"Love is the center and the goal." - By Bishop G

“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins…” (1 Peter 4:8).

Dear Friends,

            In Peter’s first letter, he writes encouraging words to Christians who were suffering and persecuted.  He reminds them that they are chosen, sprinkled with the blood of the Messiah and set aside for God’s work on earth, by God’s mercy and forgiveness and the Spirit is in them.  They are holy.  He tells us the building of God’s new age has begun, God is changing the world through love and someday heaven and earth will meet permanently.  Until then when we suffer, we’re given a chance for our faith to shine more because we are God’s children and we won’t go anywhere that Jesus hasn’t already been. Great letter!

            The letter is built around the theme of the priesthood of the whole Church.  We are precious living stones, precious to God, chosen to build a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, built on the foundation of Jesus’ sacrifice, death and resurrection.  Living stones makes me think of the many milestones I am blessed to witness every Sunday as your bishop.  This past Sunday I was part of a baptism, several confirmations and receptions, reaffirmation of faith, and by day’s end, an ordination of a new priest.   Signs the Holy Spirit is working everywhere.

            Now, whenever I have reached a milestone in my own life,  I’ve had a tendency to believe, just for a minute, that maybe I’m complete, I’m whole, done.  That’s ok and part of it all, I think.  I sometimes see my own growth by looking backwards and taking stock.  So maybe that’s what milestones do for us.  We stop and look around, get our bearings before we get back on the trail.  The milestone breaks are a chance to take a deep breath and praise God for bringing us this far; a chance to offer ourselves to God, to our families, friends, those who’ve helped us along this path, give thanks, even rest and review what’s most important.  

            One of my mentors along the way of milestones was my first spiritual director, although he didn’t know it.   Peter Horn was a priest for many years already when I first met him.  He was the first person to know about my desire to go to seminary.  Peter had a sign on his wall that I’ve never forgotten.  His sign said, “THINK SMALL”.   Great encouragement.  He also had a giant, perpetual jar of candy, chocolate, peppermint, on his desk.  The children of St. Stephen’s knew he left his door unlocked just so they could sneak in and get candy.  I thought that was a brilliant way to connect to those kids, safe, loving. 

             In the early days of my ministry,  I would often talk to Peter and I’d declare my frustrations about people.  He mostly listened and smiled but never judged me or corrected me.  Instead, I began to notice whenever I told him something I didn’t like about someone, Peter would subtly by the end of our talk mention something nice that person had done for someone.  Peter donated his platelets every month for years to the Red Cross.  He was funny and loving.  His love, quietly transformed me. 

            That, I think is the essence of this wonderful adventure of following Jesus that we’re on together.  Love is the center and the goal.  The cross shows us the picture of a God who loves us so much, he will endure suffering beyond imagination.  The cross is a picture of as N.T. Wright says, “The power of love overcoming the world’s love of power”.   That love reconciles us, calls us and empowers us to share that love. 

              Love abundant, extravagant, life giving.  That’s our job as Christians every day. We bring pieces of God’s heaven to earth when we offer ourselves, our souls and bodies, for the work of love.  It’s hard work, challenging, heartbreaking, frightening, life-giving, mysterious work.  Yet through it, God is transforming us and the world, making all things new. 

We will never be finished or done. God will not let us go.

            So as Eugene Peterson’s translation of Peter’s first letter says:

“Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide awake in prayer.  Most of all love each other as if your lives depended on it.  Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—-cheerfully.  Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help.  That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—-encores to the end of time, oh yes!”

I invite you to find a place to worship at one of our 87 parishes.  As always, I hope I see you at Church!   Blessings,

+G