Springtime to the Soul

​It is only love that can do justice,
it is only grace that can right all wrong.
~ P.T. Forsyth, The Cruciality of the Cross

Stations of the Cross at the Jeoldusan Martyrs Shrine.  Seoul, South Korea.

​2/26/19

​Beloved:

        Eleven eggs were in the hen house last evening, and the air smelled ever so springish this morning.  It’s no good getting my hopes up, but I will anyway.  However long a winter lasts, the earth can’t help coming back to life on her circuit back toward the sun.

        The Scotsman P.T. Forsyth wrote deceptively thin theology books a hundred years ago; but, with a bit of tweaking to his pronouns, his work is ever so prescient of now.  He reads like Dr. King Jr., for one, and Richard Rohr as well. In his book on the atonement quoted here, he revived grace or, maybe, revived the church to recall grace.  Grace and grace alone makes us who and what we are.  Grace confirms that insofar as we are judged we are judged according to divine holiness, and the rule of holiness is love, divine love.  Divine love took action toward humankind in the event of Jesus Christ, thus saying, love and not evil shall rule the day – for every day of human history, for every human being everywhere.

        All of which is just to say, Dr. Forsyth writes joyful theology.  He is springtime to the soul and to the church, pointing us to the light and warmth and hope at the center of our faith.  I pray this day allows you a new surprise of faith, one given or received.

~ peace & prayers,
pastor annette