Making Room for God's Mercy

Beloved in Christ, 

With the sudden and aggressive onset of Minnesota winter this week, I’ve been feeling appropriately sluggish, as I imagine many of us are. I’m not moving as fast, words are coming slower, and my mind feels just a little squishier. As a result, not everything has gone how I expected or wanted, and I’m having to do a thing I hate: extend myself a little mercy and grace. 

Things don’t seem to be going as expected for John the Baptist in this week’s gospel lesson, either. Just last week he was all fire and bravado, styling himself after the great Old Testament prophets, boldly announcing the arrival of the long-expected Messiah. This week, he’s in prison, and wondering if he got it wrong. The Messiah was supposed to lead the revolution, get rid of the oppressive regime in power, and set things right politically. That’s not what Jesus seemed to be up to. He was healing the sick, casting out demons, hanging out with the wrong people. 

Jesus saves the world because things don’t go as expected. Rather than beating the Romans at their deranged and violent game, he changes the whole playing field. When John sends his own disciples to ask Jesus, “What gives? Are you going to do this or not?” Jesus’ response shows he is redefining what greatness looks like, what salvation means, and how we engage with the forces of evil. Rather than leading a program of regime change, Jesus allows that very regime to brutally torture, humiliate, and execute him. Jesus’ efforts don’t defeat evil, God’s mercy does. 

To follow the way of Jesus means to constantly practice letting go of expectations, and extending a little mercy and grace, to ourselves, and to everyone we meet. The Christian life is not about working harder or fighting more fiercely, it’s about surrendering to God’s mercy, because that is where true liberation is found for us, and for the whole world. 

Grace and Peace, 

The Right Rev. Craig Loya