November 6, 2020
Dear people of El Camino Real,
This past Sunday, we celebrated the Feast of All Saints. The Feast commemorates the saints, both official and unofficial, who have been faithful followers of Jesus—humble servants and pilgrims along the way. How fitting that it came right before our country’s Election Day.
Saints have emerged and lived throughout times of war and famine, peace and prosperity, fire, earthquake, and storm. They have responded faithfully to God’s call and lived into their baptismal covenant, regardless of who has won or lost an election. They surround us with grace and point to the path ahead.
Our call as Christians, informed by the example of the saints in light, is to walk in the way of love. This, as we know, is not the easiest calling, but it is the most faithful one. The way of love—measured by every step, every breath we take—is challenging. It is a way where we advocate for justice, respect the dignity of every human being, and love our neighbor—even if, or especially when we don’t like his or her politics.
Our Christian calling is hard work and it is necessary work. One thing we cannot do is stand idly by while our nation intensely struggles with divisiveness and man’s inhumanity to man. Each of us has an important part to play to reconcile our hurting world.
This post-election time is crucial for us as Christian peoples and as the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real. Each person must dig deeply into their soul and decide how courageous they will be and how they will persevere both in our quest for reconciliation and as standard bearers of the Kingdom of God. How we live in this time determines the future course of our country for our children and grandchildren.
I believe that prayer is the place to begin, and that prayer must inform our actions each and every day: pray before opening mouths, sending e-mails, responding to social media posts. And then, may your words and actions be purposeful and grounded firmly in the work of the Kingdom of God as you live actively into your baptismal covenant.
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p. 823)
+Lucinda
