Pastor Sergio Rodriguez
6th Sunday of Easter. 5.22.2022. Baptism of Leo Samuel.
“Mark my Words: the waters of God’s love”
“we will come to them and make our home with them (Jn 14:32).”
May the light of your face shine upon us, God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia! We have certainly been witnesses of “Lydia-moments” as of late Acts 16:14-15) Like Lydia’s family, Leo Samuel Adams has joined the baptized household of faith (Acts 16:15b), being born anew by water and the Spirit. Like Lydia herself, as I shared with our siblings at Saint James Lutheran Church last week, the Latina women at our retreat experienced the blessing of “the Lord opening their to listen eagerly (Acts 16:14),” about the yoke Jesus gives to us who are weary. What a spontaneous, spirit-fulled time it was! We saw how the Spirit caused our hearts and listening hears embody Jesus’ words: “just as I have loved you, you also should love one another (Jn 13:34b).” The Spirit made known to us a love which is timely, tested, and transformative. This is a love that does not give us answers to the pressing questions of our lives but rather invites us to continually ask questions; being led by the advocate. For we know that God is love (1 Jn 4) who sent his Son, who in turned showed us that “no one has greater than love this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (Jn 15:13).” This is the kind of love that we need during every stage of our lives. Leo Samuel has just started. Our sister, Kate Paxton, basks in the eternal question that is divine love in its majesty.