Dear friends in Christ,
This coming Sunday’s collect is lovely:
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I don’t know about you, but I need this prayer. I often get anxious about earthly things. But of course, when I manage to orient myself toward God’s grace and mercy, I know the peace that passes all understanding. It’s easier said than done!
Earthly things will all pass. No thing is permanent. Empires collapse. Buildings crumble. Possessions decay. The only thing that really endures is love: God’s love for us, our love for God, and our love for one another. Love is all that matters, in the end. Saying this doesn’t make the challenges of our world disappear. Quite the contrary. Seeing ourselves as steeped in God’s love and kindling an urgent desire to share that love may well give us the clarity, strength, and courage to contend with evil.
Notice that in our prayer, we pray for God’s help. Left to our own devices, most of us will focus on ourselves and our worldly concerns most of the time. But by God’s grace, we can be changed.
For our sake, for the sake of the world, and for the sake of the Gospel, let us fervently pray to love heavenly things and to hold lightly to earthly things.
Yours faithfully,
Scott Gunn
Executive Director
More from our ministry:
“With real constraints on resources, staff, and volunteers, adult Christian formation can get lost in the mix, even though we know that equipping and supporting our members in developing a mature faith is one of the most important things we do as Church….” Taylor Devine, On-Ramps for Adult Formation
TOMORROW, 12pm ET: Join us for a resource roundup for the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Discipleship in Advent and Christmas is familiar in our broader culture – let’s prepare together to share discipleship resources afresh this season. Register here.
Suggested reading: Explore the Bible in the new liturgical year