Bishop's Easter Message April 2, 2007

Where There is No Vision, the People Shall Perish

A few weeks ago I had the privilege to celebrate the Holy Eucharist in memory of my mother who passed away a year ago. The Rev. Martir Vasquez, a Guatemalan priest serving in the Diocese of Los Angeles, preached a touching sermon. In his sermon he shared something about my mom that really struck me. He said that when he was ordained my mother told him that he should learn English. He told her that he had no intention of doing so as he was working in Guatemala and did not see why he needed to speak English, yet he followed her advice and did so. Today he is serving in a multicultural congregation and was grateful that he had studied English.

As I look back on my own life I can really attest that my mother was a person with vision. Because of this she had to make a number of sacrifices in order to make those visions she had a reality.

Easter reminds us that God’s plan for humanity was captured, put into action, and became a reality through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. There were a few persons who captured this plan and cooperated with Jesus, but the majority, many who were followers, had no idea of that plan. They all had their own agenda and tried to force Jesus to work with that agenda.

God’s plan for humanity includes all people no matter what their religion may be. Jesus could have been easily discouraged by those who betrayed him, those who tortured him, those who accused him falsely and by those who rejected him. But he did not abandon his mission but offered his life as a ransom for all. This is what makes Jesus’ mission so touching; he gave his life for those very persons who could not understand that he was part of God’s plan to save all people.

Where there is no vision the people will perish. A vision that excludes rather than includes seems to be at odds with God’s plan carried out through His Son, Jesus Christ. Yet we need to be reminded that there are those who personally refuse to participate or to accept God’s plan. That is something we should respect, but at the same time we should be the voice for those who are rejected, marginalized, or persecuted or unable to participate fully in God’s plan.

Evangelism is part of the Church’s mission, first to accept this gift of salvation personally then share that experience with others. We need to be a part of it in such a way that we take ownership on God’s behalf to the point where we can feel that power within us and change our lives even when we struggle to hold on to some of the things we refuse to change.

When we try to put reasons as to why and how this happens, we then mistake the real source behind all this. We then create a god with rules and regulations that only cause gaps that grow wider and wider amongst ourselves. God’s plan is to bring us in communion with Him and each other. Communion with God means communion with all people, even with those who do not believe in Him. We are all His people and if He can love His enemies why shouldn’t we. That’s the kind of love He expects us to put into practice.

This Easter is a time to remember His gift to us and to give thanks daily. Some day we will all get to understand it fully, but meanwhile let us just take it one step at a time. God’s gift to humanity is His Son Jesus Christ; that is the Good News. Let us share it with the whole world.