As the President of The Bush Church Aid Society Australia (BCA), I was invited to submit an editorial for the BCA Autumn Prayer Notes – and here it is!
Jesus loves me!
I had just announced our song, “Jesus loves me, this I know, and the Bible tells me so”, when a parishioner walked quickly down the aisle, stood in front of me and presented me with a red rose. I accepted the rose with a light heart and a wide grin. Anglican life is rarely dull!
However, the best was yet to come! As I accepted the rose, she asked in a loud voice, “Bishop, do you love Jesus?” To the unexpected question I quickly affirmed, “Yes, I love Jesus!” The congregation was all smiles as I stood there in all my Episcopal glory, holding a red rose.
Expecting the parishioner to return to her pew, I announced our song for a second time. But the woman (who had remained standing in front of me) repeated her question in a booming voice, “Bishop, do you love Jesus?” “Yes”, I replied in a loud voice and again with a wide smile, “I love Jesus!”
Satisfied at last, she then walked back to her pew and turned to face me as I finished announcing for the third time our song, “Jesus loves me, this I know, and the Bible tells me so”.
At this point I confess that I was feeling a little relieved as I was not sure where the previous questions might have led. But just then, she shouted out for the entire world to hear, “Bishop, I love Jesus too!”
Well, you can imagine, the congregation erupted with joy, laughter, clapping and enthusiastically affirmed our forthright Sister. This was an undoubted “God-moment” and the angels in heaven would have danced wildly!
Our celebration of “Jesus loves me!” is central to our great Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter. The joy of the coming of Jesus Christ to a humble stable in Bethlehem, the unjust and cruel death of the Preacher of the Sermon on the Mount, the world changing resurrection and glorious ascension, all sound out “Jesus loves me!”
This is the Good News that we proclaim. And like the Anglican parishioner in Tasmania, we look for the response, “Yes, I love Jesus!”
BCA Missioners and supporters, let us all work and pray for the positive response of every heart to God’s glorious act of love in Christ Jesus. There is no greater task!
May the Holy Spirit empower and bless our mission.
The Autumn Prayer notes can be found here
You can access The Bush Church Aid Society of Australia website here
