La Gratitud, El Amor, and La Alegría

Beloved in Christ,

I am in the Diocese of Cuba this week for the consecration of the new bishop here. As many of you know, we have a long and rich history with Cuba, as Bishop Whipple played a critical role in establishing an Episcopal presence on the island after the first visited in 1871. Over the years Minnesota Episcopalians have remained committed to walking with the Diocese of Cuba through our companion relationship. It’s a great privilege to be here representing that history and friendship. 

On Tuesday evening, we celebrated the ministry of the outgoing provisional bishop. The liturgy was exorbitantly joyful, the deep love the people of the diocese have for one another was palpable, and we heard a moving sermon from the Dean of the Cathedral describing how gratitude is the soul of the Cuban people.

La gratitud, el amor, and la alegría: gratitude, love, and joy. These three themes were both preached and fully embodied that evening, and are the central markers of Episcopal Christians in this place. 

The Cuban economy, already in a fragile position before COVID, has fallen further into collapse in the past few years. The country has been governed for more than sixty-five years by one of the world’s most repressive regimes, a large part of the country spends as much as sixteen hours of every day without power, buildings are crumbling, and people are starving. Life here is almost indescribably hard. La gratitud, el amor, and la alegría with, which our Episcopalian siblings live, stands in stark contrast to such darkness. La gratitud, el amor, and la alegría is not naive and maudlin denial, but rather the fruit of a deep faith in the resurrection of Jesus, which settles forever the fact that God’s love is more powerful than any evil, suffering, or oppression we encounter. 

As our own nation continues to face a wave of political violence, deep polarization, and an administration employing many of the tactics long used by repressive regimes throughout the world and history, we do well to bear in mind we are not the first nation to face such conditions. In days like these, we can look to our fellow disciples in places like Cuba, not with the paternalistic gaze that has often marked such relationships, but following their lead in resisting the forces of oppression with la gratitud, el amor, and la alegría. 

Gratitude to God for what God has done in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Extending the same love to one another and the world around us that God has shown to us. Joy born out of the sure and certain hope that God is faithful. These are the ways we engage a world marked by escalating outrage. How can you recommit to living in this way, joining God and Jesus’ followers across the globe and history, in defying the evil that surrounds us with the healing balm of the Spirit’s love?

Grace and Peace, 

The Right Rev. Craig Loya