October 8, 2021

“October / And the trees are stripped bare / Of all they wear / what do I care?

October / And kingdoms rise / And kingdoms fall / But you go on and on.”

The trees are not stripped bare of all they wear in October, at least not in Central Virginia. But Bono’s lyrics are right. Kingdoms rise and Kingdoms fall, but God Almighty goes on and on. That which we hold dear and that which is the thorn in our side will eventually fall away. 

St. Paul reminds us of life’s temporality as well. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)

This too shall pass. God and His love will not.

“Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany – BCP p. 216)