Love Wins--Love Always Wins

 

I think love is the most overused and the most underused word in the world. Now that's quite the paradox. But isn't life one big paradox? Anyway...

“Love” is in the top 20 powerful advertising words. (I googled it.) Imagine how many times we hear it or see it each week if not each day. We throw the word around talking about butterflies, cars, clothes, food, drinks, and the list goes on. It reminds me of when Sarah Katherine was little and everyone she met became her “best friend” within minutes. “Mommy I can’t leave the playground. That girl is my best friend.” Me, “What’s her name?” Sarah Katherine, “I don’t know.” (Calling people your best friend is a whole other rant I may get on one day.) I wonder what the numbers would be if we all counted how many times we said or wrote “love” in any context every day?

Trust me. I’m not innocent. And I do try to tell people I love them. Except that’s not entirely true. I tell people I love them when talking to them or being with them gives me that warm fuzzy feeling. I tell people I love them when I’m deeply grateful for our relationship. I tell people I love them when I want to build them up, encourage them, support them, and yes, love them. But I don’t always say it. In fact, sometimes I deliberately don’t. I'm not proud of that, but it's the truth.

A couple of weeks ago I overheard a phone conversation one of my children was having with someone she didn’t want to be talking to. Their relationship is currently very strained. Well let me be completely honest, I thought, their relationship was butting up against the path of no return—completely broken. There is a great deal of hurt and anger. As she was hanging up the phone, I heard her say, “I love you.” (And then because I have really good hearing—Mama sonic ears--) I heard, “I love you, too.” Tears sprang to my eyes, and I was in awe. I had just witnessed the power of unconditional, holy love. Love that exists despite pain and brokenness, anger and hurt. Love is stronger than hate. Love that holds us gently and fiercely no matter how close to the brink we get. Love holds one another accountable but also says you are beloved because you are you. At that moment, I witnessed the love that embodies, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?” (Romans 8:35 NLT) At that moment, she truly was the body of Christ. She could be angry, hurt, and not want to engage, but none of that could separate her from what it means to love unconditionally--not loving because of warm fuzzies, unicorns, and rainbows. Loving because it's what we're called to do. 

The story isn’t over, and one day I hope I get to write about eavesdropping on the relationship's total reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing. I hope it’s soon, but it may not be. But I do know this: we don't always know what it will look like, but love wins. Love always wins.

We Weren't In-Person But the Lord is Risen!

There was a letter to the editor on April 1. I was hurt, angry, hurt, angry and repeat. So I decided to write. I might make the paper but it might not. But this is my response to this Letter

I’m writing in response to Mr. Lyon’s letter written and published on April 1, 2021. I must confess when I first read your letter I was angry and hurt. I am the rector of a parish that did not resume in-person service for Easter, and I don’t know when we will. I take very seriously my vows which include to preach the Gospel and to administer the sacraments. 

As I read your letter, again and again, I began to read the pain you must also feel. The pain of not being able to gather with your community of faith I am sure is intense. I am sorry for your pain. It also makes me wonder how many people there are in the world who have felt pain because for some reason or another over the years they have not been welcomed into communities of faith? How many people have been denied access to communities whereas you write “personal growth in Christ-likeness cannot take place outside of a relationship to the Body of Christ, His Church?” (And by that I’m assuming you mean within church buildings.) 

Mr. Lyon, you write about the “true Church of Jesus Christ.” I’m not sure how you are defining “true.” The true church I know does, as you write, comply with our Lord’s clear commands, and the greatest commandment is, as I am sure you know, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” It is those two commandments I return to over and over as I, along with parish leadership, try to determine when and how to resume in-person services. 

Over the past year, I have thought about all people. Those with underlying conditions as well as those with limited access to quality health care. I see that as loving our neighbors. I have thought about those with access to early rounds of the vaccine and those who are still waiting. I have thought about those who are able to worship with us virtually because for various reasons they are not able to and may never be able to worship in person. I have thought about those who are eager to return and those who are scared. And I have thought about the families of the people I buried because of this horrific virus. 

You also write that God established three institutions within human society: the Church, the family, and the state. On this I strongly disagree. God did not establish the institutional church. That was in fact established by humans—specifically males—but that’s another conversation. God established the Church which is also the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God has no walls, no barricades, no boundaries, nothing to keep anyone out. The Kingdom of God welcomes ALL. 

In your letter, you state the Lord may be using this time as a means of purging—“in order to reveal the true, versus the apostate, Church.” I’d like to tell you where I have seen the Church this year—the true Church which followed the greatest commandment. I see the Church—the Body of Christ in the hands of a parishioner who almost daily makes sure a houseless man who is often across from our parish, he has the name by the way—it’s Zach, has a fresh quart of chocolate milk because he has nowhere to store extra. I see the Church in the many people who made sure children and youth were fed when the schools were closed. I see the Church in the many people who show up to demand justice for all. I see the Church in the many, many healing blankets that have been sent to people all over Louisville and throughout the world. I see the Church in people who show up for window visits in long-term care facilities because not everyone has a local family. I see the Church in Little Libraries that have become food pantries. I see the Church in people helping others get signed up for vaccines. In these places and in many others I see the true Church. I see the Church in the world. 

All of what I have written above, and so much more, tell me the influence of the Church has not been negatively impacted as you write. I can assure you the pastoral work of the Church continues and not only through the hands of the clergy but through thousands of hands of the ministry of the Baptized—the ministers of the Church, laypersons, bishops, priests, and deacons. 

I look forward to the time we can safely return to full in-person worship. And I am overjoyed that Jesus rose from the dead, left the tomb, and invited his disciples—all of his disciples, past, present, and future to join God in transforming the entire world into a world where all are welcome, included, and living Christ-like lives. 

Alleluia the Lord is Risen! 

The Very Rev. Katherine Doyle 

Rector, St. Thomas Episcopal Church 

Coordinator Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Diocese of Kentucky