For Faith Bishop Wright

• Click here to watch Reflection for March 22, 2020
• Click here to watch  Reflection for March 29, 2020
• Click here to watch Bishop Wright's Sermon for Easter Sunday April 12, 2020

Click here to view more sermons from Bishop Wright's parish visits

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Devotionals

"For Faith" is a weekly devotional from Bishop Wright sent out by e-mail every Friday

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For Faith

SACRIFICE

June 26, 2020

Authentic life with God includes sacrifice. That's what we learn in the Abraham story and again with Jesus. In fact, we do grotesque things to God, our souls, and to our common life when we attempt to engineer life without sacrifice. Sacrifice is the denying or destroying of something to fulfill a holy purpose. Sacrifice is a conscious and gut-wrenching choice. It's attended by all kinds of loss. Sacrifice acknowledges that we are not the center of the circle. But holy sacrifice produces energy, clarity, humility, power, even partners. It's the remedy for bifurcation and immobilization. Sacrifice saves us from being tepid. What have you rejected or destroyed just to join Jesus in his holy purposes? The worst abuses of the power of faith happen when we think God does not require the sacrifice of our duplicity, bigotry, and indifference. What Abraham learns in his testing moment is that everything is second to God for him. Everything. Others would join Abraham. Moses sacrificed his comfortable middle-class living to return to Egypt and be a deliverer. Mary sacrificed her reputation to welcome Jesus to her womb. Joseph sacrificed his hopes for a regular marriage to keep Mary and Jesus safe. Paul sacrificed his animosity to become a road sign for redemption. Lydia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to fund the fledgling church. The antidote to the virus of hate in all its forms isn't ultimately a new program of the government or the church, it's people being willing to sacrifice their ideologies and reputations for God. Moses sacrificed his comfortable middle-class living to return to Egypt and be a deliverer. Mary sacrificed her reputation to welcome Jesus to her womb. Joseph sacrificed his hopes for a regular marriage to keep Mary and Jesus safe. Paul sacrificed his animosity to become a road sign for redemption. Lydia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to fund the fledgling church. The antidote to the virus of hate in all its forms isn't ultimately a new program of the government or the church, it's people being willing to sacrifice their ideologies and reputations for God. Moses sacrificed his comfortable middle-class living to return to Egypt and be a deliverer. Mary sacrificed her reputation to welcome Jesus to her womb. Joseph sacrificed his hopes for a regular marriage to keep Mary and Jesus safe. Paul sacrificed his animosity to become a road sign for redemption. Lydia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to fund the fledgling church. The antidote to the virus of hate in all its forms isn't ultimately a new program of the government or the church, it's people being willing to sacrifice their ideologies and reputations for God. Lydia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to fund the fledgling church. The antidote to the virus of hate in all its forms isn't ultimately a new program of the government or the church, it's people being willing to sacrifice their ideologies and reputations for God. Lydia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to fund the fledgling church. The antidote to the virus of hate in all its forms isn't ultimately a new program of the government or the church, it's people being willing to sacrifice their ideologies and reputations for God.

Genesis 22: 1-14

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For People with Bishop Rob Wright

The new podcast expands on Bishop's For Faith devotional, drawing inspiration from the life of Jesus to answer 21st-century questions.

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"Sacrifice"

Authentic life with God includes sacrifice. That is what we learn in the story of Abraham and again with Jesus. In fact, we do grotesque things to God, to our souls, and to our common life when we try to handle life without sacrifice. Sacrifice is denying or destroying something to fulfill a sacred purpose. Sacrifice is a conscious and heartbreaking decision. It is assisted by all kinds of loss. Sacrifice recognizes that we are not the center of the circle. But the sacred sacrifice produces energy, clarity, humility, power, even companionship. It is the remedy for bifurcation and immobilization. Sacrifice saves us from being lukewarm. What have you rejected or destroyed just to join Jesus in his holy purposes? The worst abuses of the power of faith occur when we think that God does not require the sacrifice of our duplicity, bigotry and indifference. What Abraham learns in his time of trial is that for him everything comes after God. Everything. Others would join Abraham. Moses sacrificed his comfortable middle-class life to return to Egypt and be a deliverer. Mary sacrificed her reputation to receive Jesus in her womb. Jose sacrificed his hopes for a regular marriage to keep Mary and Jesus safe. Paul sacrificed his animosity to become a road sign for redemption. Lidia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to finance the new church. The antidote to the hate virus in all its forms is not,

Genesis 22: 1-14

QUESTIONS

May 29, 2020

The Holy Spirit showed up dramatically we’re told. There was fire, and speaking of tongues. This whirlwind connected people across their divisions, if only briefly. Some responded with a question, “what does this mean?” Some responded with an answer, “they’re drunk.” They were wrong. Better questions are more helpful than quick and shallow answers. A rush to answer usually is a manifestation of fear or arrogance or both. I think about this a lot these days. Jesus was a master question maker. He stood steady enough, long enough, to find the question that unlocked faith and growth.

AT THE ZERO May 22, 2020 Amos Wilder wrote, “be instructed at the null point, the zero breeds new algebra.” Wilder was commending the very nature of God. When things come down to the zero, when there’s suffering and “fiery ordeals” as St. Peter would say, if we can linger long enough nurtured by our faith, our tradition, and one another we will see God’s new algebra! And get this, the word Algebra means “the reunion and balancing of broken parts!” This pandemic has brought so many of us to a near zero place and some are tempted to numbness or despair, but hold on beloved, there’s reason to hope, God is doing God’s new math even now. 1 Peter 4:12 May 15, 2020 Think in terms of readiness and response when it comes to following Jesus. St. Peter certainly does. Here is St. Peter's checklist: “Be eager to do what is right though it may cause you trouble. Sanctify Christ as Lord. ” Don't just believe in him, set him apart, make him your North Star. Let his teaching and example have the last word. Know your hope and have it on the tip of your tongue. Share hope with gentleness. Keep your conscience clear. Do all the good you can and let the chips fall wherever they fail. 1 Peter 3: 13-22 May 1, 2020 View this email in your browser May 1, 2020 Partnership “It is true to say that we stand at an intersection of life and livelihood; of fear and of faith. So then it is right for us to lead the state of Georgia in humbling ourselves and reaching out to God in prayer. But, while we know prayer is necessary, we also know prayer is not magic! We know that prayer is the preparation for and perfection of partnership with God. So today, as we face down and faith through this pandemic, we pledge to partner with God. And we pledge to distinguish ourselves individually and as a state as partners with one another for the common good. We pledge to draw the circle of love wider and wider still until you are pleased, God, with our neighborliness. As we do that, when we do that, we know we will have your blessing. ” Remarks by Bishop Wright at the conclusion of the “Statewide Day of Prayer” called by Governor Kemp on Monday, April 27, 2020 Association  “ It is true to say that we are at an intersection of life and livelihood; of fear and faith. So it is right for us to lead the state of Georgia in submitting and reaching God in prayer. But, although we know that prayer is necessary, we also know that prayer is not magic! We know that prayer is the preparation and perfection of association with God. So today, as we face and have faith in this pandemic, we commit to partnering with God. And we pledge to distinguish ourselves individually and as a state as accomplices among ourselves for the common good. We pledge to expand the circle of love more and more until you are satisfied, God, with our fellowship. While we do it, when we do it, we know we will have your blessing. ” Remarks by Bishop Wright at the conclusion of the " State Day of Prayer " called by Governor Kemp on Monday, April 27, 2020. Compartir Tweet Forward

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April 24, 2020 Thank You It was his grandmother’s faith and hands that inspired him, he said. Probably his salt of the earth upbringing in Slab Fork West, Virginia too. Whatever it was, I thank God for his soulful poetry that sang Jesus’ vision of neighborliness into our souls. His words sure are a comfort these days. You know the song: "Sometimes in our lives we all have pain, we all have sorrow. But if we are wise we know that there's always tomorrow, Lean on me… Please swallow your pride, If I have things you need to borrow, For no one can fill those of your needs, That you won't let show. You just call on me brother, when you need a hand, We all need somebody to lean on, I just might have a problem that you’ll understand We all need somebody to lean on!” Thank you, Bill. Song: Lean on Me Artist: Bill Withers 1938-2020 https://www.episcopalatlanta.org/for-faith/

FORTUNATE

April 17, 2020

“And so, we are fortunate this year to proclaim an Easter that stands on the shoulders of two thousand Easters. Knowing that each Easter past was a defiant response to the two thousand years of Good Fridays we’ve suffered. Each Easter supplied by the inexhaustible power released that first Easter. You see, there’s an exponentially compounding benefit of remembering Easter past. Because, it enables Easter trust now and endows Easter trust for the future. My lawyer friends call that the power of precedent. My scholarly friends say, “…we must nurture the prospect of God’s fresh historical intervention in the midst of despair inducing situations.” My feisty senior friends just say, “…hold on to God’s unchanging hands baby.” But our friend Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” What I’m trying to say here is we’re so fortunate, we have both an Easter consolation and an Easter courage.”

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An excerpt from Bishop Wright’s Easter Sermon.

To see watch the full video of Bishop Wright's Easter Sermon,

click here

For additional "For Faith Messages:"

https://www.episcopalatlanta.org/for-faith/

HELP

April 10, 2020

Good Friday is about God deciding to be God in a very particular way. God doesn't use God's Almighty-ness to rescue Jesus from fearful clergy, betraying friends, cruel soldiers or even the lynching tree. Rather than rescue and spare, God more often shows up in and goes through situations with God's people. Through indignity. Through infirmity. Through death. Let us be reintroduced to the “in” and “through” God. ” When we renew our vows to live as baptized people, we respond at each invitation, “I will with God's help.” Maybe this Friday take some time to reflect on exactly how this God prefers to help. Always along side. Always going through with us. Preferring faith over certainty. Always exerting Almighty-ness as quiet and as intriguing as a whisper.

"Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful."

Hebrews 10:23

For additional "For Faith Messages:"

https://www.episcopalatlanta.org/for-faith/