Dear Friends in Christ,
Some of you have asked me about the recent events within the Anglican Communion, specifically regarding GAFCON and their proclamation of severing ties with the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is too soon to know what depth of action such proclamations signal. There have been tensions within the Anglican Communion for some time regarding women's ordination and the inclusion of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. Even if some type of realignment does take place, we must remember that in the Anglican Communion, each church is one among equals. If there is division, it will not change the Episcopal Church's dedication to the full inclusion of women in holy orders, as well as our love and support for our LGBTQ siblings as equal children of God.
Meanwhile beyond this tension within our Anglican Communion, there are so many other struggles we are facing such as food insecurity in Hawai'i, a fragile ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, the continued war in Ukraine, and the government shutdown and the lack of pay for federal workers. At grocery stores and gas stations, at schools and churches, people are on edge if not blatantly angry.
Against this backdrop of human anxiety, indifference, and dysfunction, on Saturday night at the All Saints High Mass, we will hear the Sermon on the Plain from Saint Luke's Gospel.
Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:20-31)
Our Lord clearly gives an alternative vision for the world from what we are witnessing currently. Jesus stands in solidarity with the poor, the hungry, and the defamed, and it is not optional for the Christian to practice forgiveness and reconciliation. We may not always want to be agents of forgiveness, but Christianity requires that we consistently work at traveling the road of reconciliation. Even when we cannot forgive momentarily, as if often the case in life, our hope in Christ is that we shall achieve forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation in all our relationships.
As we deal with the tensions in the Anglican Communion, the world, and Hawai'i, we have been given the answers we need in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Give money to those who need groceries, listen to those who are angry, choose peace instead of war, govern with generosity and compassion, care for the needs of the sick, and never return violence for violence. If we do these things, then we are worthy of being called Christians, for our vocation is to always be striving for reconciliation and peace for the entire human family.
Father Paul Lillie +
