Shaken, But Not Destroyed - Letter from the Rector

Dear St. Christopher Family,

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36

The disturbing events that unfolded this past Sunday in Sutherland Springs, Texas, sent ripples of fear, anger, and frustration throughout the country and the church-going community. This is to be expected.

When events like this happen, the immediate question that is asked is “why”. It’s our human nature to want to understand that which is not understandable. When we realize there are no answers to why a disturbed individual went into a church, during a worship service, and shook the very fabric of a community in a horrific act of violence, we get angry, and we should. The safe and sacred space of The Church has been violated. Those horrendous few moments on Sunday morning have shaken the confidence of all Christians… shaken, but not destroyed.

Brothers and Sisters, we must not throw away our confident trust in the Lord. We must not stay in the shaken, the fear, the anger, for that is what we do when we seek answers to questions that have none. We must resist the temptation to politicize, to lay blame, to question the power of prayer, to make what happened Sunday about this issue or that issue. We have a higher calling.

Our calling is to proclaim, by word and example, the Good News and love of God in Christ Jesus… proclaim it to a world that is broken, hurting, and in desperate need of God’s love, mercy, saving grace, and forgiveness. It’s our job to tell the world of this life-giving truth. It’s our job to remain steadfast in prayer. It’s our job to not let the actions of one individual shake our worship and fellowship. It’s our job to BE THE CHURCH!

Remember, too, the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

All of you remain in my prayers. May God’s peace, which passes all understanding, remain with you and give you peace, today and always.

Faithfully,

Fr. Brian+