St. Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church

13091 Galway Street

Garden Grove, CA. 92844

(714) 537-0604

10/15/09

Dear Parish Family and Friends,

“To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love.  Love is my true identity.  Selflessness is my true self.  Love is my true character.  Love is my name.”(Thomas Merton, from A Book of Hours).  Thomas Merton was a gifted writer and spiritual director coming to us from the Benedictine monastic tradition.  His spiritual writing touched many lives.  Later in his life he shifted his vision toward active participation in making real the reign of God in our midst, and was very much an adherent to the social gospel.  Merton was admired both by mystics and activists alike.  Balancing these two aspects of the servant life is no easy task.  St. Francis stands out as an example of someone who did both in the life of the church and remains a great example for us to emulate.

I find great comfort in the words of Merton, even as I move more deeply into a life of gospel activism.  When I reflect on tragic events I am comforted by the thought that “love is the reason for my existence.”  These words touch our hearts at a very deep level and regardless of all the contradictions we face on a daily basis, these words grab hold of us.  They have the power of a “mystical truth”, a truth that is deeper than any form of reasoning or logic.  I pray that some day I will know the full meaning of these words: I have a very long way to go, and I suspect most of us would feel the same.

As of late my heart is very troubled.  Many of you know of the arrest of José, an undocumented member of our Latino congregation who will be sentenced soon to three years of prison life for having had the audacity to return to the land of the free and home of the brave after having been deported.  If only the corporate wolves on Wall Street were treated with this kind of justice for the sacking of billions of dollars in reckless unregulated practices.  Instead, our government leaders reward them with billions more that go unaccounted for.  Our laws don’t seem to make much sense; at the very least they violate the spirit of the law contained in the Bible through the prophets and the teachings of Jesus.  I wonder if José--when he thinks of his three children and wife--could ever believe that “love was the reason for his existence?”  Some laws are clearly not motivated by justice, but political interests.  Good people pay the consequences, we all do, and the ripple affect comes at a great cost to all of us.  I ask that you please keep José and his family in your prayers especially as we approach the holiday season.  It will be a very lonely Christmas for them.

In spite of José’s situation and other similar tragic situations that might contradict the words of Merton, his words continue to resonate deep within me.  It is not our fault that government and corporate leaders ignore the truth about Merton’s words, and ultimately the gospel.  That’s their choice.  His words speak truth and they remain a great motivator for us to practice and live by love, God’s love, that binding power that knows no borders or boundaries and makes us all children of God.  This truth reminds us that “in Christ there is no East or West.”  When we live in love the scales of justice become balanced.

Summer is now behind us and the cooler weather of Autumn is bringing relief from the heat.  Thankfully, it was not a very hot summer and we were able to make it through without turning on the air conditioner in the big church.  It’s been a challenging time for us as a parish as we’ve struggled with family/parish issues that needed to be addressed and we’ve shared frustrations and hopes.  We remain at a crossroads for the future but we have begun the earnest process of exploring this.  I encourage as many as possible to join the Sunday forums discussing the plight of old line churches, emerging churches, and our own future as a viable sustainable parish.  Please remember that love is the reason for our existence: God will see us through this very challenging time.  In the words of Julian of Norwich, “all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”  Our call at this time is to be faithful and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps now more than ever, we will learn what God’s will is for us.  Funny things happen when the rubber finally hits the road: it leads to transformation when guided by love.

Blessings and Peace,

Wilfredo Benitez+

The Rev. Wilfredo Benitez,
Rector

PS.  A big thank you to Ann Yensen for reconnecting us to Thomas Merton over the Summer through the Christian Reading Group.