Life Worth Living - April 22

I’ve found myself in two different conversations about baptismal identity centered on what it really means to be a Christian and the identity that you and I have as people of faith. Those conversations were still echoing in my mind when I read from the Epistle to the Colossians in today’s lectionary reading, specifically the reminder that we are called to pray for each other.

In this reading, Paul names what he sees in the community: faith, love, and hope. And then he tells them that he is praying for them. He prays that they would grow in wisdom, bear fruit, be strengthened, and live lives worthy of the life they’ve been given. Maybe that is the heart of what it means to live out our faith—to live lives worthy of the life we have been given. What a noble, and honestly, challenging idea.

One of the most thoughtful books I’ve read in the past few years is Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most, written by three theologians who teach one of the most sought-after courses at Yale. Students describe the class as life-changing. A few summers ago, I had the chance to sit in on a lecture by Miroslav Volf, who helps lead that work.

At the core of their teaching is a simple but profound claim: much of Western culture is facing a kind of crisis—not necessarily of resources or opportunity, but of meaning. We have more ways to live than ever before, but less clarity about what makes a life good, true, or worth living.

And that’s where I find a connection to baptismal identity. In baptism, we are not just given a belief system; we are given a way of life. We are claimed by God, joined to Christ, and sent into the world not just to get through life, but to help reveal what a life rooted in love, grace, and purpose actually looks like.

Part of our calling, then, is not only to seek a life worth living for ourselves, but to help others discover it too. This is why our baptismal identity is so important.  It is the work of gathering weekly to be nourished by Word and Sacrament, the work of striving for justice and peace for all people, and the work of respecting the dignity of every human being. This is life-changing work, life worth living.

I am more than grateful to be a part of this life-giving community. The Western world is hungry for meaning and purpose, and many are likely finding it in the wrong places. May we help people live lives worth living, rooted in the Body of Christ.

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  How do you live a life worth living?  What questions do you need to be asking?  Where is there an opportunity for reflection and growth in your own life?