Nov. 1, 2017
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The first Sunday in November is observed and celebrated as All Saints Sunday. Most of our churches remember the saints in their lives who have joined the Church Triumphant during the last year. As individuals, we also acknowledge and thank God for those saints who have touched our lives and for how we were changed and transformed because of their Christian witness.
Our understanding of saints may differ, but in the context of this letter, my understanding comes from something I once read: “Saints are agents of change."
Today, I want to celebrate three of the many saints who have gone on to glory since we celebrated All Saints Sunday in 2016. I do this with hope, so you may be encouraged to think of the saints who have changed your lives.
One saint is Bishop Felton E. May. Although I did not come to know Bishop May personally until I was elected bishop, I had always admired his prophetic witness, his holy boldness, and his courage to take risks. Indeed, I was certainly inspired by his sermons.
Bishop May and I had several heartfelt Holy Christian conversations. Among the many things he taught me was to confront racism in loving and caring ways whenever I experienced it, whether from colleagues, parishioners, neighbors, or others.
He shared personal stories that caused me to raise my eyebrows and ask, “My Bishop, did you really do that?" and proceeded to give me good advice on how to do the same.
Bishop May deeply touched and changed me. He taught me what courage is and how important it is for us to express our deepest desires and hopes for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, even at times when our friends and well-wishers abandon us.
The second saint is Gwendolyn White, the late wife of Bishop C. Dale White.
At a celebration of her life in April, I shared gratitude for
- her eyes that spoke before she uttered a word;
- her smile that hugged you before her arms wrapped around you;
- her heart that heard you before your words reached her ears
- her witness of faith that was both quiet and bold
- her guidance that was both unambiguous and gentle;
- her advocacy for children and women and “the least of these” that was unflagging
- her honesty that made her vulnerable and powerful at the same time;
- her table that fed far more than your appetite for food;
- her affirmation and encouragement that made you believe in yourself.
Indeed, Gwen taught me what genuine Christian love, hospitality, and grace are, how to live them, and to see the goodness of God in every person.
The third saint who changed me is the Rev. Elbridge Thomas “E.T.” Holland, Sr., one of my mentors at Drew University where I started graduate studies in 1980.
I always saw Rev. Holland as a person who lived Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. I could share many ways that E.T. transformed me, but this story, shared by his son Mark at his Service of Death and Resurrection, confirmed to me the power of forgiveness that Jesus talked about in His Sermon on the Mount and the Lord's Prayer.
This is an excerpt from his son’s remarks:
As we were growing up, my parents began planning for retirement and a home for them to enjoy visits from their family and friends, so they purchased land in the Poconos, [and] for the next 25 years or so, we spent a lot of time working on this home ... On Thanksgiving Day in 1986, we had our first Thanksgiving meal in the house.
Early in the morning we had hooked up the first running water into the house to the kitchen sink. It was truly a day to be thankful with many family members, including aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandchildren, were all able to share a special day together. When the day was over, we all went to our own homes full of great food and some new memories.
The next morning, I was awakened by a phone call from my mother. She told me that earlier my father had gotten a call that the house in the Poconos was on fire, and that they suspected it was arson. There was no way to extinguish it.
I quickly got dressed and drove over ... all the way there my anger was building; how could anyone do this? When l got there, the house was just about gone but still burning. My father was talking to one of the firemen when he saw me walking up. There were tears in my eyes and a burning anger in my heart.
Then the most extraordinary thing happened. My father turned to me with a smile on his face, which caught me by surprise. He looked at me with this very sincere expression and said, "We sure had a lot of great times here, didn't we?"
It was in that moment I knew, perhaps for the first time, what forgive-ness meant, what being a Christian meant, what being a positive force in the world meant. In that moment, I realized my father had already forgiven the person who had set the fire. This person could take away the things we had there, but he could never take away our memories of what we did there. This is the kind of grace that comes only from Our Lord and Savior. It is what we need more of in this world.
Friends, Sisters and Brothers in Christ, who are the saints who strengthened and transformed your lives? Who are the living saints among us whose Christian witness continues to inspire, challenge, stimulate, and transform us?
May we take time to share those stories with others, particularly with children, youth, and young adults, so they may see the power of Christian witness. May we talk about our beloved saints in small groups and gatherings, paying tribute to their holy boldness and understanding of grace and peace.
May we never allow all the “isms,” hatred, fear, and lack of forgiveness in the world to ruin the fabric of God's creation. May we, like the saints I have mentioned and countless saints you know, look beyond the ashes to marvel at the wonderful things we have been granted by our loving God.
We will soon celebrate Thanksgiving, another time to express our gratitude for the saints in our lives. Prema joins me in wishing you and your loved ones safe travels and a happy holiday.
In Christ's love,
Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar
