The Way of Love
During his opening sermon at
the recently concluded 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, the
Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop, invited us all to take up Jesus' Way
of Love by embracing and engaging in seven faith practices: Turn, Learn,
Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, and Rest. (What follows are brief reflections on these practices that I am sharing with my congregation. For more information on The Way of Love, including
helpful resources, a video from Bishop Curry, and how to share your own
experiences of these practices, click here.)
Turn: Pause, listen, & choose to follow
Jesus
We hear a lot about turning,
especially during the season of Advent. John the Baptizer appears in the
wilderness, encouraging his hearers to repent and turn back to God in order to
"prepare the way of the Lord". This kind of turning, or
"re-turning" - that is, repentance - in Greek is
called metanoia, which literally means "to be on the side of
understanding". John baptized those who accepted that call. Candidates for
baptism in The Episcopal Church are asked, "Do you turn to Jesus
Christ and accept him as your Savior?" and "Will you persevere in
resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to
the Lord?" Clearly, turning is not a once-and-done action. We choose,
again and again, to follow Jesus. So pause in the busyness of your day, and
take some time to listen for that “still, small voice”. How is God’s Spirit
moving you to follow Jesus?
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