Love and more love
It is with a heavy heart that I write this post. I purposely take a break from tv and the internet for a day every week. This week I chose Sunday and Monday for an extra break. My shock came when I got an emergency alert saying there was a curfew placed on the Cities Monday evening. I then found out about another shooting of a black man in Brooklyn Center. My heart sank. All I could think was “My God, not again. When will this end. What are we to do to end this?”
Much to my dismay, God doesn’t send me direct email answers to my questions (believe me, I’ve asked!). But, if I remain aware, God does, indeed, give me answers. When I logged on to Evening Prayer, I was greeted by beautiful faces ready to join me, where I was, to pray. I was reminded through Scripture that each of us has a Divine Center - a place within that is safe, and filled with love and peace. I was reminded from another not to let outside pressures and realities steal my joy. I was comforted by the combined Spirit we shared telling me I was not alone - we were there together, and God was with us.
Having just celebrated Easter, having my final vaccine, having just celebrated our first in-person mass, I am filled with such gratitude. My cup does, indeed, overflow. If God can overcome death, lead us through a pandemic, and create a community of faith and love while we’re all confined to our homes, God can and will show us how to move forward and heal what’s going on in our neighborhoods. God is faithful and just. We need to be faithful and just as well. It’s going to be work, we’re going to need to be leaders and workers in the quest, but I believe with all my heart, together we can accomplish this.
Holy Presence is a member of the Interfaith Alliance in St. Paul. This is a group of faith communities of all traditions who are working together to spread love and justice. We don’t have to change the world on our own, but we do need to work together - with all of God’s people - for peace, for justice, for hope, for equality for all. Together we will imagine ways to combat racism, violence, and injustice - ways in which we can promote love, not fear. Together we will be able to support one another and those in our communities while we face these destructive happenings.
Christ came “that they all may be one” (John 17:21). Christ suffered for all, died for all, rose from the dead for all. My brothers and sisters, I invite you to join me in prayer and in action to live as Jesus did and help end this insipid loss of life. I invite you to join me in imagining ways to spread the love that Jesus continually pours upon us. I invite you to join me in the journey of loving mercy, acting justly, and walking humbly with God. Love always wins.
Rev. Joan
