Weekly Reflection from Rev. Stephen Smith
One of my favorite moments in our baptismal liturgy is when the priest asks the congregation, “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?” To which the entire congregation emphatically responds, “We will!” It’s a reminder that it takes the whole community to support the newly baptized in the life outlined in The Baptismal Covenant. And, to be honest, the life outlined in The Baptismal Covenant isn’t an easy one to live! Beautiful and central to our understanding of what it means to be a Christian, yes. Easy to live out in our daily lives? Not so much. But that’s why it takes a village. It takes support from the people around us, our community, to help us become people who “…seek and serve Christ in all people, loving our neighbors as ourselves” and to “…respect the dignity of every human being.”
Last Sunday four young people were baptized at St. Cross. We shouted “We will!” when asked if we would support these young people in their life of faith. Now we have a job to do. It’s our responsibility to be a caring, nurturing, and welcoming community that provides space for folks to become the people God is calling them to be. We do so knowing that a community rooted in Jesus’ radical love has the power to move us closer to God’s dream for this world. So, let’s keep up the good work of welcoming, nurturing, and loving those new in our midst.
Rev. Stephen Smith
