Tracing Our Roots: Reflection

As we enter the month of February, a time traditionally set aside for reflection, renewal, and remembrance, I invite you to join me on a journey—one that traces the roots of our faith, both in the history of our church and in our personal lives. In the Episcopal Church, we are rooted in a deep tradition that stretches back to the early Church, to the apostles, to the faithful men and women who have come before us. Yet, our individual journeys of faith are also grounded in the everyday moments of grace, challenge, and transformation that shape us as Christians today.

February, with its often quieter rhythms after the busyness of the holiday season, offers us an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the foundation of our belief. As we reflect on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, let us also reflect on the ways that the church—the Body of Christ—has continued to move, breathe, and live across the centuries, carrying the Good News into new contexts, new languages, and new challenges.

When we trace our roots as a community of faith, we do not only look back at the distant past. We also look to the ways that those roots are alive in us today. Each of us carries the history of our church in the way we live our faith. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us: the early Christians who forged a path in times of persecution; the reformers who sought to bring the Church back to its core teachings; the saints and martyrs who bore witness to Christ with their lives.

In February, we also observe the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord (Candlemas), a moment in the Church calendar when we celebrate the recognition of Christ by Simeon and Anna, two figures rooted deeply in the faith of Israel. They were waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promise, and when they saw the infant Jesus, they knew that the long-awaited Savior had arrived. This feast reminds us of the deep roots of our faith in the Hebrew scriptures, showing us how God’s promises stretch back through time and continue to unfold in our lives.

As we reflect on our roots, let us also look to the future. Our tradition calls us not just to celebrate our past, but to live in hope for the future—working together to extend Christ’s love and justice to the world. The question for each of us this month is: How will we live out the legacy of faith passed down to us? What will we do with the roots we have been given?

My prayer for all of us this February is that we might find strength and purpose in the rich heritage of our faith, and that we may also look forward with hope and courage to the journey ahead. Let us continue to trace our roots—both backward and forward—so that we may grow in the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.