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Molly and Will
Over Memorial Day weekend, I had the great honor of officiating a wedding for two of my former students, Molly and Will, who have known each other since they were in 2nd grade together at St. George. As part of their preparation for the big day, I asked Molly and Will to think deeply and reflect on the verses that they had selected for their wedding - Romans 12:9-18 (NIV) - Love in Action.
In her reflection on their select passage, Molly noted that ““These verses spell it all right out…,” and Will agreed, adding “I've realized that our chosen verses are related to qualities I want us to prioritize even more than I originally thought: sincerity, positivity, resilience, empathy, forgiveness.”
I agree! Clearly, these are some of the most important qualities to prioritize in a marriage relationship.. Moreover, these are many of the same qualities that are at the heart of a great Episcopal School.
“Don’t just pretend to love….” says Paul in the NLT of this verse. “Really love with genuine affection.” Further, Paul tells us that real love and genuine affection are grounded in “taking delight in honoring the other.” He goes on to explain that this delight can only be accomplished through the “work hard” of “serving” the other “enthusiastically,” all the while “rejoicing in confident hope,” and “practicing eager hospitality.”
In schools, as in marriages, taking delight in honoring the other and serving the other enthusiastically is sometimes easier said than done, requiring a very intentional commitment!
Paul then goes on to point out that real love and genuine affection require us to bear “with-ness” (shout out to Rabbi Sharon Brous in The Amen Effect) by showing up for each other to “be happy with those who are happy” but also to “weep with those who weep.” Finally, twice in short succession, Paul implores us to “Live in Harmony with each other,” and to “Do all that we can to live in peace with everyone.”
Often, this pastoral response is a strength of Episcopal Schools!
Considering all of this, my prayer for Episcopal schools, like my prayer for Molly and Will, is that we may be places and people that put love into action for our students, colleagues, and families.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Help us to love each other sincerely and with true devotion, and to honor the other above the self, serving the other always with zeal and fervor.
Remind us to remain joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
Teach us to share with those in need and to practice hospitality, bearing “with-ness” by showing up in times of joy and in times of sorrow.
With your help, may we always strive to live at peace with everyone, with genuine humility and grace.
Amen.
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