Dear Cathedral Family,
As our reading through Mark’s gospel continues this Sunday, Jesus passes through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem. There, he encounters Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, who hears of Jesus and calls out to him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus calls the blind man to him and asks,” What do you want me to do for you?” “My teacher, let me see again,” he replies. Jesus says, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Then Bartimaeus, his sight restored, follows Jesus on the way.
Jesus asks each one of us the same question when we come to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” What is that for you in your life right now? And how would receiving that healing grace help you to be a closer follower of Jesus?
Together, as the Cathedral Family gathered in prayer, Jesus asks us the same question. What do we want him to do for us? How can we receive his gifts and then use them to be closer followers in his way of love?
In the week ahead, our stewardship season will begin. You will be receiving letters from me and from stewardship chair Kennon Drew and other leaders, along with supporting materials and a pledge commitment card for you to complete and return by our ingathering Sunday on Last Pentecost, November 24. This year’s theme is “Walk in Love,” and we will each be responding to Jesus’ question as we continue to walk in his way of love together.
Last Friday night, at the Cathedral Youth Night, we talked about “Allhallowstide,” which will happen in the week ahead—Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve), All Saints’ Day (All Hallows’), and All Souls’ Day. All Saints’ Day will be celebrated here at the Cathedral both on Friday, November 1, in a noon service led by The Reverend Thomas Heard, and in our annual All Saints’ Sunday celebration. This season sharpens our awareness of how we walk in love together, not only now in this present moment, but through the generations.
Faithfully,
Beverly+
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