January 6, 2023

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6)

At some point in everyone’s life, you need church to be a hospital for sinners rather than a school of virtue. This can happen early, when the grace of God comes with mother’s milk. It can happen at any crushing fork in the road of life, when you find yourself lost in a dark wood. It can happen after you’ve given the school of virtue everything you have, yet you still wake up with your same petty and judgmental self.

It will definitely happen on your death bed, when you finally realize that grace is all that ever mattered. And ironically, any virtue you were hoping for is ever and always an unselfconscious by-product of that very same grace. The dichotomy fades away. The God who began the work is the God who will finish it.

“Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.” (Holy Name – BCP)