The Day of Pentecost was a lot of fun last Sunday! The worship vibe was deep, and the grilled chicken lunch that followed was great as well. It was a good day! Thanks to all that made it happen.

Today is The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The gospel reading this morning for Morning Prayer was from John 3:25-30. In it, a discussion arose between John the Baptist and some of his disciples who were concerned about people going to Jesus to get baptized instead of going to John. John reminds them that he told them that he was not the Christ. Then John says something that all of us who proclaim faith in God through Jesus the Christ, and which seems to get lost among many, he says, “He (Jesus) must increase but I (John) must decrease.”

For our service through word and deed in bringing forth the Kingdom of God on Earth, we remember that we are not central to the Kingdom of God but do the work and live the gospel. From doing this our fulfillment of joy dwells within, so that our words and actions always reflect that inner joy. In doing so, the Kingdom of God increases and we decrease. We decrease primarily in our ego and in our self-importance.