People of God, in the baptismal waters
you traveled with Christ from death to life.
Your past, your sin, your failure, your doubt,
are drowned and gone here.
Your fear, your confusion, your self-righteousness, your despair,
are washed away by grace.
Your pride, your hypocrisy, and other people’s opinions of you
no longer define you.
The Spirit lives and moves through you now,
a great and joyful mystery,
so you may bring love and mercy into the world
as the body of Christ.
Rejoice that God has claimed you
in this baptismal grace,
my fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus,
not by your own doing or believing
but by God’s mercy alone.–
—Thanksgiving of Baptism from Rev. Michael Coffey
During one of our Epiphany services this year, as Pastor Drew stood by the baptismal font and we all recited the above words, one line lodged itself in my brain.
The Spirit lives and moves through you now,
a great and joyful mystery,
so you may bring love and mercy into the world
as the body of Christ.
What do “love and mercy” look like to you? To me, “love and mercy” means forgiveness, kindness, honesty, compassion, striving for justice, protecting the powerless and weak, standing up for and with those who need support, and sharing Jesus’s radical message far and wide.
But Brian Wilson, genius songwriter from The Beach Boys, reminds me that love and mercy is for each of us, too.
I was sittin’ in a crummy movie with my hands on my chin
Oh the violence that occurs seems like we never win
Love and mercy that’s what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight
I was lyin’ in my room and the news came on T.V.
A lotta people out there hurtin’ and it really scares me
Love and mercy that’s what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight
I was standin’ in a bar and watchin’ all the people there
Oh the loneliness in this world well it’s just not fair
Hey love and mercy that’s what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight
Love and mercy that’s what you need tonight
Love and mercy tonight
Love and Mercy by Brian Wilson. Watch and listen to this fantastic performance online.
When I listen to Wilson’s soft, haunting voice, I hear him directly offering me love and mercy. And I need it.
How many moments, days, whole weeks even am I hard on myself? How often do I share kind words with others while harsh words storm around in my own brain?
“Bring[ing] love and mercy into the world as the body of Christ,” is big, difficult, important work. It’s something we are called by the Spirit to undertake. And it starts within each of us.
Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of baptism. Help me to live each day as one washed clean in Your Spirit, sharing your love and mercy with myself and others. Amen. –By Alison Kothe