Week 2. Day 6 – God’s Mercy

One Spirit. Above all. Through all. In all.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love
 Which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
 Colossians 3: 14

I fume as I sit down hard in the pew, angry.  Minutes before worship Jim, the council president, told me of the changes in the church budget.  He and I have had words in the past about how much money is needed to support local missions.  In a unilateral decision, he changes as the budget is due tomorrow.

I don’t sing the first hymn, not able to see the words on the page with my mind racing rehearsing the conversation I will have with him when church was over. 

I let out a long sigh during the first petition of the Kyrie and into the response of “Lord have mercy.” 

Another petition is sung. I am able to softly join others to sing the response.  “Lord have mercy”.   I think, almost aloud. “God pour your love into this mess.”

After another petition, I join the voices of those around me, more loudly this time.  “Lord have mercy.”  Singing forces me to breath. Breathing calms me. 

In this quieting moment, I look to see the faces of this beloved community, these people I love and who love me.   Together, we are held within this mercy. All of us, including Jim and me. God’s Spirit of mercy unites us.  

Another petition. Another response, “Lord have mercy.” Singing stirs my being.  “Mercy on me, too,” I plead. “Please God. Mercy for me and for Jim.”

“Help, save, comfort and defend us gracious God.”  “Amen.”  I sing.  May it be so.

Breathprayer:

              Breathing in:   Holy Spirit…

Breathing out: …sustaining us all.

Reflection:  Within the Lutheran Sunday liturgy, congregations sing the Kyrie. Each verse has a petition sung by a leader and the members respond with “Lord in your mercy.”  What is your particular prayer for the Spirit to grace you with mercy?

This reflection is written for the Online Lenten Devotion of the Southeast Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

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