Today is supposed to be the day we celebrate love. The historical person known as St. Valentine is, like many others of the early church, shrouded in myth and mystery. This is a day to celebrate love – not just romantic love but love in all its forms.
The practice of love by the people of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in the small town on the Pacific Coast in Oregon has gotten them into trouble. St. Tim’s as is known, has been feeding hungry and homeless people for some time now. In response to Christian love, the town enacted an ordinance to limit feeding to two days a week and then only with a permit. No love in that town council for the hungry and homeless.
St. Tim’s is doing what it can – feeding and some sheltering. There’s no excuse why in the wealthiest country in the world we have so many who are so destitute. It makes one wonder if we have lost all our moral bearings. St. Tim’s is now suing the town to be able to follow the One who calls us to show what love truly is.
Prayer for the Day
Merciful God, afraid of what we may discover about ourselves,
We are reluctant to enter the winter of our souls;
Protect us from the silence of soul and the despair of doubt.
Forgive us our weakness of will and languidness of heart;
Move us beyond our preoccupation with self and open us to others.
In your mercy, O God, hold us fast to what we say we believe.,
In the name of him who embodies your mercy,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
It is a central tenet of our faith to offer generous hospitality by feeding, clothing, and providing hygienic and medical services to members of the community who are in need.
- Fr. Bernie Lindley, Rector, St Timothy’s Episcopal Church
If sometimes our poor people have had to die of starvation, it is not that God didn’t care for them, but because you and I didn’t give, were not an instrument of love in the hands of God, to give them that bread, to give them that clothing; because we did not recognize him, when once more Christ came in distressing disguise, in the hungry man, in the lonely man, in the homeless child, and seeking for shelter
- Mother Teresa (1910-1997)
“Lord, when did we see you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you drink? And when was it when we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing?...” And the king will answer, just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it also to me.” --
Matthew 25: 38-40