One of the many ministries through which I have been blessed is working with children. In my former parish, I worked not only with our parish member children and their parents, but also served as the chaplain to our parish day school. As chaplain, I would try to meet at least once a week with the children during their daily chapel service. The service was very much a liturgical service with an opening litany, the confession and then some words about God’s love for them from “Father Bill” as they knew me, followed by a song and prayers.
It seemed rather easy at first to share with them the more obvious ways that we know God’s love for us, but then after a few months came the challenge when the obvious ways appeared to be exhausted. Rather than repeat what has already been said, how would I first discover for myself the new, unobserved, hidden in plain sight, ways that God loves us and then how would I share that with these very young people? It was a growth experience for me, and perhaps also for them.
In the end, I may have received more spiritually from this experience than they did, and I would not be surprised if that is what God intended when he led me to serve as chaplain to a day school so far from my southern home. He opened my eyes and stretched me to see his love for me and others and gave me words and the opportunity to share that with his littlest lambs. What a blessing!
Our ministry as the parish of the Good Shepherd is not so different. As individuals and as one body - a parish, a diocese, a church - we are called to share the good news of the Gospel with others, but we need to first see and know that for ourselves. Can you see that? Do you know that? That good news is God’s love for all people and all creation. The good news is good news whether times are good or not as good as they might be.
It is the latter times that provide for us what might be the greater opportunity for us to discover the unobserved, hidden in plain sight, ways that God loves us and calls us to love others. It may be for us a daily practice to discern the good news amidst the often frequent and very bad news surrounding us. How is God showing love to you where you stand in these times?
It is Eastertide, the season of the resurrection, where the grief, the fears, and the dashed hopes of the disciples run into surprise encounters with the risen Lord. Grief and fear are replaced by joy. Hope renews. The context is one of continuing Roman oppression, corrupt political and religious elites, ethic tensions, and other less than good news. As then, like now, there is very good news to share with a world that needs some good news. Some may be obvious, some may be hidden, some may bear greater fruit through discernment and discovery.
What story do you have to share with friend and stranger about how God is loving you and all others in our day?
Fr Bill+