Blessed are your poor, for the kingdom shall be theirs. Blessed are you that weep and mourn, for one day you shall laugh. And if wicked men insult and hate you all because of me, blessed, blessed are you!               Joshua 1:9

 

Be not afraid I go before you always. Come follow me, and I will give you rest.

 

The words "Be Not Afraid" are timeless; they ring loudly... and clearly.  They challenge us to bravely lift up our cross and  follow Christ.  To accept, understand and celebrate that we are part of the living body of Christ and are commanded to live a life that gives honor and glory to God!   

 

It is one of life's certainties that we are become excited when we hear "good news"... yet many people haven't heard the "Good News" that is the Gospel of Christ.   Sadly, in this increasingly technical age,  many have turned away from the very message of love, acceptance, tolerance and affirmation preached by Jesus the Christ.  To some, it simply doesn't matter. 

 

But it DOES MATTER! 

 

Life without faith values is not complete.  Life without faith is merely existence.  existence... nothing special... nothing holy.  If you believe that, then each of us is nothing more than a "blip" on the radar screen of time... dust with no soul.

 

But we are SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT! 

 

God's boundless love for us is clearly evident in Old and New Testament Scriptures.  The core message preached by Christ was one of reconciliation and love...  A message some churches and people have lost in favor of political agenda, aggression, discrimination, hatred and exclusion.  These are NOT elements of the message that Jesus preached.    However, they are the very sources of pain and rejection experienced by many Christians.  Sources of pain that must be resolved and eliminated. Sources of pain that we, as Christians, must reject... most especially when these sources of pain come from the pulpit.   

 

And They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love...

 

Will they? In many cases, that could not be further from the truth.  Sometimes you can't even recognize the Christian message in faith communities. But YOU can change things... Believe the Gospels, Teach the Gospels, Live the Gospels, BE the Gospels.  Then, people will know you are Christian ... by your love.

 

"Come Follow Me"

 

Those words ask -- no, charge --  us to keep our faith... to live and spread the Good News! Never allow your faith to be taken away by the actions of others.  Faith is the one thing in this world that NO ONE can take away from you... no matter how hard they might try. Only you can throw it away. 

 

The Reformed Catholic Church is home to many who have been hurt or turned away from other communities, or those who need a community that is affirming and welcoming.  It is not a church of pain, but a church of healing and welcoming.  Healing that comes from knowing and loving the Lord. Welcoming that comes from others who have been liberated by the Gospels.

 

Please consider joining -- or starting -- a parish of  The Reformed Catholic Church.  Share the joy of living true Christian lives as we live our time-honored traditions of spirituality, prayer, community, and compassion.   We welcome you, unconditionally, to our faith family and want you to know, and believe, that you are welcome. 

 

Let  past painful church experiences dissolve into nothingness as you reach out to a community that embraces you, celebrates you, affirms you... AND LOVES YOU...  just as you are:  A gift from God.

 

Welcome Home!

 

Your brother in Christ,

 

+Phillip Zimmerman, SJ

 Presiding Bishop

 The Reformed Catholic Church