Brothers and sisters of St. John’s,

As we move forward into July and today celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, we tend to get ourselves in “vacation mode”. This usually means taking this slower and soaking up the heat and sun so we can store it up for winter. Relaxing on our patio or in the pool. Making sure our kids are safe yet enjoying their time being kids.

The Year C Lectionary, however, definitely seems to have other plans. The readings last week and now this week make us think as Paul continues to exhort the Galatians to do what is good and live into the freedom Christ offers us. But not just the Galatians of course, but all of us today.

So in the reading from Galatians 6, we see a very famous phrase that “we will reap whatever we sow.” How is your spiritual and faith life going? Are you living into the Spirit so that you may have abundant life? The summer is a good time to rest and take stock of what God might be calling each of us to do and who to be. Maybe summer isn’t a slower season for you so how might you incorporate silence, prayer, and rest in your schedule?

My friends in Christ, there is much to reap from the Spirit-filled life. Much to discover about who we are and who we are called to be when we take a moment and listen for a word from God. This is imperative if we wish to be a church that knows Christ and makes Him known. Notice that Jesus has the disciples take almost nothing into their ministry. Christ calls each of us not to bring books and paper and props to show others who He is but knows that our very selves can be enough to bring others into relationship with our God.

My prayer for you all is that each of you know that you are enough and if you don’t feel like you are enough then come to Jesus and place your burdens and anxieties on Him and let the Spirit sow onto your heart the love and peace of God. Amen.

In Christ,

Fr. Zach