faith is to love God, love people, and to do things
Dear First Pres SLO Family,
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus the Messiah, the one who loves us and empowers us through his Spirit. Blessings to you as we live into the Pentecost miracle!
Last Sunday we talked about that first Pentecost, how the events of that day led to visitors to Jerusalem from all over the known world hearing the gospel in their own languages. It was more than a parlor trick. It was a reminder of just how important the words of the gospel message are to God…and to us.
A passing glance at the Epistle of James will remind all of us that the words of faith are meaningless if they’re not accompanied by actions. But that doesn’t mean the words are disposable! It means that they’re SO important that we never want to disrespect them by failing to live them out.
The Pentecost miracle reminds us that God wants everyone to hear the good news about Jesus. And James reminds us that after hearing those words, the only proper response is to live what they say. Jen reminds us almost every Sunday that the foundation of our faith is to love God, love people, and to do things.
St Francis of Assisi took the words of the gospel seriously. He gave up his privileged life to serve the poor and to preach the gospel—he literally joined the words of faith to action, and continues to influence the world, more than 900 years after his life and ministry.
After church this Sunday I’ll be leaving for some study leave and vacation. For my time of study I’ll be reading some books and visiting the sites related to the ministry of St Francis. His life has fascinated me for years, and I’ve been drawn to the prayer that carries his name—my son and I learned it together when he was 12 years old, and it continues to shape how we see our faith.
Later in the summer I’ll be preaching a series based on the life and prayer of St Francis. I look forward to exploring those words with you all, and seeing how they help us focus our actions and care for others. The Prayer of St Francis probably wasn’t written by him in the form that has come down to us, but it summarizes his inspiring ministry. You can read it here—I invite you to make it a part of your own spiritual journey.
I’ll be here this Sunday with a fresh look at the encounter between Jesus and the two other men who were crucified alongside him (Luke 23). Don’t forget our Special Congregational Meeting, immediately following the service.
May God bless you and keep you, today and always.
Pastor John