Prayers for all Impacted by the Tragedy in Orlando and for Peace in our World
I want to acknowledge that I share these thoughts, prayers and resources with a heart full of sadness all the way down to my toes. I also do so with a sense of inadequacy to address the utter profoundness of a loss and senseless tragedy of this magnitude and breadth. I preached this past Sunday a sermon on sin in which I said, "Someone once said, 'God created us in his image...and we have been returning the favor ever since.' And we do the same to each other...trying to recreate one another in our own image...which results, every single time, in the diminishing of the other...this choice, this behavior does not value the uniqueness and the gifts of the other...and often results in violence...either emotional or physical...and this is indeed sin...no two ways about it." (for the full text click here). Violence is indeed too often the result of human sin, in particular, the sin of hate. We all fall into the trap of wanting the world and others to think, look, and live a little more like we do. But a far greater expression of this sort of human brokenness is hate, truly hating the other...a deep seated hate of those who look, live, and believe differently than us. And this hate that infects the human heart runs contrary to the message of the Gospel, contrary to the life and teachings of Jesus, and contrary to the God of love who made all of us in God's very image and called each of us good.
I suppose I am feeling this day that as Jesus followers, love-spreaders, and co-creators with God that we are called to not only offer unceasing prayers for a world of peace and for healing and solace for those injured and grieving (and I hope you will join in mine for both the people affected by the tragedy in Orlando and the LGBTI community across our country in particular), but that we are also called to be proactive agents who intentionally work to incarnate God's love and peace in the world around us, seeking to build God's peaceable kingdom in our very midst. This includes building relationships that witness to God's love and embrace of all with those who indeed look, live, and believe differently than we do. Providing these opportunities is something I commit to make available in the months to come. This includes fellowship opportunities with neighboring Muslim communities (see announcements below for one such invitation to a Ramadan dinner with the Muslim community who visited us during Lent), and reaffirming our commitment to and full inclusion of our LGBTI brothers and sisters in our shared life at St. Julian's and beyond. I believe that the Easter promise that love is stronger than hate and life is stronger than death is the place from which our confidence to enter into this work and ministry flows...moving us from a place of fear and lost-ness to love-filled and hope-filled service and relationship building.
I spent this morning helping lead our Vacation Bible School program. A program that might seem a little thing. But it indeed filled my sails, as play and innocence and a proclamation of God's love was the order of the day. Joy, kindness, and recognizing beauty in God's creation was our focus, and helping these young ones know that they are loved and cared for by our God now and for all time was our blessed work. This is entirely true for all of us, and this is the very world we seek to make incarnate for all to experience. I believe this work, like VBS, and all we do, from worship to study to service, seeks to achieve God's dream for our world...even if in small but so very, very important ways. I know we will enter into this work together, even as we grieve and acknowledge our real and understandable doubts and fears together. Please be assured of my love, prayers and availability to all who want a listening ear.
Below are several links provided by our diocese. They include a heartfelt statement from our Bishop, Andy Doyle; a thoughtful reflection from the Dean of our Cathedral, Barkley Thompson; and prayers by our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry.
I will be away starting Saturday, June18 for our Pilgrimage to Navajoland but don't hesitate to reach out to either me or Kelly, if we can be of service. I am so grateful for our shared friendship and ministry, and I am so grateful that we serve the God of love, who will be, in the fulness of time, all in all.
If you have any questions about anything in our shared life, please contact me, as always, by clicking here. I hope this reaches you and yours well.
Peace and Warm Friendship,
Miles+
The Rev. Miles R. Brandon, II
Vicar, St. Julian of Norwich Episcopal Church