Reflections

Reflections
April 25, 2020 My Holy Week journey was out of sync.  In order to prepare our videotaped Easter Day celebration at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, my Easter sermon had to be written and delivered fully 10 days ahead.  I centered my mind and heart in the astonishing revelation of…
Reflections
April 17, 2020 Does being a Christian make a difference?  Why should I believe?  Not surprisingly in a culture concerned with both appearance and results, these are questions seeking answers.  The bottom line?  What’s in it for me?  We struggle for answers, as a defense of…
Reflections
This Easter message from Bishop Alan M. Gates was preached during the special filmed service for Easter Day, April 12, 2020, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston. In these days of Sheltering-in-Place and Working-at-Home, a recent Twitter post told the following tale: My 5yo stormed out…
Reflections
The following message was shared by Bishop Alan M. Gates with clergy gathered online on Holy Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Good morning, my colleagues and friends.  It is good to be gathered, even in this unaccustomed and virtual way.  It is good to catch a glimpse of one another – and to…
Reflections
April 3, 2020 These are the times that try our souls.           - Paraphrase of Thomas Paine quote Guide My Feet Lord, while I run this race,  For I don’t want to run this race in vain           - Black Spiritual Often in times like…
Reflections
March 27, 2020 Dear People of the Diocese of Massachusetts, The story is told of a man caught in the turmoil of an earthquake.  With the world falling down around him, he fell to his knees to pray.  Fearful, stricken with dread, he could not form the words.  A devout and lifelong…
Reflections
March 20, 2020 Dear Friends in Christ: God of grace and God of glory, on thy people pour thy power; crown thine ancient Church's story; bring her bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour... ...for the living of these days.       …
Reflections
March 14, 2020 Dear People of the Diocese of Massachusetts, Yesterday I looked out at the city park beneath my window.  The usual Friday afternoon bustle was nowhere in evidence.  A surreal and eerie quiet had descended there, as it has on so much of our lives.  Two lonely…
Reflections

"At Christmas we greet the very heart of God made flesh.  Born 2,000 years ago.  Born again every time the vulnerability of human love fills the rocky trough of human cruelty.  It is in the very nature of love to be vulnerable. Precisely because God loves us was Jesus born, vulnerable to the needs of every helpless infant.  He grew, dependent upon the care of loving parents.  He preached and taught, vulnerable to the resentment of the religious establishment.  And he died, vulnerable to the cruelty of the Roman occupation.  He died every bit as vulnerable as the victims of warfare in Syria and Yemen; as vulnerable as the victims of terror in New Zealand and Sri Lanka, of massacres in Pittsburgh, El Paso and Jersey City.  He died as vulnerable as me and you."

Reflections
"Baptism: Water of Creation - Destruction - Regeneration," stained glass at St. Andrew's Church, Ayer Many congregations in the Diocese of Massachusetts observe a "Creation Care Season" beginning with the Feast of St. Francis, Oct. 4 through the last Sunday after Pentecost,…