St. Matthew's Episcopal Church 919 Tennis Avenue | Maple Glen, Pennsylvania 19002 | 215-646-4092

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

My life and yours (in terms of your life as a member of St. Matthew’s) are about to change.  We will acknowledge this transition on Sunday, June 9. 

I chose June 9 as the final Sunday with you because it is the logical end of the program year, and because it is the day of Pentecost. On that day I’ll have opportunity to preach once more as your Rector at 7:45 am and a combined Eucharist at 10 a.m.

The sermon for that day is not yet formed in my heart and mind, but I do know the topic: the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit was given by the risen Jesus to his disciples to come alongside them and lead them into an uncertain future.  Jesus had died and was risen, but now what?  How will this work?  Who knew what these modest people could do?  They did not know, but God did know.

But for now I will let a favorite author, Oswald Chambers, share some helpful thoughts about our uncertainty.

Gracious Uncertainty

Our natural inclination is to be so precise– trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next– that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots…

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life– gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises…

Jesus said, “…unless you…become as little children…” (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy…Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in– but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him.  (My Utmost for His Highest)

Blessings in Jesus Christ!

~ Dave Robinson