Dear Friends, 

Human conflict grabs many eyeballs. Many people give their attention to things when people are not getting along, when disagreements go to the edge, and when unpredictable behavior causes chaos, it is noticed. We live in a world where ratings can drive how stories are told and some people benefit from humans being angry with one another. However we want to spin this, people are exposed to these behaviors daily. That is the truth.

What can be concerning is when the lessons learned are that we can ignore what the youth and impressionable people are being told, that this is justified behavior. They absorb behavior that uses foul language towards others, and flipping off those we label as enemies is encouraged by others. This is what I see daily and it breaks my heart. Yes, there are many good people and the good is always more than what is horrible or evil. Yet I see a good number of people, including those who call themselves Christians, disrespect and mistreat others. I am tired of this being presented to me and it goes against what our faith claims to call us to be.

Nothing new has been said here, we know this. I have come to believe we need a theme that can direct our actions and thoughts towards the ideals of the Kingdom of God. 

Our theme this fall is I WILL LOOK TWICE UNTIL I SEE CHRIST IN YOU. We can easily forget the dignity of every human being, that all are created in God’s image, and even when there is disagreement or a need to forgive, we choose the path that Jesus calls all his followers to live, to love one another.  

Even though the news outlets will present us with conflict, anger, and disrespect because those things get the best ratings, we Christians need to call on the grace of God to have a different behavior.

We will have several weeks to break this open, to lead us up to the election, and to respond after the election. This theme is central to who we claim to be.

I want a community that lives the Gospel in a way that makes a difference in our community. I want us to lift each other up and see Christ in all we encounter. This is not easy and it is not a pie-in-the-sky fantasy. This is the path of the cross.

I ask that we open our minds and hearts to what the Spirit is asking us to do. I WILL LOOK TWICE UNTIL I SEE CHRIST IN YOU.  

Peace in Christ,

Fr. Eric