Thursday, December 20, 2018

And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,” he also adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
Luke 13:35

Sitting with a group of 10th graders preparing to affirm their baptisms at Confirmation, we read this passage out loud and talked about it.

The first thing that stood out to Evan Kolecki was ‘I will not remember their sins and evil deeds any longer.’ He said, “it was reassuring, like God won’t forever hold things against us. God doesn’t hold grudges.”

Then we started talking about, what might it mean to have God’s law in our hearts and written on our minds? I asked Evan if this meant anything to him. He explained that to him, having laws written on our hearts and minds means that he knows deep down how God wants us to treat one another.

Evan talked about a couple of times when he was ready to walk out of practice or quit a sport mid-season, but he knew that was not the right thing to do. He talked about ‘knowing’ that commitment was important, that ‘knowing’ is what it means to have something written on your heart.

Today’s passage calls to mind the baptismal promise to proclaim the good news of Christ through word and deed.

Loving God, be with Evan and all people affirming their baptisms in the coming year, and grant them the blessings of a God who does not hold grudges.

Conversation with Evan Kolecki, Confirmation student at Trinity Lutheran, Lansdale.

Julia Menzo is Director of Community Outreach for Liberty Lutheran / Lutheran Congregational Services.

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