Bishop Ward uses a passage from John Donne’s poetry to remind us that although God created the changing seasons, mercy, love, grace, and justice are always in season.
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
In these beautiful days of fall, we are keenly aware of the changing of seasons. The poet John Donne described how God created changing seasons for the flowering of the earth. And then the poet compared this to God’s mercies which have no season. “In Paradise,” he wrote, “the fruit was instantly present, and in heaven, it’s always autumn. God’s mercies are always in full maturity.”
There’s no more essential text for us then than the appointed text from Matthew for this Sunday. The Pharisees quizzed Jesus, asking him, “What is the greatest commandment of all?”“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength,” he answered. “And the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Mercy, love, and grace are never out of season. In heaven, it’s always autumn. In heaven, mercy, grace, justice always reign.
May it be so on earth as well as we who are Methodists love this great text. Preach it, teach it, live it, and offer it to the world. Let us love God with heart, mind, soul, and strength. And let us love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
Christ be with you today and always.