Readings for the Day:
Original Manuscript:
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Today we remember Eva Lee Matthew’s who founded the Community of the Transfiguration, an Episcopal monastic order.
On their website, the Community says this about their work: “Our primary and most essential ministries are prayer and worship; both of which strengthen us to serve wherever we are called.”
Our reading from Matthew speaks to this call. It is Jesus’ words concerning the woman who anointed Him that we learn something important about our call. It’s not just about our service to the poor, to the widow and orphan, and to our neighbor. It’s also about the honor we show to our Lord. After all, the Two Great Commandments don’t just mention the love we are called to give our neighbor. They first and foremost speak to the love we are required to give to God.
It’s not that service to the poor isn’t important. The Community of the Transfiguration did a great deal of such service on their founding by Matthews. However, that work is not all that we do. We are also called to honor God through our prayer and worship. We are called, as Jesus points out, to also proclaim the Good News of our Lord as well.
As we remember Eva Lee Matthews today, we would do well to also remember all the various roles the church is needed to fulfill. First and foremost, we are called to share the story of our Lord Jesus Christ through word and deed to all we meet.