From my weekly email to my parishioners:

At the time of writing you this morning, the US 2020 election has yet to be definitively called. Many of us are waiting on the final results with a mix of anxiety, hope, and determination, held in tension with prayer.

We are assured through our prayer that, no matter who might be in charge of our government, Jesus is Lord.

This is not a simple statement to make. Jesus was Lord even as his apostles were martyred, Jerusalem sacked, and while Rome burned. Jesus was Lord during the American Revolution, the American Civil War, the slave trade, the civil rights marches, and 9/11.

To say that Jesus is Lord is true throughout all ages and it does not determine that each moment of our history is aligned with his will. Jesus was Lord through two world wars, and the genocide of his people. Our Daily Office readings this week come from the Revelation, which wrestles colourfully with this division between the kingdom of heaven and our lived experience.

Jesus is Lord and his name means Saviour. This is our hope, our comfort, our encouragement, and our challenge.

To proclaim that Jesus is Lord is to accept his marching orders: to bring good news to the poor, to heal the sick, free the captives, offer hope to the broken-hearted; to love mercy and to do justice, walking humbly with God; to seek and serve Christ in all persons, and respect the dignity of every human being.

However this election is decided, and however each of us is affected by the result, for better or for worse, personally and even profoundly, our work as Christians is determined by our allegiance to Christ.

On Sunday I left you with a blessing from Henri-Frederic Amiel, and an addendum of my own. Amiel wrote:

“Life is short.
We don’t have much time to gladden the hearts of those who walk this way with us.
So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”

And I added:

“Life is eternal. Let us live as we mean to go on.”

Jesus is Lord. His name means Saviour. His mercy endures forever.