Br Alex Swain

The disciples determined that, according to their ability, each would send relief to the brothers and sisters living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
—Acts 11:29-30

Beloved in Christ,

We live in apocalyptic times. We may, thanks to the unrelenting 24/7 news cycle, feel like there is an absolute maelstrom around us. Wars and rumors of wars; earthquakes, fires, and floods; plague and pestilence seem to abound.

But this is nothing new.

However, our chronic awareness of the global scale of these tragedies is new.

I think that, in truth, this is how it has been for humanity since the Fall. All the more reason why we await the coming of our Lord to reunite all creation, in the New Heaven and the New Earth (Revelation 21).

Until that time, however, we are called to ameliorate the hardship and suffering of the world each according to our means and abilities. There are various personal, communal, national, and global tragedies which we bear witness to which may pull us to support in some small way. Pray and listen to these promptings, for there may be some event that the Spirit asks you to participate in the healing of.

We see the early church doing just that—in the midst of a famine sweeping through Judea, they gather money and other aide from the churches through the Roman Empire and send it to Judea. This requires leadership and organizers, this requires systems and structures, this requires a giving and generous spirit among Christians.

And that was nearly 2,000 years ago!

We yet see this example continuing to play out right here and now within the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal News Service posted an article last week about the deadly floods in Texas, and directed folks who seek to support to The Episcopal Relief & Development fund. If you feel like supporting, please click here.

When we have the means and ability to support (because we do not always have it), even in a small way, we are doing much more than mere charitable giving.

We are living out the call of Christ which, for 2,000+ years, has been calling Christians to gather, organize, and support those in hardship around the world. We are responding to the call of Christ, and putting into action the words we utter every day:

Thy kingdom come.

May Christ quickly come,

—Br Alex