Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Do you like receiving an invitation? Maybe it is to a wedding, birthday, baby shower, graduation or perhaps an event that you have no idea what it is about. It is exciting to be included in a family or friend’s celebration. We see folks perhaps we haven’t seen in a while. Or maybe meet someone new that shares some common interests.
We are invited daily through our baptism to encounter Christ through the Holy Spirit. Blessed by God’s love and forgiveness we are given opportunities to invite others to discover the amazing gift God offers to all people. There have been many times in my life where friends, family and even strangers have taken God’s invitation to heart. Their encounters with me have caused me to pause in my life and realize in those moments of wanting to give up or feeling overwhelmed that God cares, God loves, God forgives. Those very things we need have been given to us with the simple invitation of “Follow me” or “Come to me all you who are heavy ladened and I will give you rest.”
Hear God’s invitation. As the cherished hymn, “Softly and Tenderly” proclaims: “Come home. Come home.”
See you Sunday.
That’s all for now!
Blessed Epiphany season!
Father Dave+