At a recent staff meeting, we pondered the potential impact of a new banner to sit where the “He is Risen” banner goes during Eastertide. This one would read “God is Fun”. As people of my age can appreciate, I cannot now recall exactly what the context of that insightful outcome happened to be. Clearly, however, we were enjoying our common life in Christ. I was reminded of the banner headline when I read the following final paragraph in the penultimate chapter of Alan Jones’ “Journey of the Soul”, a reflection on Dante. It says:
The message of heaven is simple: Life (bios) is always symbiosis. Heaven is conviviality. Paradise is a party and everyone is invited.”
Last week I said that I would offer a Pauline effort to sum up my reflection on us as a community. Like the apostle Paul I would give thanks to God for you all, especially for your spirit of hospitality. By hospitality I include your generosity with your material things, and your openness to the gifts and insights of others. You are aware of God’s richness towards you and never cease to look for ways to be instruments of grace in yourselves. You build on the foundations of the past as a work well begun, and you are asking Jesus the question that He primarily asks of us: “What would you have me do for you?”
It is no coincidence that God has placed such a charism within the heart of one of the world’s sought after destinations, the wine country of the Napa Valley. I have joked with you of inviting people to “Enjoy the Spirit among the wines” , and I pray that you will not hide your light under a basket (or casket) but truly let it shine. Establish your ministry as if for others than for yourselves. Think of your neighbors and your touring friends as a primary focus of ministry and loving in Christ’s Name. When you gather for worship, imagine what it might mean to offer an atmosphere that will create what the ancient travelers to Constantinople experienced at the Hagia Sophia, where they said how they didn’t know whether they were in heaven or on earth!
Keep up your fervor for prayer. The world needs you to uplift it in your intercessions. Heaven hears your voice, and feels your yearning for peace, justice, and love. Practice a holiness which as the theologian and former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, describes as being absolutely involvement “Going into the heart of where it is most difficult for human beings to be human”. “Jesus”, he says, ”goes to the place where people suffer and are humiliated, the place where people throw stuff out, including other people”. Bear this in mind as you here him continually call you to “follow Me”.
Be a people who enlarge the world of others (Williams definition of a holy people). When people encounter you, may they walk away changed; confused maybe, troubled even, but moved by a love that widens their horizons, that sparks their imagination to see each other and all in a new gentler light. May you as a community increasingly become one with all people around you. And do this as you persevere in your coming together in your small groups. Offering precious time to one another in your formation as followers of Christ.
And finally, as written so long ago in the letter sent to the Philippian Christians, “rejoice in the Lord. And again I say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things”.
Bishop Alan Scarfe
Recent Comments