Seeking a Better World
Be holy, as I am holy,” writes Peter inspired by God, quoting the
ancient law in Leviticus. In the year 2010, what does it mean to ‘be
holy’?In a recent book called The Fix, author Declan Hill, makes accusations of wide-spread corruption of FIFA World Cup of Soccer teams, officials, and players. Some country’s team members are so poorly paid that they are tempted with large sums of money – bribes - to throw key games. Such accusations, if true, touch on a number of issues of the vulnerability of poor nations and their exploitation by others, acts of blatant injustice by those who should be upholding the higher values of fairness in sport, of greed, deception, cheating – in other words, everything that is not ‘holy.’
Many in our society abhor such behaviour. It just seems wrong. Our conscience cries, “Foul!” Yet we see such tendencies in ourselves. We desire for a better world.
In our Summer Edition of the Parish News, we hear of 3 people who desire for a better world. Tim Maddock vividly shares about the 2011 Mission Trip to Guatemala; we meet our new Church Secretary Kimberly Gaspar bringing her gifts to help us meet our ministry and mission goals; Denise Als, a University of Windsor music student and daughter of parishioner Rosita Branch, is excited about leading a new children’s summer music camp here at St. John’s running all summer, offering the joy of music in shaping young lives to make a difference.
Jesus shows us a better world in his life, death and resurrection. To ‘be holy’ means different, other, not of this world. But to ‘be holy’ is not simply about ethical actions and fair treatment for all. Right thinking and right actions flow from a right relationship with God. Jesus came to do the Father’s will which was and is about being holy. No matter how hard we try, humans will never be able, by our own efforts, to be holy. Jesus has achieved this for us. The yearning for something more, something different, pure, holy, a desire for intimacy, is given to us in Christ. Having opened ourselves to a relationship with God in Christ, we desire to be like God, who is holy.
With summer’s promise of good times and freedom from normal routines, we may be tempted to move outside the pleasant boundaries God put in place for our holy path and wander off. St. Paul wrote, “For we have this treasure in jars of clay, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). May we treasure the ‘holy’ One, whose Spirit lives in us, as God shapes and molds us like clay. May we seek and know God, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, to fill with us with living waters.
If you are not already taking time with God on a regular basis, this summer you might consider investing 7 minutes a day and enjoy being with God, in reading the Bible, perhaps starting with Mark’s Gospel. St. John’s has increased our subscription of Large Print copies of “Our Daily Bread” available free of charge. A simple 3-word prayer might kick things off in your quiet time with God. “Come Holy Spirit.”
I would like to thank you for your prayers for all those who minister at St. John’s and for your support.
Yours in the love of the Holy One of God, Jesus,
The
Reverend Christopher ( Kit ) Greaves
Return to top of page
Home / Contact Us / This Week at St. John's / Monthly Calendar / Photo Gallery /About Us / History of St. John's