1 John 3 shares one of the loveliest promises to which I cling. “Beloved, we are God’s children now. What we will be has not yet been revealed.” I cling to the now and not yet promises. We gather this Sunday to remember how we are God’s children in the here and now. It doesn’t always feel that way. Some days our hearts are so heavy with hurt and sorrow that we can barely get out of bed. Some days we taste the salt of our tears. Yet I return again and again to being God’s children now, and that God grieves with us and sustains us to meet the challenges we face.
We also gather this Sunday to remember the not yet promises. What we will be has not yet been revealed, but we hear how Christ shares our humanity to show us there is more that we cannot yet see. God in goodness is not finished. So we remember loved ones who have died before us. We remember that our journey is not done and what we will be is still open. We remember that this present time is not yet what will finally be. These are important promises to me day by day, and especially for All Saints’ observances.
One more thing — we live in a democracy where we make a difference through our voting and our involvement. God calls us beloved children now so we can know our participation matters. What will be is not yet a foregone conclusion, so we vote and advocate and organize with others to help the not yet find space in our now — for peace with justice, housing with love, healing with connection.
I’m grateful for you, the saints of St. Timothy!
Peace,
Hans
Three Holy Days
In our tradition, we make space on Maundy Thursday to remember central parts of our faith story. We hear about the...
