TLDR: This blog builds on the In His Steps letter you will receive next week, on the sermon I preached on October 5th, and on my aspirations for Saint Dunstan’s in 2026. Please read and enjoy.
By the time you read this blog, you will have heard my latest sermon on Habakkuk, which you can read and watch on our website https://saintdunstans.org/sermonvideos/ . In my sermon, I said that I could not think of a more appropriate prophet to reflect on the state of our country today than Habakkuk. We are in the midst of a government shutdown, our nation is highly divided on ideological and political lines, political violence on either side is on the rise, mass shootings are a daily occurrence, and many find themselves exhausted by the inflamed rhetoric on television and social media. We are in desperate need of hope and re-centering. We need to hear that “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
We know little about Habakkuk, but we do know that the events of the book took place around the last decade of the 7th century before Christ. In the year 609 BCE, Emperor Necho of Egypt stepped into the power vacuum left by the demise of the Assyrian empire and attacked Israel. He pillaged, murdered, raped, and destroyed at will. Sadly, many influential people in Israel joined in the plunder and abuse. The prophet complains to God that the wealthy abuse and exploit the poor, there is no safety-net for the disenfranchised, the justice system is failing miserably to protect God’s people, and there is overwhelming anxiety and fear throughout the land. He wants to know where God is in the midst of all of this. Has God abandoned his nation?
In his last answer, God tells the prophet, “There is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end and does not lie… it will not delay… the righteous live by their faith.” God affirms that he alone is in control of history and has a plan for his beloved creation. No earthly power will ever thwart God’s plans. Tyranny only lasts a season, for only God lasts forever. God will be victorious and will right all the wrongs of this world in due time. We are in the birth pains of history, but God’s life will continue to become evident in our world even today. We need to live by faith. Faith in what God can accomplish in this fragile earth through us, his Church, and faith in God’s plans for the human race.
In the last chapter of his short book, Habakkuk reflects on God’s wonders in history through a beautiful liturgical song. With a mighty hand God rescued his people from Egypt, “Before him went pestilence, and plague followed close behind” (3:5). God protected his nation in the 40-year wilderness experience, “I saw the tents of Cushan under affliction; the tent curtains of the land of Midian trembled” (3:7). And God gave his people a fertile Promised Land. Now, even though the land is covered in bloodshed and everything feels hopeless, “I wait quietly for the day of calamity to come upon the people who attack us” (3:16b). The prophet will still have faith that God’s plans will be fulfilled in due time.
This faith leads Habakkuk into a beautiful song of praise, “Though the fig tree does not blossom and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer and makes me tread upon the heights (3:17-19).
Faith requires courage and trust. A wise person once said that if you want to know how God will act in the future, watch how God has acted in the past. History has been full of dark moments, but God’s plan has continued to unfold even to this very day. God is faithful and we must trust in him even in the face of adversity. If we concentrate and look deeply into God’s creation, we will soon realize that there is joy and grace everywhere.
We have experienced a great deal of new life in our midst these last few months: A successful capital campaign, a great start to our program year, a fun international food festival, growing Sunday school classes, a good start to our building projects, new members, etc. There are many causes for joy and celebration. God’s life and love continue to be evident around this campus.
This life will continue to unfold in beautiful ways at Saint Dunstan’s in 2026. We will have a new kitchen, a restored sanctuary, and we will start the project to reorient our campus to the traffic light on Stuebner Airline Road. Our children will return to camp and groups of parishioners will travel to Israel on pilgrimage and to Dominican Republic on mission. We will add new members to our family at Bishop Fisher’s visit in May and we will host Vacation Bible School in our newly restored Sanctuary. We will celebrate many baptisms, First Communions, a few Quinceaῆeras, and we will join several couples in marriage. We will celebrate various milestones at fabulous potluck suppers and food festivals. And we will continue to be a source of comfort for many of our families through our pastoral care programs. We will preach the Gospel with integrity, and we will continue to form good Christians through our Sunday school classes, small groups, and Bible studies.
Now, as we begin the In-His-Steps stewardship campaign this coming week, I need to appeal to your faith in God and your love for Saint Dunstan’s one more time. Attached to my letter, you will find a pledge card for 2026 and some instructions on how to pledge online. I ask you to prayerfully consider increasing your contribution by at least 1% over last year’s commitment. God has a beautiful and holy plan for us, and with your help, it will continue to unfold.
Have faith, God is in control!
Blessings to you and yours, Fr. Roman+
