ELECTIONTIDE

Posted by Rob Stevens, Rector

While the season of Epiphany began on January 6th and will continue until Ash Wednesday on the 22nd of February in our Church year, in our culture we have entered fully into the season of “electiontide.” There is an old cliché that states that, “A preacher should eschew the topics of politics and money.” While that may be safe and comfortable, it also risks rendering said preacher irrelevant. Archbishop Desmond Tutu is credited with the words, “Those who say I mustn’t preach on money or politics are not reading the same Bible as I am…it is the vast majority of what Jesus talked about!” I could not agree more.|

If you made it this far into the post I do wish you to know that I will not presume to tell you whom to vote for. That is “partisan” politics and I agree it has no place in the pulpit. However, as we wrestle with the tension of the two seasons running concurrently (Epiphany and electiontide) I think it offers us all an opportunity to reflect upon what is truly important to us.

Yes, we will each decide for ourselves who is “our” candidate and will cast our vote. It is our right and privilege in this democracy. I contend that there may be even more at stake. In our baptismal covenant (on page 304 in the Book of Common Prayer) we make some promises that, with the help of God, we intend to keep. The two that keep coming up in my prayers and reflections are the last two on page 305. They read,
♦ “Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
♦ “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being?”

The response from us for both of these questions is, “I will with God’s help.” In this season of Epiphany where we celebrate the manifestation of God in Christ for the world…the entire world, it is poignant to note what the other season of electiontide espouses. One of the roots of politics is the Greek πολιτικός (politikos), one meaning of which is, "civil". It would be laughable if so much were not at stake. Electiontide is a win at all costs affair it seems, with  little regard for the dignity of others. I suggest that these competing seasons offer those who follow a God who loves ALL and asks us to do the same an incredible opportunity to put our faith in practice.

I believe that the love of God for us and in us is deeper than agreement or disagreement on issues. If we can each pause long enough to remember that our enemies (political and  otherwise) are also children of God, we have the opportunity to literally transform the world around us and perhaps, more importantly, the world within us. The vision of God as we pray each Sunday is not that we wait passively for the Kingdom of God to come in the “next life.” Instead we pray, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We are invited day by day to be participants with God in ushering in God’s kingdom on earth. I ask you to pray daily for our country.

I ask you to pray also for the entire world. May the season of Epiphany remind you that you are loved by God beyond your wildest dreams and may the season of electiontide encourage you to wield that love without fear and with reckless abandon!

Your rector and fellow pilgrim, Rob