Sowing Seeds of Love 

“The incarnation is the supreme paradox. Most of the great [Christian] heresies arose from an undue impatience with mystery and paradox and an endeavor after a common-sense theology.” 

This quote from Scottish theologian Donald Baillie was offered by Dr. Clare Amos on a recent webinar called Uprooting Hate, Sowing Seeds of Love. In her excellent talk (which I hope will be available soon), Dr. Amos—longtime director of the WCC’s interreligious relations—spoke of the complexities of bringing the aspiration of the webinar’s title into reality. “Wishing or saying doesn’t make it so,” she reminded us. 

Sowing seeds of love is long-haul work, which begins with the even more difficult task of exposing the roots of hate. Even then, there is no guarantee. Healing takes time, often moving glacially, and certainly not in straight lines. We don’t live in a binary/either-or world. And we know that is true, now more than ever. Yet we, whose baptism seals us as Christ’s own, are called to live and work in this perilous space, in the paradox not only of the incarnation, but in the mystery and complexity of the divisions and hatred of our time. Ours is to seek solutions, expose injustice, repair disparities in health care (including mental health care), racism, white supremacy, and to expand welcome of those most vulnerable, to name just a few of the tasks that lie ahead. 

Recognizing there are no easy answers, this newsletter shines a light on some of the work. Where can our engagement with interreligious and ecumenical partners make a difference? How might we sow the seeds of love? 

Sincerely,

Margaret Rose