To the People of The Diocese of West Missouri,
Grace and peace to you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I hope that you have seen the most recent letter from the House of Bishops following our meeting in the Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic. Our time there was a blessing. I had the great privilege of visiting Colegio Episcopal San José, a church that also houses a school and home for the elderly. We worshiped together and were honored with presentations from the students and residents. I am grateful for the Episcopal unity that binds us across international boundaries.
Our time gathered was also marked by a shared desire to offer hope amid the anxiety, fear, and uncertainty that shapes our culture. I join my siblings in the House of Bishops urging for all of us to root ourselves in the hope and ministry of Jesus Christ.
In the tenth chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus says “I am the good shepherd.” While I have never witnessed the work of a shepherd in real life, my imagination is fed by what I have read and by Jesus’ own words. Shepherds are guardians of their sheep—leading them to nourishment and water, protecting them from danger, and know their sheep by name. They gather the flock, make them a community, and lay down their lives to protect them.
Jesus is the One who knows us and calls us by name. Jesus is the One who lays down his life for us. In times of fear and uncertainty, we turn to Jesus Christ, our shepherd, to lead us into the reconciling grace of God.
Consider the ministry of Jesus: His life is an offering of God’s self in our midst. He spends his life healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and offering forgiveness and grace to those he meets. Along the way, he invites us to follow him. We are called to come close to Jesus to be nourished by mercy and grace, the divine way of God.
How will we listen and follow Him when he calls? For me, one way is through Bible study. Because I have the privilege of preaching every week, I get to study the Gospel, the Old and New Testaments, and the psalms. This practice reminds me that I stand with everyone, past and present, who has sought God in every circumstance—famine, exile, slavery, and war. We are not the first to live in uncertain times.
Studying scripture reminds me that God is faithful and just, constantly working to redeem us, even in the face of human disaster and sin. That redemption is made known most fully in Jesus, whose life reveals the depth of God’s love for us and all of creation. If we are looking for God, we will find him in the scriptures.
I invite you to match every minute spent watching the news, scrolling social media, reading, or watching tv, with time in Bible study. This can be as simple as praying Morning or Evening Prayer daily, or as in-depth as studying one book of the Bible at a time. The Prayer Book provides a prescription for reading the psalms every thirty days. Most importantly, let us study the Bible together; as one community, as one Body of Christ. This may require effort and learning new practices, but I promise God will meet us there. God’s Word will raise us out of the noise and uncertainty of our lives and ground us with everlasting mercy and grace.
I am grateful for the leadership of Canon Chas and Canon Anne, who are inviting all of us into a season of prayer, fasting, and discernment of ministry. Their ministry is here to help us remember and experience God’s grace. Imagine if we dedicated ourselves to these practices. The time spent in Bible study, prayer, fasting, and discernment would lead us closer to God and away from distraction, anchoring us in the love and mercy of Christ. Let us stay focused on what matters most: following the Good Shepherd, remembering who and whose we are, and dedicating ourselves first to Jesus.
Know that I keep our diocese in my prayers every day, inviting God’s Holy Spirit to lead us. It is my honor and privilege to serve as your bishop, and I am deeply grateful that God has brought us together.
I am,
Your faithful servant,
Bishop Amy Dafler Meaux
A prayer for the Human Family, BCP p. 815
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
