Theres a game being played. Satan invites all comers. Making evil moves across the board—this world—the devil is desperately trying to separate humanity, dividing it into factions of hatred couched in moral and political justification. The watcher lurks in the shadows, spreading insidious ideas through the mouths of those who refuse to speak truth to power, those who prefer worshiping idols instead of the true Christ, and those who practice idolatry in submission to an earthly institution rather than offering themselves through heavenly benediction.
In short, humanity is losing the game we were never meant to play. We weren’t meant to be part of this ruse.
The truth is immutable and yet so difficult for people to grasp: We belong to God, not to the world. We are the citizens of a holy nation wholly bereft of hatred. Yet through our posts and snide comments made inside and outside the house of God, the great nation of YHWH, the devil draws us outside of our intended realm and into the only place it can touch us—outside God’s love.
Without God’s love, we devolve into consumeristic worshipers simply searching for a theology that fits in our pocket and pocketbooks. I’m here to spread the word of God—the love that surpasses our understanding and yet offers itself in the form of grace for our salvation. If someone is looking to worship anything other than God in this place, I unapologetically invite them to search elsewhere. For me and this house? We serve Jesus, first.
That should be our mantra. Jesus first.
How do we decide to respond to someone? Jesus first.
How do we treat our neighbors even when they hurt us? Jesus first.
How do we worship in the sanctuary? Jesus first.
I no longer wish to play the game. Satan can have its day with this world—I will no longer live in that particular evil sunlight, which has no light at all, only darkness. I choose Jesus. Through the down times, the moments when people leave, the moments when earthly death takes, the minutes of frustration and hurt, the joys, the sorrows, and the in between, I choose Jesus. It will be difficult, as I am human and capable of many sins and offenses, so I hope you will choose Jesus, too. When I fall, please choose Jesus first. When I misspeak or make a decision that hurts you, please choose Jesus. When you see me trying my hardest to love and serve God in the way I’m called and you disagree? Please choose Jesus.
We need each other, right now more than ever. Don’t play the devil’s game. Stand apart. Stand tall. Stand in the name of Jesus Christ. And don’t stand for anything less.
Faithfully,
Fr. Sean+