When visiting a cemetery, looking down upon the tombstones, it is not the birth date or the date one dies that matters, but it is the “dash” between these dates that should receive our attention.  It is what we do with the time we’ve been given and how we use our heartbeats.  “The dash” is what truly matters.

Jesus came to be with us to make life matter. Jesus came to take on our flesh, to carry our burdens, to be crucified and resurrected for our sake ~ to show us the way to His Kingdom.  He taught lessons of love, peace, and faith.  He taught us to believe in miracles and believe in restoring our relationship with our Father in heaven.  At the start of this New Year, we have a wonderful opportunity to awaken our hearts and minds to this reality! 

The Lord sent His Holy Spirit to remind us who we truly are, His beloved daughters and sons created in His image.  He came to restore us to our original beauty.  He came to transform your life and mine so we can become compassionate, living a life of prayer as a humble example to others.  Let us begin 2006 by renewing our commitment to walk with Christ and serve others. 

I am continually comforted knowing that we believe in a merciful God who is, above all other things, a God who loves.  He is a God who wants to make every person a new person to shine His light and glory in this world.  He is a God who desires that His beloved children become ‘vessels of the Holy Spirit,’ partakers of divine nature ~ accepting love from our Lord.

This love is a free gift. Since it is a gift, we must receive it with an open heart!   To receive this precious gift of love, we must humbly allow God’s presence in our lives.   We must make every effort to attend services, pray daily and seek Him in all that we do.

NOW is the time for our Holy Apostles Church to “wake up” and seek God’s mercy, peace, and love. As we make our new year’s resolutions, let us prioritize focusing on the transformation of our souls and deepening our relationship with God.  This will take effort, commitment and time.  Remember, all that matters is what we do in “the dash.” 

As we move into our new church home, let us become filled with every virtue in Christ.  Let us be a community that reflects the “salt of the earth,” the “light on a hill,” the “comfort to the poor and needy.”

St. Seraphim  of Sarov says, “Accumulate the capital of the grace-giving abundant mercy of God.  Deposit it in God’s eternal bank, which brings you unearthly interest, not four or six percent, but one hundred percent, for one spiritual shilling and even more, infinitely more.    Thus, if prayer and watching give you more of God’s grace, pray and watch, if fasting gives much of God’s Spirit, fast, if almsgiving gives more, give alms.  In such a manner decide about every virtue in Christ.”

Lord, give us the humility to accept your gifts of love, mercy, and selflessness so we can freely share them with others.  May our Lord help us with his sacred assignment to love.  Remember, Martin Luther King so wisely said,  “Love is not the answer, it is the assignment.”   Let us wake up each morning making love our assignment in the coming year.

“Christ is born! Glorify Him!” May the New Year be blessed!

Fr. Tom