Grace Happens - August 15
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 106:1-18; PM Psalm 106:19-48; Judges 17:1-13; Acts 7:44-8:1a; John 5:19-29
There are still Episcopal church plants today. A friend has started a new Episcopal Church in Oklahoma a few years ago called Grace Episcopal Church. They have just built their own building and next Sunday will be their first Sunday in their new sanctuary. Grace is a common name for churches as who can deny, we all need a little more grace these days.
I had a moment last week where it felt like the weight of it all was too much. In addition to my role as a priest and Rector of an Episcopal Church, I am navigating helping my in-laws transition to a new life of assisted living facilities and a move to Alabama, parenting two over-committed children, and trying to be a supporting spouse to a partner who is starting her own business. I was at home for a few minutes and our aging cat just looked at me, I think she might have winked, and then walked over to the corner and peed in a basket on the rug in our bedroom. (We have taken her to the vet, are having blood work done, and I am very aware this is often the sign of something wrong with a cat’s health). Oh, did I mention that my computer died last week in the midst of trying to run a finance committee meeting on zoom?
I had this moment where I almost screamed, “I can’t hold it all together!” and then it dawned on me, that I don’t have to. This is the beauty of our faith! Grace happens. The weight of the world is too much. An endless endemic or pandemic, new diseases, rising inflation that affects our daily living, and so many other concerns. We can’t hold it all together, and yet the truth of our faith is that Grace happens anyway. God’s love is always there, will always break through, and will always be the source of strength to start again. Grace – that’s a lovely name for a church.
Today’s epistle is about the martyrdom of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian faith. It’s where our Saint Stephen’s gets its name. It’s a story I have reflected on quite a bit in the last two months and has been lived out in our common life together. There are also churches named for the Advent (the coming of God’s reign), the Epiphany (the realization of Good News), and Resurrection (God’s victory over death), and while these names are of churches, they are all parts of our own faith story.
But today, I needed to hear grace and to remind myself that I can’t hold it all together, and I don’t need to. Maybe you need to hear that message too. God will always be there to pick us up and give us the strength to start the day again. Even when the cat has just destroyed another part of your home.
John+
Questions for Self-Reflection: What Christian truth do you need to hear most right now? How does your faith help you to navigate the stresses of life?
Daily Challenge: Read the story of Stephen in Acts again.