Dear Saints,

Writing a bulletin article is never all that easy for me. There are a couple of reasons for this: I’m not always sure what you’d like to read, and I don’t love open-ended prompts (like when the teacher asks you to “write about anything”). If you have any ideas for me in the new year, I’d be happy to hear them!

When things get a bit crazy around the parish, I become more intentional about resting and praying well. This always affords me the opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re headed. My primary takeaway: I’m thankful that we are on our way together. I’m incredibly grateful for your friendship!

One of my tried and true Christmas themes reemerged last week. That theme is engaging the heart. It’s not an original reflection by any stretch, but I’ve been struck again by the way God chooses to relate to us. God didn’t become a baby simply to communicate eternal truths and theological propositions to us. No, God became a human being to give us new hearts, to transform our world by transforming our lives from the inside out.

Get that: Jesus wants to transform our world by transforming the lives of those who follow him from the inside out. And he does it chiefly by loving us into his new world. His new creation, which is his kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, is a realm where forgiveness can win out over retribution, where love defeats death, and where communities of Christ’s disciples can embody in every interaction love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness, and self-control (the fruit of the Spirit).

This requires a commitment of us. Maybe it can be our collective New Year’s Resolution: by trusting and following Jesus in all things, we will bear the fruit of the Spirit in our every interaction, and so continue to be a community that makes God known to people who are awaiting his revelation (that’s an Epiphany theme worth writing about!).

In the Peace of Christ,

Father Daniel

δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ