Webmaster's Note: Bishop Mathes has given permission to print his notes to the clergy of his diocese. The Bishop writes regularly to his clergy in order to inform, to teach, to share his joys and sorrows, and to encourage the clergy to likewise share with him. We are grateful to Bishop Mathes for allowing us to share these notes with you.

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The season of Advent always draws me to certain hymns and lessons. We hear of Jesus' baptism and his temptation. We hear words of comfort from Isaiah on the shores of Babylon: "Comfort, comfort my people." We are cautioned to be alert and watchful. And in what is one of my favorite hymns of the season, we call to Jesus to simply come.

As we begin this season of expectation, this is really my simple prayer, to be released from fear and sin. Fear blinds us from love. Sin is our human response to fear, that is focus on self and not God and neighbor.

As I go to Trinity, Escondido tonight for World AIDS Day Evensong and travel across the border tomorrow to celebrate the Eucharist with the children at Dorcas House in Tijuana, I am mindful of the many ways that each of our congregations calls out to Jesus and seeks Jesus in the suffering, lonely, and desperate. Advent is the real season of giving as a spiritual discipline of seeking the Lord where he wills to be found, in the faces of the least and the lost.

Please know that you have my love as we share the love of Jesus and the search of Him who is already and always coming to us.

Faithfully,


The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes Bishop