Preach the Gospel to every creature

Melinda and I have just returned from a trip to Mississippi, where we spent our days mostly outside. In the morning, we would hear the fish crows quacking like ducks, waking us up just before the sun crept in through the windows of our tiny trailer, parked in a campground surrounded by the tall loblolly pine trees, filling the air with a soothing scent of pine.

Being in this space is so nourishing to the body, mind, and spirit, and seems to have that same effect on those we encountered. But even in such a wonderful place, we always find ourselves being drawn into conversations by those searching for more in their lives.

Inevitably, I would have someone who would want to know more about our very special Liberal Catholic Church, so we would sit and talk, and hear personal stories of searching, for what does this thing we call life all mean, and what does the church have to do with it. In these touching moments when hearts and minds are open in the mode of searching, I am reminded of the last words from our Gospel of St. Mark today where we heard, “Go ye into the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

These words from today’s Gospel, speak to me not as a challenge but rather as a very great joy. I believe that Jesus, the living Christ, when looking in every direction could see this nagging desire in everyone, struggling to make sense out of life, that even though it was sometimes dormant and unexpressed, clung to everyone like a ball and chain.

His hope was to free humanity from that, to break the chains which bind us from a sense of despair, to lift the shades which block that great light, the light of eternal love that we might not only understand that phrase from 1st Corinthians 15:55, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”, but be able to celebrate the changes in life as steps of progress, no matter how difficult they might seem.

This need was and is still very real in our world, and like the spokes of a bicycle wheel, all leading to the center hub the foundation for its integrity, the sacraments are like those spokes, all connecting us again with our source, that allows us to weather the pounding of the rubber meeting the road. To have not only this knowledge, but its personal experience is a great gift, one we are grateful for. But the gift is multiplied many fold in our own life, when we take the time to share it freely with those who are searching for a greater fulfillment on the path they are traveling.

The word gospel is derived from the Anglo-Saxon term god-spell, meaning “ good story,” a rendering of the Latin evangelium and the Greek euangelion, meaning “good news” or “ good telling.” This understanding of god-spell, good story, and good telling are the reasons for the inspiration to have these stories, like the resurrection, available to tell over and over again.

This inspiration is expressed by Bishop C.W. Leadbeater in the words, “therefore have we a true joy in exchanging with one another the traditional Easter greeting, “The Lord hath arisen,” and the response which we resounded with William S. H. Downey our Presiding Archbishop here on Easter morning,“He is risen indeed.” Bishop Leadbeater goes on to clarify saying,“Not from the earthly grave, but from the grave of matter; risen in truth and in splendid reality — risen for evermore.”

This truth remains in the world, and in silent meditation, contemplation, and through all the sacraments, we are blessed to be able to plug into the eternal truth. We welcome the advice on going out and speaking the Gospel, from Matthew 10:16“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

I am aware that I may be preaching to the choir, and that the words I speak may touch the same chord that we remember growing up, advised by our elders constantly, to which we replied, “Ok Mom,” or “Got It Dad” and that is OK with me. I do love each of you and feel very blessed to know that we have such great opportunities to bring light, more light and further light into the lives of those we meet. May the spirit of God rest upon us in those moments, that we may in humble service spread joy and love in the fullness of Christ, alive and living in our world today.