In recent days the brightness of the Epiphany light has been obscured as division and discord in our nation has turned to deadly violence in our streets. The events in Minneapolis – the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent, this weekend’s shooting and killing of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by federal forces – and the ongoing illegal seizure and detention without due process of hundreds of individuals across our country call for us as citizens and Christians, to respond.
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20
These are grievous days in which the evil that Isaiah writes about is evident in our cities, villages, and in the hearts of those who do harm. In the face of evil, God calls us to resist and to work, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to restore the peace and harmony that is God’s dream for us.
Many of us across the diocese are already engaged as peacemakers and reconcilers. Our parishes are working to support the most vulnerable in our communities. Individuals are serving in ways that are both quiet and bold, reaching out one-on-one or to whole groups serving to repair the breach. In the great prologue to John’s gospel, we read: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) While the light maybe obscured, it is not extinguished. God’s love will prevail.
Today I call us to discernment. I invite a diocesan-wide practice to engage in prayerful reflection on God’s call to us, asking for affirmation of the ways that we are now serving and direction for the days ahead. This ancient Christian practice invites us to listen for God’s call to us as we follow the path of love. United by the waters of baptism, each of us in our diocese – lay and clergy alike – is called to participate in God’s mission and to find our place that will bring us from heartbreak to healing. Our nation needs us and our faith instructs us to do this work. Discernment is not a “one and done” event but an ongoing practice that reveals God’s will for us.
In my discernment in the past several months, I have heard God calling me to “stability.” This monastic virtue is described by St. Benedict as a path of perseverance in the face of adversity and the refusal to flee when the community or self becomes uncomfortable. Benedict also points to stability as the place where conversion of life can take place. For me, stability means “showing up:” sitting each morning to read the scriptures and say my prayers, meeting with people in their own discernment even when answers are not yet evident, and remaining faithful to our pattern of worship, coming together to be nourished by the Sacraments. Stability means to stand in the face of evil and to proclaim God’s power and love.
And now, God is calling us to discern some more. To revisit our practices in the context of what is happening in our country today. Through this practice God may affirm that what we are doing is holy and good and to keep at it, or God may reveal something new, something more for us to do.
I invite you to join me in discernment and to do this work individually or collectively, as a family or parish community. There are materials provided at the end of this letter to assist you in your prayer of discernment. May your work be blessed as you find God’s call to you as an agent of peace.
If you would like to share the call that God has placed on your heart with our diocesan community, please email communications@diosusquehanna.org and we will keep a list on our website to invite ongoing prayers for our ministry together from now until we celebrate the paschal feast at Easter.
May God bless us and keep us and may the light of Christ shine in our hearts.
