Living Our Faith: Watching Over the Vulnerable

It breaks my heart and angers my soul to read news articles this week about the abuses in the Anglican Church, which we - as Episcopalians - are a part of. The reports have led to the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.  For decades children were abused in England and South Africa by John Smyth and church officials failed to hold him accountable or stop his abuses.

We are commissioned as Christians to always look out for the vulnerable.  Whether that vulnerability is because of age, socio-economic circumstances, or being in a part of a minority population. The Bible calls us to care for the orphan, widow, alien, sojourner,  the poor, and if that is not enough, we are called to love all our neighbors throughout the world.

As we live together in this broken world and fight to make sure abuses like these never happen again, I am reminded that our call is more than that.  We are called to be a force of good in the world combatting darkness with light. The author of Hebrews says, “Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

May you live today firmly planted in the love of Christ. 
May his love open your eyes to see and care for the vulnerable.
And may your days be full of good works!

Matt+