Chris Yaw

Welcome! I’m an Episcopal priest serving a congregation in Metro Detroit... With a passion for gun safety... A zest for online Christian formation... A zeal for video blogging... A budding writer... A heart for those who have unintentionally harmed... A commitment to workforce housing... A love for marrying people... And a wonderful wife, three kids, and a cat... If we have common interests or not, I'd love to connect with you.

Are you suffering because you sinned?

It's possible - you may be in jail because you were drunk driving, or have a broken leg because you tripped over a fence while stealing a TV.

But is God raining down awful things on you because you did wrong?

This question comes to mind as we contemplate our Gospel for Sunday, which deals with the eternal questions of bad things happening to good people. Does God torture to teach? Has God purposely created punishment to keep us in line?

No. Never.

God's default setting is not condemnation and punishment, it's forgiveness and grace -

And when we refuse that, choosing to move away from the source of light and life, guess what's left?

Darkness and death.

So when we do bad, as hard as it is to work through the shame and embarrassment, move toward the light, make things right, don't keep moving towards the darkness.

That wonderful, pure heart of yours was made to bring God's light, keep it burning by embracing humility, getting over your mistakes, not burying them.

Rising Above

When you take up the cause of the weak and the marginalized, expect to be commended to a point.

"You're opening a food pantry, holding a clothing drive, that's so nice!"

But watch what happens when you go from asking for donations for poor people - to asking why the richest country in the world has poor people?

When you take a stand for justice, liberation, and disruption of an injurious status quo, don't think, for a minute, there won't be pushback.

This is what we will find in Sunday's gospel when Pharisees come to Jesus warning him that King Herod is out to kill him.

"Oh, that Fox," is Jesus' reply, as he goes on with his business as usual.

His example is our example; Don't be swayed by the threats of the powerful and the intimidation of entrenched forces that seek to silence you.

Standing for Jesus means standing with Jesus who is always on the side of the weak, poor, persecuted, and marginalized.

Rise up, then, and take the outstretched hand of Jesus to that higher plane, where persecution and oppression are vanquished by truth and liberty.

Jesus' way is never the easy way, but it's always the right way.

Reflect, Repent, and Transform

Fellow pilgrims on the dark and difficult road of faithfulness and charity.

We gather on Ash Wednesday to be marked with the ashes of our mortality, to claim our humanity as touched by divinity, on this uniquely holy day of reflection, repentance, and possibility.

And we are so blessed to have our parish family!

Not just to gather as friends and kindred in the nurturing fellowship of the saints -

But to mark the day - to set aside this hour - to call upon this moment - as a touchstone to the great reforming, redeeming, and restorative work God has embarked upon in the world - as we renew our calling and determination to follow that Carpenter from Nazareth - to continue the greatest rehab project the world has ever known!

For the Christian religion is one of universal scope and unfailing hope.

We are a people of purpose of possibility, that humanity can overcome its primitive urges and selfish persuasions, and work side by side with our better angels, co-laboring to bring to Earth that heavenly vision of the prophets, martyrs, and Saints, that 'thy kingdom come, they will be done - on Earth as it is in heaven.'

This grand and glorious vision of God that originated in the heavens, comes to pass through earthly means - something, of which, you, in your selflessness and generosity, are very familiar.

It calls each one of us to task - in the intimacy of our hearts - in the still, small, place of conviction and commitment - to make the way, clear the path, pave the road, and set the scene - to play our parts in this oh-so-serious task of ushering in this blessed Kingdom.

And so we come to hear the clarion call of Mother Church - to observe a Holy Lent - on this day of reflection, repentance, and possibility.

Chris Yaw

Hi, I am

Chris Yaw

ABOUT ME

Chris Yaw

Contact Details

How Can I Help?

St. David's

St. David's Gun Disposal

ChurchNext

Oakland Housing

Hyacinth Fellowship

Yaw Wedding

Blog