Dear Friends of St. Luke’s --
This morning, after learning that former president Trump has been re-elected for another term, I kept thinking about how we at St. Luke’s have been preparing for this all fall – just as we have been preparing for the possibility that Vice President Harris might be elected, too. Because we have reflected on the central work and call of Christians in every age and around the globe, living within and under every kind of political authority:
- To love God and to love our neighbor as our highest priority and greatest commandment. In the past two months, our readings from the letter of James reminded us that “to love” our neighbor means actively caring for them in their physical needs, and in the gospel of Luke’s parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus reminds us that “our neighbor” might be the people in our communities (or nation) we have been taught to think of as our enemies, or adversaries.
- To defend and protect the most vulnerable members of society. Throughout our Scriptures, we receive instruction to especially care for the poor, the oppressed, “the orphan and the widow” (shorthand for those people who lack legal and/or economic protection). God knows the human heart, and so God knows that we are prone to forget and neglect those without power, especially if we are “comfortable” or “okay” – but God’s Word, in Jesus and in the Scriptures, prods us to actively preserve, protect, and strengthen any lives threatened with violence, oppression, or degradation.
- To build for the kingdom of God, which transcends any moment in history. We cannot and will not “bring the kingdom” or “build the kingdom” as human beings – but we are called to build FOR the kingdom, adding our efforts, day in and day out, in ways big and small, for a reign that is marked by wholeness & healing, justice & peace, truth & reconciliation, beauty & joy. Our mission as Christians remains unchanged, as stated in the Book of Common Prayer: “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” There is plenty of unifying work to do, and we are promised that our efforts matter to God – the loving actions we take endure beyond our understanding.
And, of course, I recognize that at St. Luke’s, we might be feeling a particular fear, anxiety, or grief due to the president-elect’s extremely negative language around immigrants, when so many in our beloved community are immigrants, refugees, and former refugees. Together as a church family, we can and will continue to proclaim in word and deed the value and dignity of new Americans. We have many families at St. Luke’s who have been resettled in the U.S. in the past year, and along with our sister non-profit, RefugeeNet, we hope to officially welcome 30 more individuals before the end of January. There is plenty of loving work to do, which brings to mind 1 John 4:18: “Perfect love casts out fear.” We are fortunate to have important opportunities to love and serve directly at hand, right now and in the months to come.
In the midst of significant political changes in this country, the perpetual invitation from God toward loving action is the same – and Christ Jesus is indeed with us through the Spirit. We pray you know some measure of Christ’s peace, which passes understanding, as we navigate this new terrain.
Christ's love,
Mtr. Laurel and Fr. Colin
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