I visited another Episcopal church for worship today, a small congregation that meets in a loft-like space in Chicago: Grace Church. I enjoy the opportunity to worship occasionally in other settings and experience our familiar liturgy with variations unique to a another faith community. At Grace today, instead of the familiar “Glory to God” in the first part of the service, we recited a canticle: “A Song in Praise of Wisdom.” The canticle is part of new worship materials that have been approved for use in the Episcopal Church. Wisdom is another word for Holy Spirit. It is often used with feminine pronouns such as “she” and “her.” One sentence in the canticle caught my attention: “In every generation Wisdom enlightens holy souls, making them friends of God.”
That line stayed with me as I listened to the readings for the day, all focused on following the law and, in the case of the Gospel, going beyond a traditional understanding of the law. Jesustells his listeners (and that includes us) that it is not just their actions that are important. Our attitudes and our feelings are just as important. It struck me, as I heard these words, that Jesus is telling us that we should be “friends of God.” If we are faithful to Jesus’ teachings about what God wants of us—that we love God, that we love one another, that we treat one another with respect— then we are friends of God.
As I move forward into the coming week, I am resolved to be a friend of God, a better friend that I have been. I invite you to join with me in the resolution for your own lives in the days ahead.
Peace,
Deacon Sue
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