Hello and happy Wednesday!
In Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 16 through 17, we are told to pray without ceasing and rejoice in everything. What if we took this to heart? What if we decided that no matter what, we would search for joy in every situation? Now, I know that that isn’t always our first inclination. Due to our human nature, sometimes we are just unable to see the joy in situations because of the gloom that overshadows us. It’s at those times that we need each other the most. It’s at these times now, that we need each other the most.
I’ve set up my Amazon fire stick to show pictures when we’re not using it. As it was scrolling through the other night, it started showing all kinds of pictures from church events over the last two years. Now, I won’t lie to you, I was having a rough day because I had been told that my wrist was broken. How? Funny you should ask. I broke my wrist around five weeks ago but I’ve been too stubborn to go to the doctor. Well, after mowing about 10 times, cleaning the house, and various other tasks that needed to be done at home and Church, it finally started hurting to the point that I had to go get help. But I digress…
As I was sitting in the living room that night, the pictures started scrolling. I got to see almost all of your faces as many of you have been captured by my lovely wife or by Jason Pierce over the last few years via photograph. And what a beautiful sight it was and is. We are so blessed to have experienced the joy of one another in this church. We come from a place of people coming to the church with their heads down—and leaving in much the same manner—to a place where people almost run for the door to get insiderather than to go outside. You can see it on every face and every smile as the pictures scroll along; I wish you could see these pictures, too.
I guess my point is this: with Covid, with all the other strife is going on in the world currently, and now with a broken wrist, I was feeling like “how long, oh Lord?” But after seeing those pictures, and seeing what we’ve done together and what we’ve accomplished, I realized this is just a moment in time. The current situation won’t last forever; yet, it may last longer than we desire. However, I choose joy. I choose joy because of you, because of my wife, because of my family, because I’m learning how to be a priest in new ways every day, and because I know that no matter how long we’re separated by proximity, we will always be connected through our memories and through the hope that is to come.
In last week’s sermon, I told you that I was going to start seeking joy and seeking the good in situations rather than focusing on the bad. I still plan to do that. And, even at one of my hardest moments, when I didn’t see Joy as clearly as I’d like to have, I saw your faces and was reminded. I hope that you have something at your home that reminds you of joy. I hope that you remember in your mind’s eye the smiling faces and the love that abounds at your church; I hope you remember that you are loved and that you are remembered and that these dark moments will not last forever. If the night becomes hard or the days seem long, remember the words of Thessalonians chapter 5: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.”
Joyfully,
Fr. Sean+