The Third Sunday of Easter

Robert and I have been visiting Seattle since Thursday, a little getaway with just the two of us.  It has been lovely to spend so much time without any real cares or responsibilities beyond what time we want to get up and where are we going to eat.

As today is Sunday, I wanted to go to church.  I looked and couldn't find an LDS meetinghouse anywhere close (we've been walking every where).  So, since I had fallen in love with the building anyway, I attended mass at the St. James Cathedral.

It was an awesome, awesome service.

The liturgy had two main parts: one from the book of Acts regarding the disciples speaking with the risen Jesus when he told them to cast in their nets and the nets were filled with so many fish that they could not lift them onto the boat and another from the Gospel of John when Jesus asks Peter if Peter loves him.

Before the liturgy, a woman spoke (I love the number of women that are involved in the service) about listening to the scriptures and placing ourselves in the story and the importance of remembering that the scriptures are alive.  It struck my heart that I can't truly remember the last time I thanked God for the Bible and the Book of Mormon.  How often I take sacred texts for granted!  These scriptures are literally God's word to me.  What a wonderful gift!

As I looked around, listening to the liturgy and the homily, singing the songs and answering the priests, I was touched by the devotion of those in attendance.  One woman in particular had swollen eyes and a tear stained face.

So much is said on the differences of religion, on my God versus your god.  Even within Christianity, we are often more divided than unified and often stress harsh judgments due to differing beliefs even going so far as to prevent others from heaven or to cast them to hell.  In this moment at mass, I was struck with the truth that we are all God's children and insomuch as we have faith and love for Him in our hearts and seek to serve Him, how could He ever cast those offerings away?  Such condemnation seems out of place for the God I know and serve.

I am grateful that I was able to attend mass this morning.  Grateful that as I reveled in the sunshine and the beauty of spring, that I arrived at the Cathedral to hear that we were celebrating the Third Sunday of Easter and to smell all those beautiful lilies.

Such a gift.

Praise be to God.