THANKSGIVING LETTER TO THE FAITHFUL OF THE DIOCESE
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Dearly Beloved in Christ,
Blessed Thanksgiving!
As the world stands on the precipice of potential global conflict, we are called to be peacemakers. The words of our Lord, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9), resonate with urgency as tensions between nations and ideologies intensify. Amid this, our Christian heritage calls us to a profound reflection on reconciliation - reconciliation with God, with one another, and even between adversaries.
The apostolic faith we have inherited, deeply shaped by the witness of our Western Orthodox Patrimony, is a legacy of perseverance through hardship, unity in diversity, and the unwavering hope of Christ’s triumph over darkness. It calls us to strive for peace - not a passive peace born of avoidance, but an active peace rooted in truth, justice, and love. This peace must extend even to Russia, despite the wounds of history and the current geopolitical strife. We cannot condone an escalation of our current trajectory. To follow Christ is to extend the hand of reconciliation while standing firmly in the truth.
At the same time, we must prepare ourselves spiritually and intellectually for a world grappling with the fallout of globalism, the pervasive influence of radical ideologies, and the erosion of foundational truths about human nature and family. The rise of transgender ideology, radical feminism, and the dismantling of the traditional family structure challenges us to reaffirm the biblical understanding of humanity created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27).
We must be witnesses to the truth: that human flourishing is found in the family, grounded in the union of one man and one woman, open to life, and bound together in sacrificial love. In a culture increasingly dominated by confusion and division, the Church must serve as both a refuge of clarity and a bastion of hope.
Thanksgiving as Eucharist: A Model for Our Witness
Thanksgiving provides a unique lens through which we can view this calling. As St. Justin Martyr described so powerfully, the Eucharist is the ultimate act of thanksgiving, where bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, nourishing us spiritually and uniting us as one Body in Him. The simple, familial nature of Thanksgiving celebrations (gathering, sharing, and giving thanks) mirrors the early Christian agape feasts and offers a glimpse of what the Church’s mission should look like: building communities of gratitude, generosity, and shared purpose.
In a time of global uncertainty, Thanksgiving reminds us of the foundational acts of our faith: gratitude to God for His provision, the sanctity of gathering in communion, and the importance of sharing Christ’s love with others. Let us reclaim these acts, not only in our homes but in the Church, as a means of resisting the consumerism and secularism that threaten to overshadow the holy seasons of Advent and Christmas.
The Eucharistic Life Amid Isolation and Fear
In the isolation brought by modern ideologies and the spiritual desolation of a world increasingly disconnected from God, our inward communion with Him becomes paramount. As Blessed Bishop Jeremy Taylor reminds us, “Every man can build a chapel in his breast, himself the priest, his heart the sacrifice.” Our personal prayer life becomes the foundation for our public witness. When we cannot gather outwardly, we must cultivate an inner Eucharist, offering ourselves to God as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) and inviting others into the light of His truth.
A Call to Action: Peace, Truth, and Communion
As we approach the Nativity of our Lord, let us commit to these guiding principles:
- Be Peacemakers: Advocate for dialogue, reconciliation, and unity without compromising the truth. Extend Christ’s love, even to those who oppose us.
- Defend the Truth: Stand firm against the ideologies that distort human identity, while compassionately calling all to repentance and the hope found in Christ.
- Strengthen the Family: Support and promote the traditional family as the God-ordained foundation of society and the Church.
- Live Eucharistically: Embrace gratitude and generosity as a way of life, pointing others to the ultimate Thanksgiving: the Eucharist.
A Call to Thanksgiving
Let us heed the example of the Early Church described in the Acts of the Apostles:
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:42, 47).
Through these trials, may we shine as beacons of hope, steadfast in faith and overflowing with thanksgiving, as we prepare to welcome the Incarnate Word.
In the Precious Name of the Holy Trinity,
+Joseph
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