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From Our Bishop


Actively Awaiting the Christ D


ear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, As twenty-first century Americans, we


are poor at waiting. We get frustrated with the long line at the grocery store. We all too quickly curse our computers when they take a few more milliseconds to open a web browser. And a traffic delay can send us into orbit.


In our civic


life, we see this impatience in a fickle electorate that swings from one poll to another, allowing little time for those elected to do substantive work on massive problems. Culturally we have a low tolerance for not getting what we want when we want it -- now.


We await for Christ to come daily into our lives as we await his coming in great glory.


Because this posture of impatience is so much a part of our culture, we should not be surprised that it is also present in our church. The tempter is well pleased when the followers of Jesus Christ grow impatient. Impatience in churches leads to bickering and focusing on things other than the gospel. The church is called to engage the mission of God. This mission of bringing souls to Christ and engaging a broken, selfish and impatient world is risky and challenging. I think of Paul’s words to the church in Galatia: “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness,” (Galatians 5:5).


Following Jesus Christ is about surrender. It is a call and a privilege to find saving love through giving love, not for self but for others. As such, those of us who are ministers through baptism promise to set aside the ways of the world for the ways of Jesus Christ. We promise to practice the spiritual disciplines that Jesus has commended to us, chiefly loving all -- even the unlovable -- forgiveness, forbearance, patience, trust, and most importantly, hope.


In this season of Advent, we


begin anew by cultivating an expectant, patience presence. We wait for Christ to come daily into our lives as we await his coming in great glory. We await, actively doing Christ’s risky reconciling work in this world as we look for the world to come. And we wait on those with whom we live in church and society, with a posture of patience, love, trust and forbearance. We await.


Faithfully,


Armed Forces Evensong: Bishop Mathes at the 19th annual Armed Forces Evensong on November 13 at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Evensong honors men and women who serve our country. We remember their sacrifices as we pray for peace at home and abroad.


The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes Bishop of San Diego


Esperando a Cristo Activamente Q


ueridos hermanos en Cristo: Como Americanos del Siglo XXI,


no sabemos esperar, nos frustramos cuando las líneas en las tiendas son largas. También renegamos cuando la computadora toma unos cuantos segundos para abrir la página de internet. El tráfico lento nos saca totalmente de orbita. En nuestra vida cívica, un electorado inestable, que se balancea de una encuesta a otra, dando poco tiempo a los que han sido elegidos, para trabajar en los problemas masivos. Culturalmente no toleramos el no obtener lo que queremos.


Esperamos a que Cristo venga diariamente a nuestras vidas, mientras esperamos su venida con gran gloria.


La impaciencia es una gran parte de nuestra cultura, no nos debe de sorprender que se presente en nuestra iglesia. El demonio se complace cuando los seguidores de Jesucristo se vuelven impacientes. La impaciencia en la iglesia provoca discusiones y nos distrae del Evangelio. La iglesia es llamada a comprometerse en la misión de Dios. La misión de traer almas a Cristo y hacer participar a un mundo impaciente y egoísta se torna riesgosa y retadora. Pienso en las palabras de San Pablo a la iglesia en Gálatas: “Por medio del Espíritu, por la fe, nos esperamos al esperanza de la justicia,” (Gálatas 5:5).


Seguir a Cristo se trata de renunciar. Es un llamado y un privilegio saber cómo guardar amor y como darlo a otros. Tal


como nosotros que somos ministros por medio de la promesa bautismal hacer a un lado los caminos mundanales y seguir el camino de Jesucristo. Hemos prometido practicar las disciplinas espirituales que Jesus nos ha encomendado. Principalmente, amando aun a los difíciles de amar, perdonando y tolerando paciente y confiadamente, pero más que nada con fe.


En esta temporada de Adviento, comenzamos nuevamente a cultivar y esperar con paciencia su presencia. Esperamos a


que Cristo venga diariamente a nuestras vidas, mientras esperamos su venida con gran gloria. Esperamos activamente haciendo el


trabajo riesgoso de Cristo de


reconciliación, mientras esperamos su venida al mundo. Mientras esperamos con aquellos con quien vivimos en la iglesia y la sociedad con paciencia, amor, confianza y control en nosotros mismos. Aguardamos.


Fielmente,


El Reverendísimo James Mathes Obispo


Quito in September: Our bishop attended the House of Bishops meeting in Quito, Ecuador, where emotions about border issues run high. He stands on the Colombian border with Bishop Rickel. Watch a brief video of Bishop Mathes on the border: http://bit.ly/tmJYc5.


The Messenger The Official Publication of


The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego Editor Hannah Wilder hwilder@edsd.org


Four issues published in 2011: Spring (March), Summer (June), Fall (September) and Winter (December).


The Messenger encourages the submission of articles and pictures. We also appreciate knowing what topics are of greatest interest to our readers; please tell us what you


would like to read about. We reserve the right to select and edit material offered for publication. Send news and ideas to hwilder@edsd.org.


“News from the Office of the Bishop” is published weekly by email. To subscribe, send a request to:


hwilder@edsd.org. “Diocesan News” is published by email monthly. To subscribe, send a request to: hwilder@edsd. org. For weekly news and calendar updates online, visit the diocesan website:


www.edsd.org


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