The Comfortable Words

 
I was delighted when the Comfortable Words were added to the liturgy of SOC. I am a “cradle” Episcopalian/Anglican so when the 1928 Prayer Book was used, these verses of Scripture were always part of the liturgy. As time went on, the inclusion of these Scriptures after the Confession was optional and seemed to happen less often. My dad was an Episcopal priest so he was my priest when I was still in the womb. I have to admit that there were a lot of Sunday services that I usually zoned out during, especially the sermons. The one part that I always heard and found comfort in was hearing the Comfortable Words. I can still see and hear my dad saying those Scriptures at the front of the church in front of the altar, as I prepared for the Eucharist.
 
What is it about these Scriptures that give such comfort? I think that, for me, it is that the words speak to real life. There is nothing sugarcoated. I want to share some of my thoughts about each verse. Some of this is how I felt when I was sitting in church listening to my dad; some thoughts are what I think and feel now.
 
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  -Matthew 11:28
These words acknowledge that some of us are going to be in church on Sunday morning with heavy hearts and hard burdens. God is not expecting us to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed all the time. We are reassured that there is rest to be found. When we are followers of Jesus our burdens are bearable because He is with us.
 
God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  -John 3:16
This verse, for as long as I can remember, has always assured me of God the Father’s love for me.
 
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  -1 Timothy 1:15
I am reminded that I am a sinner, but because of my faith in Jesus Christ, I am saved. As a child and teenager in the church I didn’t really understand this Scripture. I knew it, I could recite it, but I didn’t really see myself as a sinner in need of a Savior. Not a lot of talk about sin was going on in the ECUSA in the 1970s. The realization of my sin nature and need for a Savior occurred while in college and that’s when my adult walk with Jesus really started. PRAISE GOD!
 
If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.  -1 John 2:1-2
This verse gives instruction on what we are to do when we do sin. Jesus is our advocate (a person who presents a case on someone else’s behalf) and the substitute for the propitiation (atonement) of our sins. It also reminds me that I need to get the word out – share the Gospel so that people around the world can benefit from Jesus’s willingness to take the punishment for the sins of the whole world. This part of my spiritual growth and development is an area that has been slow-going for me. I pray for boldness and awareness of situations to share the Gospel. I struggle with worry about “offending people” or “turning people off” which I think really translates into fear of rejection. Slowly but surely God is pushing me forward and I keep praying for the courage and discernment to speak boldly.
 
These Scriptures, these Comfortable Words, have always been a part of my spiritual identity. My faith in Jesus Christ was cultivated in its infancy by these words and they continue to nurture and grow me today.
 
 
 
 
 
Libby King is a part of the Servants’ worship team and vestry. About a year ago, she became a grandmother and she couldn’t love her grandson more!

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