[Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande]

My Dear People in the DRG,

Throughout this day each one of you are in my thoughts and prayers.

People woke up this morning either fully embracing the presidential election of Donald Trump or hesitantly grieving that their candidate did not win. In whatever emotional state you find yourself in today, realize that the silver lining for everyone to embrace is that once again a truly democratic election has succeeded. America has decided. Now a new political beginning is at hand and the sacred admonition for divisions to be mended and our diversity continued to be celebrated cannot be taken lightly by people of faith. As I see it, we are not divided in this country but experiencing growth in accepting our differences and great diversity. There is no us and them but only “we the people.” So we move forward.

Therefore, what I offer you to reflect upon today is the Word of God from the First Letter of Peter 1:25b – 2:1-10.

And this is the word that was preached to you.
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to him, the living Stone-rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him-  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message-
which is also what they were destined for.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Best wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving,

Bishop Michael