We had a special Sunday at church featuring a church wide meal, bouncy house for kids and a petting zoo. These petting zoos bring animals to the community you don’t encounter daily. These animals were cool except for a couple of goats who were all about the drama. God’s creation is not without a sense of humor and whimsy, these critters prove that.
Today is Pentecost in the Christian faith. It celebrates the fire of the Holy Spirit coming down to the people of God. At St. Peter’s Episcopal Church this morning we celebrated the occasion by wearing red and observing the eucharist.
I find it sad when Atheists, Agnostics, people of other faiths and people in corporate America start reflecting the love of Christ more than people who profess to call him their Lord and Savior. Many people have been run off from the church because of fundamentalism and legalism. Some religious people just need to shut up and sit down. Old time American religion leaves a horrible taste in my mouth.
I am a follower of Christ in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition. Our faith and practice is ancient but also relevant. We seek a 3rd way that balances scripture, reason and tradition. I am glad to be a part of a community that believes with our hearts and heads and our lives.
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
By Thomas Merton from “Thoughts In Solitude”
At church we say this prayer in my Sunday school class we call The Table. It’s a special prayer that anyone can say. The language is very inclusive and one of hope and faith.
On this Easter weekend I am thinking about what I am called to do as a follower of Jesus. To me the most important thing I can do is love thy neighbor as myself. There are so many people who display their faith in such a proud and boastful way. I don’t think that is what Christ had in mind. As a believer I am told to pray in solitude and to fast without letting others know I am doing it.
In short faith is something best expressed in small, meaningful events and moments. A simple act of charity is more important than anything one could ever build or say. Faith is more important than works here. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and that set the example of humility and service that would span space and time.
I reject the evangelical movement that wants to be more religious than to love. We live in a time when love, peace, charity and grace are needed more than ever. So many people are on the fringes and I believe those folks have a place of God’s table. Too many people need to belong to something and I say why not the family of God.
As you have seen in previous posts I embrace LGBTQ people and in the modern context of faith I believe they have a place in eternity. Inasmuch as racism, poverty, sexism and homophobia have been on the rise lately I think Jesus shakes his head and sheds tears because people are not loving people as he said we should. His death on a cross was an example of how much we should love as He loved humanity.
Easter should be about a new beginning that is available to ALL not SOME. The fundamental thing we should focus on is God’s love and everything else will take care of itself. For God so loved the world has meaning. Pray without ceasing means a constant contact with the creator. Love thy neighbor as thyself is the most powerful of commandments, not suggestions.
So as we come to Easter Sunday know that I love you as my brothers and sisters. I pray for you all that you have comfort and community in this season. I think this season is about coming together and celebrating goodness and light and most importantly the Christ of the universe. Blessings to each of you.
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen….The Collect For Good Friday of The Episcopal Church.
The message of Good Friday is good winning the day. Evil put in it’s place. It’s about sacrifice, love and grace. I think the message of this day is about a humility and heroism embodied by a man who showed by example how to live in the best way possible. I think Jesus is a superhero who never wore a cape but stood up for all people.
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