“I will, with God’s help.”

This is one of my favourite lines from the service of Holy Baptism.

‘I will, with God’s help.’

‘I will’ - we make the decision to share what we have received – the love and grace of God poured into us. To be baptized is to accept the joyful responsibility, to respond to the beautiful calling, to love God and love our neighbours.

However, we can, we will only with help – God’s help. To be baptized is to also accept that we cannot do the work that has been set before us to do alone.

Together, ‘I will, with God’s help’ is the heart of the baptized life.

This same response is also used in the induction of new members of the Mother’s Union (which along with a baptism, we are doing this Sunday!) I love that. For me, it is a reminder that no matter where we are in our journey of faith, that what is at the heart of the baptized life and identity stays with us. Receiving the love of God, we are invited to continue to say “yes. I will” to where God is calling us. And yet, still, we can’t do it alone. We need the help of God, the help of one another.

Whether it is the waters of baptism and the way of Jesus, or the Mother’s Union, or any other calling to love, formal or informal, that God has put on your heart, let us respond strongly:  

“I will, with God’s help!”

Thanks be to God!

CG+