Winning for love

After twelve weeks we can return to our building. For now, the Covid emergency is on hold and we can breathe. A cause for celebration! When we were last in St. George’s it was still Lent. Easter was celebrated from our homes, and here we are now in Ordinary Time.

We might describe Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent and Easter as opportunities to reflect on and be shaped by different aspects of the God revealed in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Ordinary Time is when we reflect on how we join the disciples living in response to this God in our context and time.

On Pentecost Sunday we read how the Spirit of Ascended Jesus is breathed into each of us, gifting us peace; inviting us to rejoice and forgive. Last week, Trinity Sunday we used Rublev’s icon of the Trinity, based on this week’s first testament story (Genesis 18:1-15) to hear the invitation into the life and love of God that creates and sustains all that is.

We begin our walk in Ordinary Time by returning to Matthew and hearing his version of Jesus naming and sending out the 12. For Franciscans this is a very important story. On hearing this gospel reading in 1208 on the Feast of Saint Matthias, Francis of Assisi heard his calling and with his brothers found the basis of the rule of life for his order. He, like those first apostles, heard the call to continue the transforming work of Jesus who healed, restored, and reconciled. He heard the call to win others for love. Or as Jesus says, to proclaim in words and actions that the reign of heaven has come near.

This Sunday is also Te Pouhere Sunday – the day our church in Aotearoa gives thanks for the work of the Spirit in our midst, continuing this work of healing and reconciliation, that has led to This Sunday is also Te Pouhere Sunday – the day our church in Aotearoa gives thanks for the work of the Spirit in our midst, continuing this work of healing and reconciliation, that has led to our unique was living together. In light of that, I wonder where we see this ongoing work in the marches happening across the USA and around the world, including here, joining with all those who struggle to breath bour unique was living together. In light of that, I wonder where we see this ongoing work in the marches happening across the USA and around the world, including here, joining with all those who struggle to breath because of their race and colour. Are we able to join them and proclaim “Black Lives Matter”?