What is a Christian to do in a Pandemic?

What is a Christian to do in a Pandemic?

Lazarus was ill. He was dying. But Mary and Martha weren’t worried – they knew Jesus. They knew he could heal Lazarus. So they called upon Jesus to come. 

But Jesus didn’t come when they called… and Lazarus died. Mary and Martha knew that Jesus had the power to prevent Lazarus from dying. IF only… he had come. So why not? Why didn’t he? They felt abandoned. They cried out of mourning but they also felt alone…. abandoned.. and hurt. Their call, their prayer, wasn’t answered. 

There are lots of prayers going up to Jesus right now. And as we seek to keep physical distance from one another – there are lots of people who feel alone and wonder – how long will this last?  

We wonder as we listen to the news from around the world, places like China, Italy, Washington state and New York City, places where the virus has spread rapidly… how hard it will hit here? We worry and wonder about people that we know and love. Will they be infected with the virus? Will we? Our hearts ache when we hear the sad sad stories of whole families that are infected. We worry about those who are being laid off. 

Like Mary and Martha, we may wonder: Didn’t Jesus hear our prayer?. Surely, Jesus could swoop down here like a superhero and just take care of it. We may feel kind of helpless, not knowing what we can do or when this will end.

The bubonic plague, also called the “Black Death,” killed somewhere between a third and half of the population of Europe in the 1300s. It re-emerged in the 1500s. Many people at the time thought the plague was caused by “bad air” – and so they fumigated their homes. Others, assuming that it was caused by the wrath of God, tried to “prove their faithfulness” by refusing to take medicine, saying that they would rely only of the power of God.   In the midst of all of the suffering, fear and anxiety, a fellow pastor wrote to Luther asking what was a faithful Christian to do? Specifically, he asked, “whetherone may flee from a Deadly Plague"”?  Here’s Luther’s response: 

"I shall ask God mercifully to protect us.
Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it.  I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.
If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others.
If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above.
See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy..."1

Luther’s advice is amazingly timely. Translating into today’s language and time, and taking into account what we now know about how viruses like Covid 19 spread, Luther’s first recommendation would be the same: 

“Ask God mercifully to protect us” 

The second – Since we know this virus spreads by germs that land on surfaces, would be to wash our hands – often - and sanitize our homes, steering wheels, the groceries that we buy and other hard surfaces that we touch and others have touched. Give and take medicine that doctors have prescribed – but not “miracle cures” that we find on the internet.

Third – Martin Luther said, “I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.” This is the basis of the “stay at home” policy. Avoid getting sick so that we don’t overwhelm the hospitals and medical staff. 

Forth – Luther said, “if a neighbor needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person”.  Some of us – especially medical people – but also grocery stores, pharmacies and your pastor will remain open and available as needed. 

Like Luther, we do not need to fear dying from the plague, or from the corona virus because, as Luther so rightly said, “If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me.” So, like Luther let us live our lives as responsibly as possible, taking every care but not being afraid or anxious because, ultimately, our life is in God’s hands. And the best news is that through Jesus, God has given us the promise of eternal life – with him. 

When Jesus showed up at Mary and Martha’s house – four days too late to heal Lazarus – he did not answer the many questions of  “why” weren’t you here? “Why didn’t you heal Lazarus”? Why did you let him die? 

Instead, he revealed himself to Martha, and to us, saying, “I AM the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”This is the Good news for us too. Jesus proclaims eternal life to us and for us… even in our sorrow…our anxiety and our fear. 

And Jesus shares in all of our sorrows.  When gathered with Mary and Martha and the mourners at Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus was moved by compassion to tears.  Jesus felt their pain – and Jesus feels our pain. When we cry out in sorrow and grief, Jesus is with us, weeping too. 

This is very good - but it’s not the end of the story. Jesus surprised everyone by calling Lazarus back to life here on earth– ordinary life - and then calling the people around him, to “Unbind him” and let him go. 

Brothers and sisters – as I look out onto an empty sanctuary… thinking and praying for all of you, I yearn and I know you yearn, to be called back into “ordinary life,” too.  We hope and pray for a quick return to life without the fear of the corona virus infecting us and those that we love. 

And that day will come.  In the meantime, I urge you to trust in God even in the midst of the challenges that come our way. Jesus isn’t going to come like a super hero flying down to magically heal all of our ills but Jesus will not disappoint us. For we know the end of the story… and it is good. 

Jesus brings us both resurrection and life – ordinary life now – and one day eternal life with Jesus forever. THIS is Good News. THIS is the promise God that, in Christ has given and it is given for you. Thanks be to God. Amen. 

Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane

Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church

Sermon for Sunday, March 29,2020

1~ Martin Luther.   From Martin Luther, Works v. 43, p. 132. Letter "Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague" written to Rev. Dr. John Hess.

What is a Christian to do in a Pandemic?

Lazarus was ill. He was dying. But Mary and Martha weren’t worried – they knew Jesus. They knew he could heal Lazarus. So they called upon Jesus to come. 

But Jesus didn’t come when they called… and Lazarus died. Mary and Martha knew that Jesus had the power to prevent Lazarus from dying. IF only… he had come. So why not? Why didn’t he? They felt abandoned. They cried out of mourning but they also felt alone…. abandoned.. and hurt. Their call, their prayer, wasn’t answered. 

There are lots of prayers going up to Jesus right now. And as we seek to keep physical distance from one another – there are lots of people who feel alone and wonder – how long will this last?  

We wonder as we listen to the news from around the world, places like China, Italy, Washington state and New York City, places where the virus has spread rapidly… how hard it will hit here? We worry and wonder about people that we know and love. Will they be infected with the virus? Will we? Our hearts ache when we hear the sad sad stories of whole families that are infected. We worry about those who are being laid off. 

Like Mary and Martha, we may wonder: Didn’t Jesus hear our prayer?. Surely, Jesus could swoop down here like a superhero and just take care of it. We may feel kind of helpless, not knowing what we can do or when this will end.

The bubonic plague, also called the “Black Death,” killed somewhere between a third and half of the population of Europe in the 1300s. It re-emerged in the 1500s. Many people at the time thought the plague was caused by “bad air” – and so they fumigated their homes. Others, assuming that it was caused by the wrath of God, tried to “prove their faithfulness” by refusing to take medicine, saying that they would rely only of the power of God.   In the midst of all of the suffering, fear and anxiety, a fellow pastor wrote to Luther asking what was a faithful Christian to do? Specifically, he asked, “whetherone may flee from a Deadly Plague"”?  Here’s Luther’s response: 

"I shall ask God mercifully to protect us.
Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it.  I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.
If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others.
If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above.
See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy..."1

Luther’s advice is amazingly timely. Translating into today’s language and time, and taking into account what we now know about how viruses like Covid 19 spread, Luther’s first recommendation would be the same: 

“Ask God mercifully to protect us” 

The second – Since we know this virus spreads by germs that land on surfaces, would be to wash our hands – often - and sanitize our homes, steering wheels, the groceries that we buy and other hard surfaces that we touch and others have touched. Give and take medicine that doctors have prescribed – but not “miracle cures” that we find on the internet.

Third – Martin Luther said, “I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.” This is the basis of the “stay at home” policy. Avoid getting sick so that we don’t overwhelm the hospitals and medical staff. 

Forth – Luther said, “if a neighbor needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person”.  Some of us – especially medical people – but also grocery stores, pharmacies and your pastor will remain open and available as needed. 

Like Luther, we do not need to fear dying from the plague, or from the corona virus because, as Luther so rightly said, “If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me.” So, like Luther let us live our lives as responsibly as possible, taking every care but not being afraid or anxious because, ultimately, our life is in God’s hands. And the best news is that through Jesus, God has given us the promise of eternal life – with him. 

When Jesus showed up at Mary and Martha’s house – four days too late to heal Lazarus – he did not answer the many questions of  “why” weren’t you here? “Why didn’t you heal Lazarus”? Why did you let him die? 

Instead, he revealed himself to Martha, and to us, saying, “I AM the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”This is the Good news for us too. Jesus proclaims eternal life to us and for us… even in our sorrow…our anxiety and our fear. 

And Jesus shares in all of our sorrows.  When gathered with Mary and Martha and the mourners at Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus was moved by compassion to tears.  Jesus felt their pain – and Jesus feels our pain. When we cry out in sorrow and grief, Jesus is with us, weeping too. 

This is very good - but it’s not the end of the story. Jesus surprised everyone by calling Lazarus back to life here on earth– ordinary life - and then calling the people around him, to “Unbind him” and let him go. 

Brothers and sisters – as I look out onto an empty sanctuary… thinking and praying for all of you, I yearn and I know you yearn, to be called back into “ordinary life,” too.  We hope and pray for a quick return to life without the fear of the corona virus infecting us and those that we love. 

And that day will come.  In the meantime, I urge you to trust in God even in the midst of the challenges that come our way. Jesus isn’t going to come like a super hero flying down to magically heal all of our ills but Jesus will not disappoint us. For we know the end of the story… and it is good. 

Jesus brings us both resurrection and life – ordinary life now – and one day eternal life with Jesus forever. THIS is Good News. THIS is the promise God that, in Christ has given and it is given for you. Thanks be to God. Amen. 

Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane

Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church

Sermon for Sunday, March 29,2020

1~ Martin Luther.   From Martin Luther, Works v. 43, p. 132. Letter "Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague" written to Rev. Dr. John Hess.

COVID-19 Update

Dear Friends in Christ,
I am so eager for us to join together personally for worship and fellowship and to be together. But, in the meantime, we have also included prayers, scripture and devotions for you in this worship bag and invite you to join us virtually for worship. Please go to our website: faithlilacway.org to join us for online worship.
 

Devotions
Jesus said “I am with You

 
Let’s pray:
Dear God, in this uncertain time in which we are not able to gather physically as a community, unite us with your Holy Spirit, comfort us when we are hurting, sick, lonely and afraid. Help us find our way, trusting always in your mercy and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
The scripture that came to mind, for such a time as this, is the passage at the end of the Gospel of Matthew. Just before Jesus ascends into heaven and departs from the disciples, he gives them a few words of encouragement and a mission: 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 28:16-20
 
Jesus gives these words to his disciples when he was about to physically leave them. And yet, he knew that they – and we – would need some help. As you see in the scripture above, even though the disciples worshipped Jesus, some doubted. Jesus knew that they would – and that they would need help to carry on both the ministry and their community of faith. And so he promised, I will be with you – ALWAYS. And then, Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to abide, to live with us.
 
In these days of unknowing how or when or how hard the Covid-19 virus will hit our community and our loved ones we are asked to shelter in place and to practice “social distancing.” It’s hard to feel alone. But Jesus reminds us that he is always with us. So, I want to remind you that this promise of Jesus is stronger and more abiding than any power – and certainly stronger than a virus like Covid19. Jesus is with us and will help us to get through this – however long it takes.
 
It is hard to practice “social distancing”. It is hard when our world is changing so fast, right before our eyes and our “normal” is disrupted, people are being laid off, stores are shuttered and we don’t know how long this will last. But, in the midst of it, remember, we are not alone. Jesus promises to be with us – always.
 
I admit it is very frustrating that we can’t gather together as we usually do. However, Bishop Ann reminds us that what is being called “social distancing” is actually a call for “physical distancing” and that we can and should seek ways to connect socially – in safe ways.
 
We are seeking to do this. If you have access to the internet, please check out our website: www.faithlilacway.org for a way in which you can join us for an online worship service. We are new to this, so it will begin with a recorded service for March 22. But we are also posting on our Facebook page and putting sermons and reflections on our website and contacting you through email and by phone or text
or by Zoom. Zoom is an online service for video meetings – all you need is a smart phone or a computer. Vicar Becca and I are trying to reach out to you all in these and other ways that are safe.
 
But I also encourage you to reach out to us and to one another. Sometimes you can make a person’s day, simply by picking up the phone and calling someone.
 
I look forward to worshipping in person with you again soon. But in the meantime, I hope we can connect in one of these other ways.
 
Even though we cannot be physically together, remember that God promises to be with us – always. In Genesis, God gave the promise to Abraham, “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go” (Gen.28:15) and in Matthew, Jesus tells the disciples “I am with you always”.
 
Finally, a blessing for you: May God surround you with grace and peace in the midst of these challenging times and the knowledge of God’s presence with you always. Amen.
Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane

Pastoral letter on Corona Virus and FLW building closures

Dear friends in Christ,

The news about the Coronavirus is unfolding quickly and things are changing rapidly. Heeding the guidance to practice physical distancing and recognizing our responsibility to those who are most at risk and vulnerable, the council and I are cancelling church for at least this Sunday and for all of the Wednesday Night Soup Suppers and Dinner Church. We do this not out of fear but out of love for the neighbor.
 
At this time, we need to exercise an abundance of caution. This virus is extremely contagious. The medical and health communities have asked all people not to gather in large groups in close proximity to one another. This applies especially to those who are considered the most vulnerable for this disease – which includes babies and pregnant women and people who are over 60 years old and people with other health concerns. That list covers a lot of people in our congregation.

We are choosing to not hold worship services on Sunday, March 15 and on Wednesday nights through April 1 because of our care and compassion for one another and for our neighbor.
 
We may be cancelling other events in future weeks so please stay tuned. Anne and Ann Marie will be talking about music rehearsals and reaching out to choir members.
 
Now is the time for us to be creative in the way that we connect. Vicar Becca and I will be sending out reflections and prayers for this troubled time in as many forms as we can. The council is exploring ways to do our business without gathering in person. We also want to hear from you! Our cell phones work, so do not hesitate to call. We are going to be learning to be church-together even when we are not physically together.
 
One of the implications of cancelling our Sunday morning worship, is that we will not be taking an offering on Sunday morning. However, our bills will still come and we don’t want to get behind. So, even when we are not worshiping on a Sunday morning face-to-face, please mail your contribution or send it electronically. Also, knowing that our income may be impacted, we invite those who are able to give an extra gift to the church to help us through this time.
 
In such a time as this, it is natural to be anxious and afraid. But just as the angel at the tomb told Mary, “Do not be afraid,” let us hold onto and remember these Biblical verses:

Psalm 121: 1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?
                          My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
 
Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God"
 
Romans 8: 38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
Prayers for times such as these:
Gracious God, when disease and trials come, help us to be wise in our actions, loving in our words and confident in our faith in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
 
Pastor Pam and Faith-Lilac Way Council and staff

March 8, 2020 Sermon: Words to Remember

The Gospel according to John the 3rdChapter: 

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, "You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

 Words to Remember and Sing

The Bible contains some bedrock-solid verses that are worth memorizing and putting to music and saying and singing again and again and again. There are verses in the Bible that, as your pastor, I want you to memorize – not because you have pass a test to get into heaven or so that you could be confirmed (although I know that some of you had to memorize scripture or catechism in your Confirmation classes.) No, I want you to memorize these scriptures because… if not today… then some day… when you are hurting or someone that you love is hurting… I want you to be able to have on your lips and in your heart these words of hope, love, assurance and grace. 

Today’s lessons have two such verses – or rather two pairs of verses. 

The first is from our Psalm for today, which the choir sang, Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”  Those are the first two verses and, if you haven’t already, I invite you to learn them, to memorize them, to put them by your bed to read at night or in the morning.  

These are good words to know, to repeat so often that they become part of your DNA.  And the easiest way to memorize something is to sing it. 

Afterall, isn’t it true - our minds are full of little jingles?—especially ads. I still remember – and I bet you do too -- some ear worm jingles, like: “pop pop fizz fizz oh what a relief it is” and an ad for catfood -even though I don’t own a cat. I bet you can sing it too. There’s only one word: meow, meow, meow, meow…. but I don’t want to remember the jingle for alkaseltzer or cat food or even for hotdogs… remember: “I wish I were an Oscar Myer Weiner…everyone would be in love with me.” OR the coke song which even became a hit peace song… Remember “I’d like to teach the world to sing?” 

The words that you sing are the words that come back to you. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately – and asked Anne and Ann Marie to be thinking and looking for jingles that feed your soul and put an ear worm of grace in your head. Although you will still probably have the words to popular music and ads in your head… it is my hope that you will also have words of scripture to keep on singing throughout the week. 

At our clergy text study we had a conversation about Psalm 121. One pastor said, “I use Psalm 121 as a word of comfort when people are dying.” Another said, “Oh! I don’t use it then – I always use Psalm 121 for people who have trouble when they are living.”  This is a Psalm for helping us get through life!

It’s both, right. We need to be reminded in those times when we are weary… when we don’t think we can take another step forward and at those times when we are mourning and hurting that “help comes from the Lord”.  

The rest of the Psalm is wonderful too…  it proclaims that the Lord will watch over you. The Lord will not slumber or sleep. The Lord will keep hold of you – both your going out and your coming in.

For those nights in which you cannot sleep because you are anxious, afraid, worried or just so caught up in the challenges of daily life that you cannot rest – on those days, I invite you to read the whole of Psalm 121and trust the night and the day’s worries to the Lord who promises to stay awake and watch over you and watch out for you. 

This was a good psalm for me, when my mother was beginning to fail last year. As I sat by her bedside, waiting, watching, and praying, often I turned to Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills… from where will my help come. My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”   

In a completely different context, the words came to me again late last summer as I was hiking with my family up a mountain to Cloudy pass… it was really steep but there was nowhere but up to go. So I sang – not out loud because I didn’t have that much breath – “I want Jesus to walk with me” and then the words again and again, “I lift up my eyes to the hills… from where will my help come from?” And the answer: “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” And I took one step after another. Slowly, but surely, we got to the top. 

Living or dying – facing a crisis or just needing assurance -- the words of Psalm 121 are words to remember and hold onto. 

The other words that I encourage you to memorize are from today’s Gospel. “I’m guessing many of you have memorized these words already:  John 3:16. Please turn to the Gospel lesson in your bulletin so that you can say them with me. You may have memorized them in a different translation – recite or read whichever version you know: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” 

These words have been called the Gospel in a nutshell. Jesus says – God loved the world – and in that time the world was as crazy and full of hate and strife as it is now.  Yet God loved the world then and loves the world and all of the people in it now even though we make such a mess of it. God loves the world and us all so much that God sent God’s son – Jesus Christ – to give us life that lasts forever… This is God’s grace. And God gives it - freely – for you and for me. 

But sometimes… these gracious words have been used as judgement instead of Gospel good news. So, we need to read and learn the next verse too because in John 3:17, Jesus tells us what he means. Let’s read it together:  

"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

The world was messed up already. But God’s purpose in sending Jesus Christ is to save the world.

These are words to hang onto. These are bedrock words of God’s redeeming Grace – and they are given… for you and for your neighbor. These are words that are given to people who are young, who are old, who are black, brown, white or any other color and people of every heritage. These are words that are given to people who are our friends – and who are our enemies. Through Jesus Christ, God’s love reaches out to the whole world -- not to condemn but to save us – all of us and to give us eternal life. Thanks be to God who loves us so much that he died for us and for the world that we may live.

Most Lutherans wish they knew more scripture to back up what they believe in their heart and have been taught all their lives about God’s love and grace. Here are four verses – two sets of two scriptures that are worth knowing, worth memorizing, worth singing: Psalm 121 vs 1and 2

 and John 3:16 and 17. Say them and sing them… often and God’s message of grace and hope and assurance will be there for you in the times when you need them most. For these scriptures aresteadfast promises of God’s grace and love and they are given for you and all people. And all God’s people said, Amen. 

Pastor Pamela Stalheim Lane + Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran + March 8, 2020

Abigail

Abigail – story is from 1 Samuel 25. 

This story is about the courageous action and words of a woman named Abigail. But a little backstory might be helpful because few people know the story about Abigail but you may remember a few OT stories about David – he was the one who God chose to be King when he was but a shepherd boy. He was the one who killed the giant-sized Philistine called Goliath with a single stone. He was the one who became king of Israel and from whose family came Jesus.   

At the time of our story, David has been anointed as king by the prophet but… he is not yet King. Instead, he is leading an army of 600 men. They are protecting the country from outsiders – like the Philistines. But they are also waiting to make David their King. As you can imagine, rebel armies aren’t always good neighbors – but instead of stealing the sheep, they have been providing security for the shepherds of the local landowner named Nabel and his wife, Abigail. Nabel was rich and influential and of the same tribe as David but he was also known to be rather brutish and mean. His name means “Fool”. Abigail, on the other hand, was an intelligent, attractive and well regarded woman. 

It was shearing time  - which meant it was like a harvest time, in which everyone celebrated the harvest of sheep and grain and had a big celebration – like at Thanksgiving. Knowing that there would be an abundance of food and drink, and also knowing that the people of Israel valued hospitality – sharing with the neighbor and the stranger who came to their door, David sent a delegation of 10 men from his army to Nabel, asking if he would share some of their feast with them, reminding Nabel that they had been providing security for him. 

But, instead of welcoming them or even politely saying no, Nabel insulted David and his men, accusing them of being runaway slaves and not even acknowledging their work protecting the harvest. Remember – his name meant “Fool.” 

When the delegation reported back to David, he was angry. He commanded his army: “Strap on your swords.” And headed toward’s Nabel’s home – with 400 of his soldiers. He swore to take revenge for Nabel’s insults. 

But, one of Nabel’s shepherds heard how Nabel had treated David’s delegation and got wind that David and his army were headed their way on a murderous mission of revenge. So he went to Abigail and told her the story, begging her to do something to save them. 

When Abigail heard the story, she flew into action and had her servants load onto donkeys two hundredloaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep dressed outand ready for cooking, a bushel of roasted grain, a hundred raisin cakes, and two hundred fig cakes and head towards David’s camp. She followed. 

When Abigail saw David on the road, she quickly got off her donkey and fell facedown before him, bowing low to the ground and said, “Put the blame on me, my master! But please listen to what your servant has to say. Pay no attention to Nabal. His name means fool, and that he is! But I myself, your servant, didn’t see the young men that you, my master, sent. I pledge, my master, as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, that the Lord has held you back from bloodshed and taking vengeance into your own hands! … Here is a gift, which I, your servant, have brought to my master. Please let it be given to the young men who follow you, my master. 

And David said, “Blessed be God, the God of Israel. He sent you to meet me! And blessed be your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and taking charge of looking out for me. A close call! As God lives, the God of Israel who kept me from hurting you, if you had not come as quickly as you did, stopping me in my tracks, by morning there would have been nothing left of Nabal but dead meat.”

Then David accepted the gift she brought him and said, “Return home in peace. I’ve heard what you’ve said and I’ll do what you’ve asked.”

This is not a story that we often read. But in this story, Abigail acts quickly to protect her family and her community, confronting David with the word of God and bringing peace both to her family and to David and his men. 

Abigail had access to some resources to give  - did you hear how much food she had at hand?  and she dared to speak up when she saw the violence and wrongdoing that was about to happen. 

She also reminds David that vengeance belongs to the Lord God. It is not his job – or ours - to seek revenge. Abigail’s words saved David from killing a whole community of distant relatives.  If he had killed them, his future role as king of Israel may have been compromised. But Abigail, in her actions and in her words, speaks as a prophet, reminding David of who he is and who he can be. And that he can follow God’s will – and not his own. Finally, she said, “When you are king, remember me.” 

There is a little post-script to this story. When Abigail gave away all of the food to David and his men, she didn’t tell Nabal. When she came back, he was throwing a party and was in a great mood but also very drunk. Abigail waited until the next morning, when he was sober. Then, after she told him everything, “Nabal’s heart failed inside him… and he became like a stone.” Ten days later, he died. 

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he remembered what Abigail had said: The Lord says, ‘Vengence is mine’” and he was glad she kept him from murdering the whole village out of revenge. He also remembered her request – remember me. He wasn’t king yet, but he knew that she, as a widow, would not have any standing in the community, and so he sent a messenger, asking her to marry him. Abigail agreed.  

What I like about Abigail, is that she is a biblical model of moral courage – she dared to speak up. It would have been unusual for a woman to speak up and challenge a man in any culture – especially with 400 men holding swords behind him. But this was especially true in that time. And, she didn’t just protest the wrong that he was doing, she offered an alternative.  She was a peace-maker

Peace – in Hebrew the word means both wholeness and wellbeing. It is the way that people greet one another, and the way that they leave each other, wishing each other not just hello and goodbye but that the peace of God be with them.  

As I was reflecting on this story of a brave woman in a different time and place, I wondered about how her example could speak to us in our time, in our community – and our country. I wonder how, like Abigail we can be God’s people, speaking up with moral courage and providing an alternative to violence – acting as peace-makers. How can we be people who not only pray for peace but seek wholeness and wellbeing both for ourselves – and our neighbor. 

This is one of the things that I hope the new Wildfire faith-based community organizer will help us to do. Much is broken in our community and in our country: too much violence; too much hurt that needs healing. It is my prayer that with the help of an organizer, we can seek God’s will and God’s way to bring greater peace and wholeness in our community. God worked through Abigail, inspiring her to act with moral courage, and dare to challenge the violence that David planned and, using her resources, offering a different, peaceful solution. God can work through us too. 

What are the things that are broken in our community?  What are things that we can do or offer to bring shalom wholeness and healing to our neighbor and in our community? 

It’s easy to think that the issues that are hurting our world are too big for us to tackle. But while there is a need for diplomats and governments to tackle global issues, there is also a need for people like you and me to do our part in our community.  Sometimes it starts with an Abigail rushing in to prevent violence. Sometimes it starts with one person, like Rosa Parks sitting down on a bus where other people said she didn’t belong. Other times it starts with you sharing the peace of Christ with your neighbor. Amen. 

You Are Blessed

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.  Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

You Are Blessed

Blessings.  What does it mean to be “blessed?”  One Christmas-letter writer thought that he knew and just had to share. He wrote:

“Dear friends…

Blessings! I’m sure you have been wondering why you haven’t heard from Lucy and me lately. But let me tell you how we have been blessed. We sold the business and a made a killing on it so we took early retirement and decided to travel. What a blessing! But that’s not all… while we were at a gas station with the Lamborghini, something made Lucy buy a single lottery ticket. She won! What a blessing. It was just 50 million or so and so we have been busy trying to use it! We bought a new place in New York and little vacation spot in Maui with 12 bedrooms on the seaside – it’s great to travel there with our new yacht– we bought a new one that could carry the Lamborghini.  Blessings on blessings.  The kids are a great blessing too. Mary is at Harvard and Tom is at Yale. Full scholarships for both of them.  Blessing on blessings.  Well… I won’t keep you… got a round of golf scheduled at our exclusive club.

P.S. Hope you enjoyed that tall tale. None of it is true. Lucy and I are still in our same rundown little old house, still working, picking up a night shift when we can. The kids are having problems at school. I thought about just sending the tall tale but was afraid you might believe it and think I was made of money.  But I’m not, so don’t ask. Just stop by for a cup of coffee.”  - John

That little letter made me think about: What does it mean to blessed?  Is being “blessed” the same as being as being happy?  Does it mean success?

Later today, some of you might be watching the Superbowl. I remember the first time… and the last time… that I really paid attention to the Superbowl. While I was in college, one of our professors, Earling Jorstad, invited our class to watch the Superbowl with him. Except… he wasn’t interested in the football. He was an American studies professor and he invited us to watch the commercials with him.  Superbowl commercials  are super expensive. This year, a 30 second spot will cost over $5 million dollars. And they command attention. My professor argued that they also reveal a lot about what our culture deems “successful” and “beautiful” and “blessed.”  

In Jesus’ sermon on the mount, he tells his disciples – and the crowd listening in – who God says is blessed.  And it doesn’t look a bit like a list of people who would have been considered “successful” then or now.  Instead of picking what society would call the “winners,” Jesus tells his disciples and all those listening in – including us – that the blessed are those who are " poor in spirit,” who mourn, who are meek.”  He also lifts up those who are doing God’s work, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and those who are merciful, and pure in heart, and peacemakers. These are admirable people. And then, Jesus lifts up those who stand up for him and God’s children – even to the point of persecution. In Jesus’ sermon, being blessed doesn’t sound like being made happy, it doesn’t sound like winning. It sounds dangerous.

Dr. David Lose, theologian and pastor, writes in his blog that “makarios,” the Greek word translated as “Blessed,” can be interpreted as meaning “happy” or “fortunate” but it can also mean “favored by God.”  We are “blessed” when we are in these difficult situations because that is when God favors us with God’s attention, caring for us.1   

Jesus says God blesses, pays attention to people, not when we are full of ourselves, when we think we have the world by its tail… when we don’t think we need any help, but rather when we are “poor in spirit” that is, when we are simply at the end of our rope, feeling empty, and ready to throw in the towel. Jesus says, at those times, know this… God is with you. Whether you know it or not, you are blessed with God’s favor, with God’s attention. God’s care and concern is for you.

Likewise, when we are mourning the loss of a loved one, God is WITH US, just as God has promised to be. If we are meek, having a difficult time speaking up, then God is with us, encouraging us.

It’s not that God wants us to be sad or to be in hard situations – but Jesus knows that we will be.  If we love someone… we will mourn their loss. The more we love, the more we mourn. And…  even if we can give thanks that our loved one is no longer in pain or that they are in God’s care, still… we mourn our loss.  I’ve been there – you have been there.  And… in the midst of it…. God is there too.

God also blesses those who are doing God’s work in the world – even when it is not popular. God blesses those who challenge injustice, seeking righteousness, peace, justice and God’s way. One person can’t do it all. But joining together, we can make a difference. After all, God doesn’t limit God’s blessings.

This past year, Deacon Kirsten led us in protesting injustice right here on the corner of 42nd and Welcome. We called attention to the problems that Cherish All Children addresses – holding signs proclaiming that God does not want sexual trafficking of children. We held candles when someone was killed by gunfire. Our little corner protests and vigils maybe don’t seem like much. We got a few honks and waves. But it is a proclamation of God’s way of peace and justice rather than the world’s way of violence and injustice.

Again, it may not seem like much. But don’t discount it because I remember that what started as a little candlelight vigil in a church in Leipzig, Germany…. led to more people… and then more people… and then….the Berlin Wall came down. How did that happen?  All I can say is: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

There is so much injustice in the world – then and now. We aren’t going to rid the world of it. But maybe we can do something about our corner and our neighbor’s corner. And not only that… but, knowing that God’s blessings come to those who are in difficult times, when we see someone else who feels as if God has abandoned them  – maybe it is of the rawness of the pain or the emptiness of their heart and soul or because of the seeming indifference of the world to the plight of God’s hurting children…  then we can be there to say: God is With YOU… God is with US… even now…especially now.

And this is why we can rejoice – even if we have tears running down our faces. Because, despite the challenges of this world and of our lives, God is with us. Jesus never promises that following him will be easy. Jesus never promises “success” or “happiness” in the way that the world defines it. But Jesus does promise a relationship with God that transcends all the kingdoms of this world.  And this is why we can dare to rejoice, be glad and sing.  Thanks be to God! Amen.

Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane

Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church

February 2, 2020

1David Lose, In the Meantime, Where Faith Meets Everyday Life  www.davidlose.net

Follow & Be a Witness

Matthew 4:12-23

12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 "Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." 17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 

Follow & Be a Witness

Lalapalooza. That was the name of an enormous ice cream Sundae available at Farrell’s ice cream parlor. There used to be a Farrell’s around here. It was a fun chain that had restaurants around the country, including California, where Diana, a woman that I met a few years ago, grew up. Diana told me that when she was 8, she and her family were celebrating her birthday at Farrell’s and she had just gotten a lalapalooza when she heard a large explosion. The restaurant was located near a small airport like Crystal airport and a small airplane had crashed into the restaurant. A fire started. There was smoke everywhere. In the chaos that erupted, Diana’s family got separated. As a fire fighter led her and her little brother to safety, Diana looked back at the fire and saw firefighters going back into the restaurant and bringing more people to safety and she said to herself. “I want to do that.” 

A woman of about my size, she ended up studying finance instead. She married and lived very happily in California. Until… one day her husband was transferred to Ohio. The whole family moved and she got a job in a very prestigious financial firm.  Everything seemed fine… the kids were doing well… but… Diana was not content. She had grown up Buddhist and there were no Buddhist temples in the area of Ohio where she lived – so they joined a church. She explained to me that Buddhism as she practiced it is more of a way of living than a faith. And… she wanted community. 

Diana and her family found not only community in that congregation – they were introduced to Jesus. As she grew in faith, she kept wanting to know more about Jesus. Long story short, the family ended up moving again, this time to Bloomington, MN where Diana enrolled in Luther Seminary. But then…she read that Bloomington was looking for volunteer firefighters. After discovering that she could be a firefighter – her childhood dream – if she passed the strenuous tests…. she signed up.  She was 45 years old. 

Despite the negative comments of her classmates, Diana worked hard. She passed her tests. She became a volunteer firefighter. She was also still in Seminary. She found herself volunteering on the firefighters emergency help line, a service that firefighters can call when they are struggling from depression – something that often happens when firefighters can’t save someone from a fire. They blame themselves.  As a firefighter, and using her pastoral care gifts, Diana is able to relate to and care for them.  

Jesus called Diana – through a surprising and unexpected path – to be both a firefighter and one who shares the Good News of Jesus, her savior.  

A few years ago, I met a former drug dealer, a gang member from Chicago. He grew up in a broken home and was in trouble from the time he was 11. But his fast-paced freewheeling criminal life came to a halt one day. He was down on his luck and out of money. His future looked grim- and he was hungry. So, he walked into a dinner hosted by the Salvation Army.  And somehow … the Holy Spirit got ahold of him. Someone told him about Jesus… and recovery. And he listened. 

Today Josue is a Deacon and the drummer in the band of Tapestry, a bilingual – Spanish/English community of faith in South Minneapolis. He works with people in recovery and people on the street. He teaches them life skills and tells them he used to live a rough and tough life, but Jesus called him out of his life of darkness.  Now he is busy spreading the light and love of Christ. 

Jesus calls people out of unusual circumstances to follow. Raised in a Buddhist family, Diana never guessed that she would be called to be a pastor, to share God’s Good News. She wanted to be a firefighter. She never dreamed that she would be called as both a pastor and a firefighter. Josue couldn’t imagine himself serving God. But when Jesus called him to follow… his life turned around. 

But Jesus doesn’t only call people like Diana and Josue. And Jesus doesn’t only call pastors. 

Elsie Olson would never have considered herself an evangelist. She was a quiet older lady who took her turn on the altar guild, brought a hotdish to the potluck and taught my preschool Sunday school class. I adored Mrs. Olson. She never raised her voice. She simply told the story of Jesus, taught us to sing Jesus Loves Me and gave us coloring sheets - and never scolded me for coloring outside the lines. 

Elsie Olson wasn’t the first person who told me about Jesus. But she was one of a whole line of witnesses who encouraged me in faith and shared her love of God in simple, seemingly ordinary actions. 

Who are the people in your life who have told you about Jesus? Who showed you, by their witness – in word and in deed – that they are a follower of Christ? Who encouraged you? Who prayed for you?  I’m guessing… I’m hoping… that you, like me, have had many people that you could name both in this congregation and in other communities of faith that have been witnesses of God’s love and encouraged you in faith. 

Jesus calls the least likely people – like Diana and Josue.  And Jesus calls ordinary people like Peter and Andrew and Elsie Olson and… Jesus calls you and you and you and me. Jesus calls you and you’all to follow and to fish for people, that is, to be witnesses in word and in deed of the love and light of Christ. 

Regardless of what gifts God has given you – and they are many--you, like Elsie Olson, can follow Jesus and be a witness of Christ in your everyday life. Diana told me that while she was a financial planner, her pastor would tell her: “You can go and be the light of Christ in the boardroom where you work. I can’t go there. So be the light wherever you are.”

This is the life to which you – we – are called: to follow Jesus and to be the light wherever you are. We are called to encourage one another – and our extended families and networks -- with the love and light of Christ.  We are called to dare to speak up and shine a light on the darkness in our world. We are called to tell those who don’t know the Jesus that we know -- that Jesus’ love that extends to ALL PEOPLE, including them. We are called to share the love of Jesus with those who are too busy, too poor, too angry, or too unlike us.  We are called to tell the story even when it is uncomfortable. You/ We are called to live as children of God. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane – Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church – January 26, 2020

Point to, Name the, Proclaim the, Encounter with & Changed by: The Lamb of God

Point to, Name the, Proclaim the, Encounter with & Changed by: The Lamb of God

Thirteen words. That’s how many words were used to preach the first documented sermon about the person and mission of Jesus Christ, and humanity’s need for him. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Thirteen words--that’s all that John the Baptist needed to preach a great sermon, now tell me, when’s the last time you heard a Baptist, or a Lutheran, or any kind of pastor for that matter, preach a sermon with only a baker’s dozen vocabulary? Can’t think of any? Me neither. And let me tell ya, it’s not going to happen today either since my word count is already at one-hundred-nine and I haven’t even really started yet!

Thirteen words for John’s sermon, and it’s going to take me about 13 minutes to explain it in my sermon. But I’m going to break down this thirteen-word-sermon and the continuing effects of that sermon using five words: Point. Name. Proclaim. Encounter. Changed.

Write them down if you’d like.  Point. Name. Proclaim. Encounter. Changed.

[POINTS]

First, John the preacher points. This is an epiphany action paired with an epiphany word—Behold! Look! [clap-clap] yoo-hoo! Listen up, people! I’m about to say something important! John the preacher yells to us with the same urgency and intensity as one would yell if a frozen hockey puck ricocheted off the boards and into the stands! Heads up! Hey! Look out! John the preacher grabs our attention and points his long bony finger away from himself and then names the subject of his sermon.

[NAMES]

Behold! Here is Jesus the Lamb of God Like the image of the bald eagle is to America, so is the lamb the quintessential symbol of God’s people, Israel. Jewish law specified that many different animals could be used for certain ritual sacrifices--rams, goats, bulls, birds, and such--but lambs, were indicated more than any other animal. A sacrificial lamb, killed on the altar, atoned for the sins of the individual and the entire community.

Lamb imagery also hearkens back to the Exodus, the story of the Passover, when lamb’s blood was painted on the doors, protecting the Israelites from the angel of death and paving a path to freedom. The image of a lamb represented the continual act of God rescuing God’s people from oppression.

Jesus as the Lamb of God, however, is significant beyond the confines of Hebrew history and law. Naming Jesus the Lamb of God symbolizes the juxtaposition of God’s might and power. A symbol of God showing up in unexpected, surprising and yet familiar ways. Jesus, the Lamb of God, the embodiment of God, shows up not like a fierce and feared conqueror, but like a lamb--meek, innocent, vulnerable, disarming, inviting.

[PROCLAIMS]

He got our attention, he named the subject, so now with the final eight words John tells us why he’s interrupted our-regularly-scheduled-programmed-lives: to proclaim why this world consumed by sin so desperately needs this Lamb of God to take that sin away.

Sin is such a loaded word, sometimes Often, I think we either over-complicate it or just try to ignore it all together. So let me put the use a different term: sin is brokenness, and this world is overwhelmed with brokenness. Brokenness within ourselves, brokenness in our relationships with others, and brokenness in our relationship with God. John, in this little sermon, diagnoses sin and as the problem of our broken world. This is the first part of proclamation--the part that leaves you feeling discouraged and deflated.

It’s important to acknowledge our sin, see our limitations, admit what we are not, that we cannot save ourselves from this broken condition. When we understand our own helplessness, only then can we finally hear the second part of proclamation, the freeing words of the gospel fully proclaimed: Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin and brokenness of the world—the whole world! This was good news for John’s followers along the Jordan, and it continues to be good news for you and me and for all the world and everything in it. Behold the Lamb of God who restores relationship and wholeness in this broken world.

The Greek translation proclaims not only what the Lamb of God does, but also how he does it. The word airo (ah-ee-ro) is one word in Greek, and it means “to take away,” “remove”; and it also means “to lift up,” “to bear,” “to raise.”[1] The Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world as he is lifted up upon the cross, bearing the sin of the world, and raising us up to new life.

Point. Name. Proclaim. Thirteen words to preach the gospel. But the sermon doesn’t end there. The preached Word of God is a living and active Word. It’s a Word that sends you out to seek the Lamb of God who invites you to “come and see.” And when you encounter the Lamb of God, when Jesus pulls you into relationship with Him, you are forever changed.

[Encounter, Changed-Disciples]

For the two disciples, the preached Word sent them away from their “home congregation” to follow Jesus down a dusty road. “What are you seeking?,” Jesus asks them [v. 38]. All they know is that they are seeking HIM. So they ask him as much--“Rabbi, where are you staying or where are you abiding[2]?” Jesus invites them to “Come and See” [v. 39]. So they went and saw where Jesus was abiding and they spent the day abiding with him.

This encounter with the living Christ changed them forever-- it changed them into preachers and it changed their identities. Verse 40 tells us that the first thing the disciple Andrew did was find his brother Simon so he could tell him “we have found the Messiah/Christ/Anointed One.” But it wasn’t enough just to tell him, Andrew also had to show him. Andrew brought his brother to Jesus so that he too could encounter and be changed by the Lamb of God.

For Simon, encountering the living Christ changed his whole identity. No longer was he named Simon, Son of John. No longer was he identified by his heritage or family relationships, but his identity was transformed, changed from Simon to Peter, The Rock—he’s given a new name reflecting his new calling after his encounter with Christ.

[ENCOUNTER and CHANGED-US]

            John’s sermon and the effects of this sermon didn’t end with those first disciples. Point. Name. Proclaim. Encounter. Changed. These five words, the form and effect of the preached Word of God that has been cycled and repeated far beyond the banks of the river Jordan, spreading the message of Jesus to every corner of the earth, through every time and age for thousands of years. This is the ripple effect of the preached word which points, names, and proclaims, leading to encounters with Christ that leave you changed--this sermon, this living and active Word of God is still alive today. You and me—we too, are changed by our encounters with the living Christ.

            The disciples encountered Jesus on the road, we encounter Jesus in the word, water, wine, and bread. Hearing God’s Word changes you into a preacher--maybe not from a pulpit or by the banks of a river, but a preacher nonetheless. When you hear the Word, it doesn’t stay entombed in your body. It’s living and breathing and active and you are changed, transformed into a mouthpiece, your voice speaks the Word—You, like John the Baptist, like Andrew the disciple, you are changed into a person who cannot help but sharing the transformative, relational love of God through Christ Jesus.

            Along with the Word, we also encounter Jesus in the sacramental elements. Come and see, Jesus says. Come and splash in the waters of fountain! In baptism we encounter the living, crucified, and resurrected Christ and we become inheritors of his death and his resurrection. As the water pours over your head you are forever changed—renamed and claimed as a beloved child of God.

We encounter Christ at the sacrament at the altar. Come and see, come and taste, Jesus says—come and taste the goodness of the Lord in the wine and the bread. Come to the table and be nourished by my body and blood, taste the forgiveness of sins, taste the restoration of the brokenness within you, gather at the table as a beloved family of God.

In the Word, water, wine, and bread we encounter—again and again the living Christ, the Lamb of God—and through this encounter we are forever changed. This new identity does not stay hidden, but bursts forth from our bodies, this new identity is a new calling—calling us to point, to name, to proclaim, to encounter and be changed by the Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Behold the Lamb of God—given for you.

Amen.

     Vicar Rebecca Holland

2nd Sunday After Epiphany

Year A, John 1:29-42

Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church

Robbinsdale, MN

[1] Strong’s Greek 142;αιρω (ah’-ee-ro) https://biblehub.com/greek/142.htm

[2] Strong’s Greek 3306; μενω (men-oh): stay, abide, remain, await https://biblehub.com/greek/3306.htm

Epiphanies Still Come

Matthew 2: 2 - 12 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Epiphanies Still Come

Matthew’s recounting of the visit of the magi – often called kings or “wise men”- inspires wonder… and questions. Who were those strange visitors from the East?

One of my favorite theologians, Mark Allen Powell, explores this scripture text and makes a couple of observations: There are two very different kings in the story. King Herod who claimed power and might and Jesus, who had come into the world as a poor, vulnerable baby.   

The Magi, Powell asserts, aren’t kings. The Magi were travelers, seekers. They may have been Zoroastrian priests or astronomers or astrologers. Clearly, they knew about the stars, but they weren’t independently wise. Instead, they were dependent upon others for information. They went to the king for directions (clearly not a wise thing to do). The “wise men” were King Herod’s advisers, the chief priests and teachers of the law. They knew their tradition: the Messiah, the King, would be born in Bethlehem. They - the chief priests and lawyers--  had knowledge. They could point the Magi in the right direction. But they didn’t have eyes to see.

The Magi didn’t see at first either. But once they left the lights of Jerusalem, the star again led them, this time right to the Christ child. Suddenly the Magi understood. It was an “epiphany.”  An Epiphany is a sudden revelation, an “ah ha” moment, a manifestation of the divine.

In response, the Magi knelt. They paid homage. They gave their gifts. And, when they saw Jesus -  they were filled with joy.

The light has come into the world. But not everyone has eyes to see it. Often, in the Gospel stories, like the story of the visit of the Magi, star gazing foreigners, God’s light is revealed to the stranger, the outsider, the unexpected.  The “wise” and learned advisers to King Herod couldn’t see it. King Herod – despite his power – or maybe because of it – was filled with anxiety and fear instead of joy.

Epiphanies – aha moments -- still come. These are moments in which the light of God’s love, the light of Christ is revealed to us….

A few years ago, my family and I were travelers, seeking the light. Specifically, we were seeking a spot to watch the solar eclipse. We were a little late in our planning, so as I called hotel after hotel, we discovered that there was … “no room at the inn”. Some cities and towns were so afraid of being overrun with solar eclipse fans that they had put out warnings that cars would be ticketed and towed if they stopped. Others were afraid of gas shortages.   But finally, we found a little town that said, “Welcome!  Come!” Of course, all the nearby campgrounds and hotels were full and the closest hotel room was several hours away. But we made an over-priced reservation and got up in the dark early hours of the morning to drive to the little town.  Our car joined a few others as we traveled with our headlights breaking the darkness like pilgrims carrying candles down a deep, dark canyon road.

We parked on the dried-up grass near the town’s park and set out our travel chairs. Soon others joined us. An older couple with a little boy, clearly the grandson, parked next to us. He was overly excited and full of questions. The grandfather patiently and quietly answered every one. 

And people kept coming. They would drive in – in all sorts of vehicles and unload chairs or put down their tailgate. But then… I noticed, after people got set up, they began greeting one another, “Hey, where are you from?” Have you ever seen an eclipse before?  No one asked about another’s job or status – whether they were conservative or liberal. Suddenly we were all part of one community. As the sky began to turn into a 365 degree sunset and the air began to cool, people stopped talking and just looked up. And as the eclipse happened… there was a moment of silence and then… JOY! Cheers! Amazement as the corona danced around the edge of the moon.

The light has come into the world. We were in amazement… and all we had to do, to see it, was to look up. It was an Epiphany.

It is all too easy on these dark cold days of winter, to look down instead of up and to be filled with anxiety, fear, and sadness – instead of joy and amazement.  Our country is divided over many issues and new worries keep arising. Over the last few days, as I’ve been listening to the news, I’ve been worried about what would happen in the Middle East. When would the saber rattling and the revenge killings stop?  Will we be at war?

It’s easy to get anxious. But maybe we can take a lesson from the Magi. It wasn’t a time of peace then either. It was dangerous to travel, to be a foreigner. And yet… they came – not to conquer another people or advance their own agenda. But, instead, they brought gifts to share. They took a risk and simply followed the star, not knowing where it would lead.

Again,  Epiphanies – aha moments---  still come. The light of God’s love, the light of Christ continues to be revealed to us. Jesus comes in ways that He has promised to come and be with us: In water and the Word, and in bread and wine.  But that is not all. The light of Christ is revealed to us in the wonder of the world around us… and in the knowledge that God often uses the least likely people to do God’s work, to be God’s voice, and to walk in God’s light…

So now the question is this: Remembering that God uses the least likely people, what would you bring to the manger?  Maybe you will pray for a child through our cherish all children program; maybe you will shovel the walk for your neighbor or maybe you will bake cookies and visit a shut-in or maybe you will make a financial donation – and put your financial resources to work helping someone.  All of these gifts are welcomed by the Christ Child. But maybe… today you worry that you have nothing to offer… and so today you put in the basket your self – your broken heart, your worries and your cares. Christ welcomes your gift too. Whatever it is today, Christ blesses and then mends and molds each gift to provide light and love to the world. 

Let me leave you with the poetry of a writer, Katie Cook:

Let us go in peace now;
We have brought our gifts to the manger—
and for some of us
it was merely our broken selves—
but now, like the shepherds,
we must go back to our fields;
like the magi,
we must go home another way.

Let us go in peace now;
May this Holy Child guide our steps
into the new year

The Love of a King

The Love of a King 

I love the Christmas story and the carols that we sing. It is a story that never grows old, a story that has new life as God’s children of all ages in churches all over the world tell the Good news of the birth of Jesus, son of God, mighty Lord and King of Kings.

Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher and theologian, told a story about another king who was wise and had ruled well. His land was at peace and all were content  - except the king. 

This King had become a king at an early age. His parents died of a fever that swept through the land when he was a young man. But he was prepared. When he was young, he had been schooled well  - and allowed to play with the children in the courtyard as well as the young princes and princesses who visited. His parents had also provided wise counselors to help and guide him in his role as King. 

The King had a lively social life. He was quite popular and went to balls and danced with all of the young princesses in the land.Yet… he had not found someone to share his life.  Then one day he found himself looking out the window to his courtyard, remembering fondly the days when he was a child and able to run and play freely. And, as he looked out, he saw a young woman. She was beautiful and he was smitten. 

He called a trusted counselor and asked: who is this beautiful young woman? He was told, she was only a peasant. The king was heartbroken. Everyone knew - he knew — that kings did not marry peasants. 

Seeing his sadness, his counselor urged him to disguise himself and meet the young woman. Maybe she was beautiful but not very wise. Maybe she was already engaged? Maybe you will find out this isn’t love after all.

The king agreed. He disguised himself as a peasant and met the young woman. He did not reveal himself to her. But when he came back to see the counselor, he was even more sad.

The counselor took one look at him and said, “No need to be so sad. After all, you are the King. You are powerful enough. If this is what you really want to do,  go ahead and marry her.”

The King nodded silently… because another thought had occurred to him.  If he married the peasant girl, he would always be king - but would she ever be able to feel like his equal? She might admire him and respect him. But… could she ever really love him? The gap would be too great. She would always be conscious - and doubtless there would be those who would remind her - that he was royalty and she was a mere peasant. 

And then another thought occurred to him: what if… he resigned his kingship and become a peasant?  Then he could offer his love to her as one peasant to another. He was very excited about this plan and was about to call his counselor to begin the process. 

But then… the king realized that… regardless of how noble this might be, it could backfire.  She might reject him - especially if she thought him foolish for doing such a reckless thing as giving up his throne and power and the benefits that go with it.  Plus…didn’t  all the story books say that peasant girls always dreamed of being a princess?!  So she might reject him if he was only a peasant and then he would lose both his throne and the young woman he loved.  So what should he do?

What would you tell him to do? 

Love. Love is a crazy gift from God. Love grows like a weed without asking permission. Love does not follow the rules or listen to reason. It is not limited - it expands and multiplies each time a child is born, every time a  new relationship forms. Love gives and gives and gives and it is in the giving that it is nurtured. So.. what was the king to do? 

The King finally decided that he loved the peasant girl so much that he would risk everything. He resigned this kingship and went, as a peasant, to offer his hand in marriage to this young woman - all for the sake of love.

I’d like to say, “And they lived happily ever after.” But Kierkegaard never told how the story ended. Did the young woman accept the love of the king - who was now an ordinary peasant? Or did she call him foolish or crazy and turn her back on him? Kierkegaard doesn’t say. He doesn’t finish the story. 

Don’t you hate not knowing the end?  But Kierkegaard had his reasons for not finishing this story. It points to the story of another King.  

The King of heaven was in his Court looking out over the world. It was a sorry mess. Nations were fighting against other nations, people were pointing out differences rather than their common humanity. Each one was trying to “get ahead”…which meant leaving others behind. There was plenty for all and yet….some people were feasting - while others were starving.  The King of heaven looked out over the beautiful world and found it was filled with garbage and pain. And God’s heart broke. 

The King of Heaven cried out, “What am I to do with this stiff necked, hard hearted people? I send the snow in winter, the rain in summer and the sun to shine upon them all. I give an abundance of food for them to share. Why are they hungry? I gave them laws to help them live. What else can I do? 

The court gathered around. One angel said, “Send me! I’ll smite them with the sword if they don’t shape up.” Another angel said, “No. Send me. I’ll shake the earth until it trembles…They will soon be trembling with fear and awe. ” Still another said, “No send me - I’ll make the wind to blow and sea to churn until they are forced to hold on to one another and the hardness of their hearts is gone. ” 

Then God said, “What if I go myself? 

Suddenly… the court became silent. Finally, one of them dared to ask: “Why would you ever want to do that?” 

God smiled and said, “Because I love them.” 

Then the Word of God said, “Send me Father.” And God smiled and said, “Go my Son. Go as a child, a baby. You shall be “God incarnate,” God with flesh on. You shall live and walk; preach and proclaim the Word; heal the sick and sing and dance with my people.  And the people will know: God loves them. 

And so it was - Jesus was born to Mary on that Christmas night. You have heard the story of the King of Heaven’s great love for us - all of us. May you receive and then share the love of God, the King of the World who laid down his crown to lay in a manger and become our savior. Amen