Dear People of St. David's,

 

I pray that you are well and that the turn to the fall weather has given you a new bounce in your step. I love how the annual change in the season can change our whole perspective on life. Sometimes, it's those slight changes in our lives, both in the world and with God, that can make all the difference.

 

Two weeks ago, on Sunday morning, we read the story from the Gospel of Mark about Jesus and the rich, young ruler. The story always comes up during the time when we are asking one another to give thanks to God by our financial support of St. David's mission and ministry for the coming year. That's certainly part of the story as the rich, young ruler is asking Jesus about how to enter into eternal life. Jesus challenges him to sell all he has and to come follow Him. The cost of discipleship is a challenge for all of us, as it involves our wealth.

 

Sometimes that's the jewel and the challenge we retain from this encounter with Jesus; but a closer look reveals something even more powerful and profound. When Jesus challenges the young man, it is out of love. Look what the Gospel writer says after giving him the challenge to give up everything: "Jesus, looking on him, loved him." Jesus loves him. He has compassion for him. He understands who he is and what this challenge would mean to him. Jesus loves him just as he is and for whom he is: God's child.

 

For me, this is one of the most poignant and touching moments in the Gospels, because it reveals the deep and abiding compassion of God for the young man and, by extension, for you and me. Jesus' eyes are eyes of compassion. He knows who we are and what it's like to be a human being. He looks on us with love. Whatever we are doing, whatever we are becoming, whether we are following Christ in our lives or not, Jesus sees us through eyes that love - and that's a good thing.

 

God calls us to see others with those same eyes. If He loves us just because we are, then we are called to look on others with God's eyes: with love and compassion. As those who are called to following in Jesus' way of living and looking, we are called to a life of compassion for one another and for all. What a different world this will be when we can see one another with eyes of love, even when our rational minds are telling us to see others differently.

 

A week from tomorrow, on Friday, October 30, we are viewing a movie at St. David's entitled: "I'm Not a Racist Am I?" as a means for growing in compassion for people who are different than we are. It's not an evening to make us feel guilt or shame, but a way for us to grow in our compassion, and understanding love for others. I want to invite you to join us for this important moment in our calling as Christ's followers. I think you will find your heart and sight changed to be a little more like Jesus', if you do.

 

Christ loves us and looks on us with eyes of love. May we learn to follow in His way.