The God Who Weeps
A Meditation by The Right Reverend Jeffrey 
Johnson, Bishop Ordinary, Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic States

One of the fascinating ideas in modern movies is the possibility of seeing the future. If you could look ahead twenty years, would you want to know what was coming? Perhaps only if the future held joy. But what if you saw someone you loved heading toward tragedy? Surely you would do everything possible to warn them.

That is precisely what we see in the Gospel for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity (Luke 19:41-47). As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, He already knows what lies ahead. He knows that many will reject Him, and He foresees the terrible destruction that will come upon the city. Yet His first response is not anger. It is sorrow.
"He beheld the city, and wept over it."
Those tears reveal the very heart of God. Jesus does not delight in judgment. He grieves over those who refuse His love. He has come as the promised Messiah, the Good Shepherd who longs to gather His people, forgive their sins, and bring them into everlasting life. Even as many reject Him, He continues to love them.

The Anglican divine Bishop Lancelot Andrewes beautifully observed, "God is more willing to bestow His grace than we are to seek it." Before we ever think of God, He is already seeking us. Before we cry out to Him, His heart is already turned toward us.

After weeping over Jerusalem, Jesus enters the Temple and drives out those who have turned God's house of prayer into a marketplace. His actions are not merely an act of righteous anger; they are an act of restoration. He removes whatever hinders people from drawing near to God. Then, Luke tells us, "He taught daily in the temple." Even in the final days before His Passion, Jesus continues inviting people to receive His mercy and believe the good news.

The same Lord comes to us today.

Each of us has a temple that needs cleansing—not a building of stone, but the temple of our hearts. Pride, resentment, distractions, fears, and cherished sins can crowd out the quiet place where we meet God. Yet Christ comes not to condemn but to restore. He desires to clear away every obstacle so that our hearts may become houses of prayer where His love may dwell.

His tears over Jerusalem remind us of an astonishing truth: God loves every person far more deeply than we can imagine. He desires that none should be lost. He still calls each of us to receive His grace, walk in His ways, and grow into His likeness.

And as we come to know that love ourselves, we are called to share it with others. Like our Lord, may we grieve for those who are far from Him—not with condemnation, but with compassion. May our lives, our prayers, and our words become invitations for others to discover the God who still seeks, still teaches, still restores, and still weeps over those He loves.
 
All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee
 
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Services & Events

Sunday, 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM services, for online participation go to
https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to 
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams

Nursery during both services

Sunday School, on recess for the summer, returns in September

Wednesday at Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing, for online participation go to https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland or to 
https://www.youtube.com/@StAndrewandStMargaret/streams

IT'S BACK: This Wednesday, 7:30 to 9:00 PM in the church undercroft,  Fr. Bragg will offer a relaxed, informal course of Wednesday evening classes on the Hymnal that will run through August 26.  Each meeting is a stand-alone session on specific hymns, focusing on the circumstances of their writing as well as their theological and devotional content.  Every hymn has a story behind it, and many of them are fascinating. (Online participation possible by using links above.)
 
Monday, August 24, Saint Bartholomew, 12 noon & 7:00 PM Services

Saturday, August 29, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. in the undercroft. Women's brunch honoring the MaRiH Crisis Pregnancy Center: Enjoy some end-of-summer fun and fellowship while helping local women and their babies. Please bring an item from MaRiH Center's critical needs list. Brunch is potluck; please consider bringing a dish to share. RSVP to margot.anderson@proton.me. 
 
Save the date, Sunday, Sept 20, Annual Parish Picnic, following combined 10:00 AM service. More information to follow as the date draws near and plan to invite family and friends.
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MaRiH Crisis Pregnancy Center: Critical Needs
& More
 
Below are 2 updated lists: the critical needs list and the needs list. The all volunteer staff of the MaRiH Center are very thankful for the support that our parish provides.

Critical Needs:
Diapers, sizes 5 and 6
Spring/Summer clothing (Boys & Girls), size 0-3 months, size 2T 
Baby Wipes
Baby Blankets
Baby formula: Similac Advance Formula
Bibs: toddler
Car seat: infant
Other needs:
Diapers, newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4
Spring/Summer Clothing, 3-6 month, 9-12 month, 18-24 month, 
Bibs, infant
Maternity clothes (Spring/Summer)
Wash cloths
Hooded towels
Diaper rash ointment, Baby Shampoo
Baby bottles
Baby formula: All other Similac & Enfamil types. Also accept Alimentum & Nutramigen. No other brands are accepted. Please make sure dates have not expired.
There are two options for helping the Center with these needs:
Option 1 
Amazon has all the specific items needed. You can order the specific item(s) and have them delivered directly to the Center.  

The MaRiH Center
3230B Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-4521
703-370-4774

Option 2 
Go to your local store, purchase the items requested and drop them off at church on Sunday. We will deliver them to the MaRIH Center.
 
 
Food Bank Needs
 
The food bank continues to need our assistance to feed the hungry. Summer means less food donations are available to the Food Bank often with more requests for help...

Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Those we help feed are very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Also lower sodium products are better and more healthy.

Current needs include the following:
canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
tuna (cans or foil packages)
peanut butter. jelly
canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
individual fruit cups (low sugar)
canned fruit (low sugar)
canola or vegetable oil (48 oz)
boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
pasta (regular and gluten-free):
instant potatoes
single serving fruit juice
macaroni & cheese
soups: Chunky or Progresso, chicken noodle soup; chicken broth, cream of mushroom. tomato
coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
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St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625