytime thereafter) for Trinity@Home or at 10:00 (in person) for Trinty@316 and help us build the Beautiful City we dream of; a place and a people committed to serving our Loving, Liberating, Life-Giving God.
And may you never forget that you are loved.
Lisa