As we continue to celebrate Easter, this Sunday’s scriptures remind us of our shared calling as people of God and followers of Jesus. Our baptism commissions us to share Jesus’ mission in the world. As 1 Peter reminds us, we are a holy people, called to proclaim the one who called us out of darkness into light. In word and deed, we bear witness to the risen Christ—our way, our truth, our life. Each of these texts takes on special meaning as our New Members affirm their baptism in joining our congregation and as Pastor Susie is installed to serve alongside us as Director of Outreach and Nurture.
Throughout the season of Lent we have reflected on God’s Costly Grace, guided by the work of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who coined the phrases “costly grace” and “cheap grace,” encouraging Christians to a life of costly discipleship in response to the great cost of Christ’s death on Good Friday. “Above all, this grace is costly because it cost God the life of his Son… and it is grace because it gives us the only true life” (Bonhoeffer). We live in the fulness of this life of grace throughout the fifty days of the Easter Season.
image: Parish church (Église Saint-Martin). Paintings on the vaults. 19th century. © Paul M.R. Maeyaert EGO SUM VIA VERITAS ET VITA (I am the way, the truth and the life)