Faith in hard times

This week I joined the other clergy of our diocese at a retreat center outside of Temecula. Besides the good fellowship and collegiality of time with our Bishop, we were blessed to hear from the Rt. Rev. Rob Wright, Bishop of Atlanta. Bishop Rob led us in conversation together about living faithfully in troubled times, reminding us that our scriptures are full of stories of people who did just that. Moses led God's people out of slavery in Egypt; the prophets spoke truth to corrupt kings; the apostles began the early church in times of Empire and persecution. And we follow one who was crucified, "bearing in our bodies" Christ's crucifixion -- as well as living in the light of his resurrection. No one ever promised this would be easy!

Our country is in a hard place. And yet the gospel of Jesus Christ continues to tell and retell the saving story of Jesus, who gave himself up out of love for us, and teaches us to do the same for others. As Christians, our call is to follow Jesus first, resisting when necessary the tides of culture and political power, and to love God and one another with all our strength. This Sunday our Bishop Susan will be with us, and we will celebrate alongside members of our community ready to claim that call again in a fresh way, being confirmed and received into the Episcopal Church, and reaffirming their own baptisms. And we celebrate our spiritual ancestors who began this community of St Francis in Pauma Valley as a witness to Jesus in this place. God is doing good things here among us!