A Word from the Rector: Share the Love

“Share The Light”

Divine Tartan Candles: by Rev. Alex

Friends,

“Share The Light” A simple yet profound phrase that is the mission of my candle brand (yes, the rector has a candle brand—no, this isn’t sponsored—ha!). I chose it because it reflects a truth: light is meant to be shared.

Candles have always been meaningful to me. They share warmth, communicate love, set intentions, and anchor us in moments. This morning, I lit a candle as we exchanged messages on a day that feels especially heavy.

A reflection of hope that anchors my office today. The statue of Jesus with love in his arms, open for all people, anchored for us in baptism (the shell under his feet), a baptism which asks us to share the light of hope (the candle) in how we choose to break down the weapons of war within and all around us (the small icon behind the candle) so that we can see Christ in all people (the large framed Icon of Jesus: A homeless person from the Downtown East Side).

The past 48 hours have been deeply personal for many of us. In our parish, we have loved ones affected by the war in Gaza, as well as friends and family in the United States. As we’ve explored in scripture since Christmas, followers of Jesus are called to see no division between “us” and “them.” There is only humanity. And yet, even amidst the angst of division, hope remains.

The candle I lit today is called Hope. Its fresh scents of juniper berries, eucalyptus, pine, and birch, all ancient symbols of healing and new life, fill my office with a reminder of this truth: hope always wins because it is grounded in love. As Romans 5:5 reminds us, “Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

Candles remind me of this truth of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit: no matter how small, their flame changes a room. Darkness and hate never win. Love always prevails, just as light transforms any space.

Our hope today, I think, is this: to share the light—Jesus’ light—with everyone we meet. Through the choices we make everyday in relation to engaging with differences, let us love beyond politics, race, sexuality, or any human-made barriers. Love is possible because God loved us first, willing us into life, so that we can share that love with everything we have.

Dare to love today. In the quiet, unassuming way a candle fills a room with beauty and warmth, let love guide your actions. This is how love wins—through how we choose at the individual level to live as a human family. May we always choose to love.

Thank God for you, your love, and the work of love we share together in this parish.

Alex+