A November Afternoon Thought...

A Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness…

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ @Emmaus -

In 1989 the second [and not nearly as good] Ghostbusters movie came out. It had many of the same punchlines, gags and props. What was different was the enemy, the ghost to be busted. This time it was ‘pure and concentrated evil.’ This ‘evil’ preyed and grew on the hatefulness and generally bad attitude of New Yorkers [the location for the story].

It would seem that this evil had only increased in the past [gulp] 29 years! Drive to Buck’s, Adrian Orchard, Garfield Park, or Boyden’s and no doubt you’ve experienced the bad attitudes I am referencing. Whether it’s the 'me first' way of drivers [as if each driver was another Veruca Salt!], the bad mannered fellow shoppers in the grocery, the rude workers or [heaven forbid] a fellow parishioner on a Sunday - these stinky attitudes are EVERYWHERE!

Now, we could hope for such a simple solution that was proffered by the movie, and just join hands and arms, and SING our troubles away [the climax takes place on New Year’s Eve and the New Yorkers join in singing, ‘Auld Lang Syne’]. Fat chance that will happen!

So we must rely on our faith to see us through, and point us in the right direction. That direction is made clear to us by these words from St. Paul…

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5.1-2

In other words, be Christ to one another - loving GOD with all of your heart, soul and mind; and loving your neighbor as yourself - just like Jesus.

Martin Luther wrote in his book, ‘The Freedom of a Christian,’ [1520]...

“As our heavenly Father has in Christ freely come to our aid, we also ought freely to help our neighbor through our body and its works, and each one should become as it were a Christ to the other that we may be Christs to one another and Christ may be the same in all, that is, that we may be truly Christians…”

So, in this month of giving thanks, let us give thanks for the many opportunities we have to be Christ in another’s life, as we live out Christ-Centered Lives!

It is a privilege to be your pastor.

‘Living Out Christ-Centered Lives’ -

Pastor Ray

“Behold! The Lamb of GOD Who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1.29