Greetings, beloved in Christ. I hope that you are well in this day. If you have, perhaps like me, found yourself feeling somewhat disheartened by the violence in our society over the last couple of weeks, know that I understand. The shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia was painful. Another assassination attempt on a former president mixed in with all of the violent rhetoric around immigrants and the upcoming election leaves me with a pit in my stomach. And when I find myself feeling anxious, when I find myself feeling afraid, I remind myself and I remind you of all the times Jesus said to us do not be afraid. I invite you in the coming days to lean heavily on the words of Jesus. Jesus recognized that there is no cure to the violent impulses in our humanity other than those who are committed to love. We cannot cast out violence with violence. We cannot cast out hate with hate.

Only love, real love, gospel love, faith-filled love has the capacity to change our outcomes. Each and every one of us has the capacity to model the love of Christ in the coming days, to lean hard into our baptismal promises. That we will forsake any evil that corrupts and destroys God’s children. That we will take on the cross, the love of Christ and share it with the world that we will seek and serve Christ in all people, whether they know they embody Christ or not. That we will respect the dignity of every human being. We have uncertain times ahead of us and indeed, our times are always uncertain, but they are in God’s hands. And our call hasn’t changed. We are to be embodiments of Christ and his love in this broken, fearful and violent world. God bless you.