Advent Journey - Day 14

Reflection

One of the joys of being a part of the St John the Divine Community is that it is just that, Community. This diverse, beautiful group of people have been gracious in teaching me, challenging me, supporting me, and listening to me for nearly a decade, and there is still so much I hope to accomplish with them. I recognize that this journey of faith I continue on is very much one that I share with the Church I am privileged to lead and to serve, and I am grateful for the wisdom they have shared with me. 

I am also grateful for the colleagues I have had here in the Diocese of Islands and Inlets, including two inspirational Bishops (to be fair, I didn't have opportunity to experience time with the Bishop who appointed me, as he retired soon after I arrived) but Logan, our last Bishop, and Anna, our current Bishop have been, and are, so influential on how I would hope to share this story of faith and lead our community. 

In this reflection, I want to encourage each of us to consider just who the companions we have in our faith journey are. It could be a Church community, it might be connections online, it might be those who we meet with at the coffee shop, the pub, wherever. I don't believe Faith is just a 'personal thing' - I believe that we are called to community, called to togetherness - it is in such community we find challenge, accountability, support, love. In this connected age we might find that in person, or we might find it online, or in other ways - whichever works, whichever stops us from staying in the place we started - that's a gift, companions on the way.

Scripture

Jesus Said

 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.

You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.  I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."

John Chapter 15 verses 12 -17

Image credits:

AdventJourney photo: Morning mystic - Casey Horner on Unsplash 

Clergy conference picture from Alastair McCollum - St John the Divine taken by Meaghan Crosby-Shearer

Jesus eating with friends woodcut by Rick and Brenda Beerhorst