The Light of the World - Sermon for Christmas Eve 2021

The Light of the World

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

Luke 2.1-20

At our staff meeting Wednesday, for devotions Andy asked us to think of a childhood memory from Christmas. That was easy for me since I’d been thinking about that subject for tonight’s message. I remembered that we got to open a present before dinner on Christmas Eve, had dinner and then went to church, and then we opened the rest of our presents when we got home. Furthermore, my parents were scrupulous about equality for each of us four siblings so much so that one year we all got identical clock radios. (I still had mine until it died a few years ago.) I recalled how my bachelor Uncle Floyd was always invited but insisted he would come “only if you don’t get me anything.” Of course, there was always a present for him under the tree. I especially remember one year I artfully disguised a gift for my sister Cheryl. She wanted a record album, but knew she would know it immediately if I wrapped it as is. So I made a cardboard tent over the album and then wrapped it. She had no idea and I took great pleasure in seeing her baffled several days before Christmas.

Simple memories from a simpler time. I’m guessing you all have your own memories. But I’m also guessing that the most cherished memories are the simplest. We don’t need to overly dramatize wonderful events because the best stories tell themselves, like the Christmas story. Though there are marvelous elements to the Christmas story, heavenly hosts that appear in the night sky for example, the power of the story is in its simplest form. Love in God-form comes down and takes on human-form to be with us. That God does so in the simplest of places to the simplest of people makes it a simply powerful story for all people.

As we have prepared for the celebration of Christmas, we have simply noted the themes of Advent leading to tonight’s story. During the first week of Advent, we noted the Signs of Hope that are present within us even as darkness grows. In the second week, we have trusted in Jesus as the Way of Peace in the wildernesses of our lives. Then in week three we have declared the power of Joy at Jesus’ coming to transform our lives. Finally in the fourth week we have seen how God’s Ordinary Love does the extraordinary. All of these themes come to focus tonight on Jesus as the Light of the World, the Light that no darkness can overcome.

Even so, we need to acknowledge that there’s a shadow that falls across the manger at Christmas time. We must admit that there are Christmases that aren’t as full of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and Light as we’d like. I remember the Christmas that my sister received her last doll. She knew she was getting too old for dolls as did my parents. It was time for that to end, yet it was bittersweet even as it was necessary. That may be a smaller shadow than some of you are experiencing this Christmas. There’s a shadow for some of you whose Christmas is blue. Perhaps it’s the first Christmas without a loved-one or maybe it’s the inability to gather with family due to Covid. Some of you may have gone through a divorce or are dealing with illnesses. No doubt there are others. Yet, the shadow present among these other shadows comes from the cross, the babes’ ultimate destiny.

That part of the Jesus story, simple and profound as it is, is not tonight’s story, even as it lurks in the background. For tonight it is enough to proclaim that Jesus is the Light of the World, the light that no darkness can overcome. We rejoice that Jesus is a light that shines into the darkest areas of our lives and declares to us this night that we are not alone in the shadows. So, rather than cursing the darkness we will celebrate the Light by lighting candles, turning off the lights, and singing that song written during one of the darkest times in human history, “Silent Night.”

I echo the thoughts of our synod Bishop Regina Hassanally who, in her Christmas letter declared that if we only had the one Light it would be enough. Even so, that Light multiplies in every one of us. And so we pray that there is someone who bears that light for you this Christmas and that each of us would in some measure shine with the Light of Christ burning in us. Merry Christmas, God’s Beloved. May the simple story shine brightly within you and may you make good memories as you bask in that Light, for God is with you. Amen.

My written sermons often preach differently "live." To watch the video, click here.

Ordinary Love - Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C

Ordinary Love

Advent 4C

December 19, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

Luke 1.39-55

As I was reading the last part of the Gospel, I could barely keep from singing Marty Haugen’s version of “The Magnificat” from the beloved Holden Evening Prayer worship. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t want to clear the sanctuary. The Gospel of Luke is a veritable treasure trove of song: Mary’s song here. The song that Elizabeth’s husband, the priest Zechariah, sings after John the Baptist’s birth. And there’s Simeon’s song at the Presentation of Jesus in the temple eight days after his birth. It makes you wonder why Luke’s Gospel hasn’t been made into a musical (though Jesus’ story has). (Point of fact, all three have been set to music in our worship liturgies throughout the ages. Those of you who remember the first red hymnal may remember Simeon’s song as the Nunc Dimittis, the Latin for the first few words of the song, “Lord now let your servant depart in peace…”)

The songs are sung in the midst of extraordinary events: angels visiting Zechariah and announcing his wife Elizabeth’s pregnancy well beyond her child-bearing years and Mary’s pregnancy through the Holy Spirit. Yet, it’s the ordinariness of Mary as God’s chosen vessel for Jesus that has had me thinking. There is absolutely nothing about Mary that indicates God’s choice. She’s a young woman from an ordinary town engaged to an ordinary man, Joseph, who has “good prospects” as a craftsman as they say, but unremarkable nonetheless. And aside from one or two remarkable but isolated incidents, her life as a mom raising Jesus is pretty typical. Feedings, changing diapers, kissing skinned knees, snuggling at night.

Yet Mary is blessed, named by Elizabeth and future generations of Christians, but not because of anything she does but because God chose this ordinary woman to do an extraordinary thing. It’s easy to get swept up in the sensational parts of this story, for they are marvelous. And we typically look for God to work in marvelous ways because those are the ones that catch our attention. But we forget that more often than not, God works in, with, and through the ordinary, everyday things in our world.

Last week Jaxton was baptized in the name of the triune God. In baptism,, we claim that God’s Word through the Holy Spirit joins with ordinary water to wash us clean and make us beloved children of God in a whole new way. Today, we will claim that ordinary bread and wine will become the body and blood of Jesus and by taking those things into our body we will take Jesus into our very selves. As we do we claim with Martin Luther that we receive forgiveness of sins and where there is forgiveness of sins there is life and salvation. Furthermore, we dare to claim that this humble gathering of ordinary people in an ordinary building of brick and stone becomes a place of God’s presence and blessing.

In all of these cases, and more, God’s extraordinary love is poured out in ordinary places and ways. We enjoy a good love story, especially one that is exciting, dramatic, and “against all odds.” (That’s why Hallmark has two cable TV channels instead of one.) Yet, I think the extraordinary love is the ordinary kind that happens day in and day out for years. The parent who does hundreds of acts of ordinary love each to help their children be good people and the spouse who cares for a failing loved one, wherever that might be, are but two examples. I’ll  bet you can think of more.

This week, as you prepare to celebrate God’s gift of love in Jesus, I invite you to look for examples of God’s ordinary love and then savor them for a moment. Not if you see them but when because they will be there. You may not burst out into song (or you might), but you will be blessed as much as Mary. Amen.

My written sermons often preach differently "live." To watch the video, click here.

Transforming Joy - Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent Year C

Transforming Joy

Advent 3C

December 12, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

Luke 3.7-18

Several years ago, while listening to a Christian radio broadcast, the speaker related a true story. I know it’s true because the speaker was there when it happened. The speaker was the best man at his best friend’s wedding, and they were standing together at the altar railing waiting for the bride. Just before the bride was to walk down the aisle, the speaker leaned over to his friend. He whispered, “Wouldn’t it be great if Jesus came back right now?” The horrified and panicked look on his friend’s face spoke volumes: he did not want to be denied his matrimonial joy, even for the coming of Jesus. That was not a joyful thought.

It’s hard to find joyful thoughts at the coming of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading. Today is the Third Sunday of Advent and so we reflect on the theme of the third candle of the Advent wreath: joy. Down through the years as the Advent tradition has evolved, church folk decided that the reflective and ofttimes somber mood of Advent, along with the diminishing light of December, warranted a break on the third Sunday. Thus the theme of joy was attached to the third candle and some Advent wreaths have a pink candle to set it apart and note its distinctive character. Now, our readings from Zephaniah and Philippians ooze joy, but what about the Gospel from Luke?

It’s hard to see how the message from John the Baptist of Jesus’ coming is good news. John the Baptist calls the people a “brood of vipers” and talks about the “wrath to come.” Then there’s the image of fire, often a sign of judgment. John also tells them that their identity as descendants of Abraham will not help them at all in their predicament. Yet remarkably, Luke tells us that John is proclaiming good news to the people, and they agree! So, what is it about John’s message of Jesus’ coming that makes this joyful news to them and to us?

It helps to remember that John the Baptist was offering a baptism of repentance, but that repentance means more than admitting our brokenness and saying we’re sorry. The Greek word for repentance literally means to change your mind. Thus it came to have the sense of turning around and going the other way. It stands for a change of direction in life. In other words, repentance means there is a transformation that takes place in you and in your life. The chaff John talks about that gets separated from the wheat can refer to the parts of ourselves that need healing. That transformation, however painful it might be, ultimately provides joy at the “new you” that is more in line with who God wants you to be.

It is helpful to remember that most of the book of Zephaniah is an oracle of judgment for sin and that Paul is writing to the Philippians while he is sitting in prison. In spite of those circumstances, we have these words of joy. The prophet Zephaniah assures the people that God’s salvation is at hand in their repentance. And Paul urges the Philippians to trust God with their worries and gives them a blessing of peace and joy. Again we are reminded that joy is different from happiness. As Frederick Buechner reminds us, happiness is generally where we expect it to be, but joy comes in those unexpected places where God shows up.

We also need to remember that Christmas is more than a cute baby, a vulnerable God with Us, though it is that. Advent is a time to remember why we need Jesus to come in the first place. We admit that we are broken, fallible creatures who cannot, no matter how hard they try, make our lives right. I trust that the young groom who was horrified at the thought of Jesus’ coming came to realize Jesus’ coming into his marriage as joyful, no matter the circumstances. So, I pray that all of you, God’s Beloved, experience the transforming joy of Jesus this Advent and beyond. Amen.

My written sermons often preach differently "live," but today's was more so than usual. To watch the video, click here.

The Way of Peace - Sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent C

The Way of Peace

Advent 2C

December 5, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

Luke 3.1-6

Before Cindy and I were married, we were at my parents’ house, and I was helping my Dad. I think we were moving a piece of furniture. It wasn’t going well and my sister, Cheryl, turned to Cindy and said, “Scott’s the one with patience in the family.” Cindy’s eyes got big because she knew how little patience I had. In fact, she had given me a plaque that says, “Lord, give me patience, but I want it right now.” She was also the one who told me that I should never pray to God for patience because God doesn’t give you patience, God teaches you patience. It is difficult for one who walks the way of impatience to also walk the way of peace.

Peace is the theme of the second Advent candle, a difficult road in both our time and that of John the Baptist. Notice in the first few verses of our Gospel reading how Luke sets the stage for John the Baptist’s proclamation. The word of the Lord doesn’t come to the power brokers in the world, the “A-list of earthly powers” as Audrey West says. Nor does the word of the Lord come in the seat of power like Rome. Rather, it comes to an eccentric prophet in the wilderness of some supposedly insignificant country. The Pax Romana, the so-called “Peace of Rome '' was an illusory peace. It was a peace wrought by military oppression and subjugation and therefore no real peace at all.

John the Baptist’s call for us to prepare the way of the Lord, the way of peace, comes into a world that is just as chaotic as his was. It’s also a world that seems just as incapable of the ruling powers to do anything about it. Trigger alert (which means I’m going to say something that might upset some of you): I’m going to get political because Luke makes both a political and religious statement. So here it is: with some notable exceptions, our government and religious leaders seem more capable of sewing discord than traveling the way of peace and do so by playing power party politics. 

In 2005, Jim Wallis wrote a book called “God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It.” The book was mostly about how our two major political parties interact with religion, but the subtitle could also be a general statement about their situation today. The Right continues to get it wrong whereas the Left still doesn’t get it. Full disclosure (because you deserve to know where I’m coming from): I’m not a member of any political party and have voted for candidates in both major parties and some other ones as well.

If some of you are emotionally or psychologically on a ledge right now, I’d like you to take a deep breath, come down, and hear me out. Although I despair of the ability of our national and state governments to govern meaningfully, I see today’s reading as good news for us, just like Gospel-writer Luke and John the Baptist. Just as God chose a nobody in a desert wilderness to usher in the way of peace, so too God can use ordinary people like you and me in obscure places like Wells, MN to do the same. In fact, God insists upon it. 

Yes, we should still vote for candidates and be involved in the political process, but our biggest contributions to the way of peace begin with us, both in us and within our spheres of influence. Yes, we can be passionate about our beliefs, but can we do so with respect and humility, bringing more light than heat? I was at a meeting recently where there was a wide divergence of ideas about how to do something and although it may be a stretch to say that we went at it hammer and tongs, the discussion was lively. Yet, at the end of it all we said, “What a great meeting!” There was an honest sharing of viewpoints and each of us respected the others’ voices. Respect and humility are a way of peace.

It’s taken me most of my adult life to realize that my impatience comes out of my gifts for planning and thinking ahead, to come to peace with it, and to use seasons like Advent to remember to be in the moment. So, how are you hearing the voice of John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord, the way of peace, today? What wilderness that you inhabit is God entering to encourage you to be the way of peace? Thank you, beloved sisters and brothers, for listening and heeding the call of John. Amen.

My written sermons often preach differently "live," but today's was more so than usual. To watch the video, click here.

Signs of Hope - Sermon for the First Sunday of Advent C

Signs of Hope

Advent 1C

November 28, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

Luke 21.25-36

One of the first things I noticed about Good Shepherd was the signs. There are signs indicating what this building is, rightfully so. There are signs indicating various places to enter: almost like the “Let’s Make a Deal,” Door #1, Door #2, etc. There are signs directing you to the various parts of the building, such as the nave, offices, fellowship hall and all-important restrooms. But there are other signs. There are Bible verses written in calligraphy on walls giving thanks, messages of encouragement touting faith, trust and love. There are signs promoting prayers for missionaries and service personnel. There are signs of the acrostic, GSLCW, “Grow, Care, Love, Share, and Worship.” As the song says, “Sign, sign, everywhere a sign!” Yet, in all of the signs I’ve read, I have not seen any signs of hope.

In our Gospel reading from Luke today, Jesus talks at length about signs as precursors of events that purportedly come at the end of time. Today begins the new church year, which follows a particular and familiar rhythm: the First Sunday of Advent marks the shift from a lectionary focused on one Gospel to the next, in this case from Mark’s Gospel to that of Luke. It’s also a feature of the lectionary that the last few weeks of Pentecost focus on the end times in one Gospel and the First Sunday of Advent does the same in the next Gospel, though they do so differently.

Whereas the emphasis at the end of Pentecost was to prepare Jesus’ followers for the crucifixion and persecution to take place, which will be their fate as well, in Advent emphasis is on Jesus’ so-called Second Coming. As we say in the liturgy of Holy Communion, “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.” The idea is that Advent reminds us that the Christ who came as a babe in Bethlehem will not only come again at the end of time, whenever that happens, but continues to come here and now.

Signs typically point us toward a goal or destination and it’s tempting to read Jesus’ words about signs as a road map for when the end times are upon us. Indeed, many have fallen into that trap though both Jesus and scripture warn us against doing just that. If it’s not trying to pinpoint an exact date and time, as several have failed to do, it is writing popular fiction about what the coming of Jesus looks like, who will survive and who won’t. But I think these activities, though interesting, are not the intent of Jesus or of Scripture. It’s like reading the signs around Good Shepherd as a way to get to Chicago. Rather than speculation, which raises anxiety, these passages are meant to encourage and give hope.

I said earlier that there were no signs of hope at Good Shepherd, but I was being a bit disingenuous. I think there are signs of hope at Good Shepherd, just not written on the walls. Rather, the signs of hope are written in your hearts. Each of you received a slip when you came today and I’d like you to take it out now. The slip says, “My greatest hope for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is …” and I want each of you to finish that sentence with one thought and only one thought (anything else will be ignored). 

This is the first of several activities that will invite your thoughts as we prepare for your next pastor. At the end of the service, please put the completed slips in the basket in the center of the aisle. I'll be using this information with the council and the Shepherding (Transition) Team early next year.

The theme for the First Sunday of Advent is hope, a certain sign of Jesus’ promise to come again. You are also signs of that promise. Thanks be to God. Amen.

For the video of today's worship service, click here.

Awaken! Here the Voice of the Good Shepherd - Sermon for Christ the King B/Stewardship Commitment Sunday

 Awaken! Heed the Voice of the Good Shepherd

Christ the King B – Stewardship Commitment Sunday

November 21, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

John 18.33-38

Who has taught you generosity? For me, the first and obvious answer is my parents. My dad would do anything for anyone, including taking his own vacation time to paint their house. Both mom and dad opened up our house to my friends unreservedly and it was a place to hang out. They became Ma and Pa Olson to a number of my friends. Furthermore, whenever someone ate dinner, they were always asked, “Did you get enough to eat?” ad nauseum. We never had much growing up, but that never stopped my parents from sharing what we had.

There are some people born with large hearts, but most of us started out pretty self-centered. Babies are born needy, and their whole world revolves around eating, sleeping, and clean diapers. I know that God wants us to be generous people because it’s one of the fruits of the Spirit. So, somewhere along the way, somebody teaches us to be generous people. Who taught you?

 I think about the Fleming family who lived two houses down, who although they were Catholic and we were Lutherans regularly opened their hearts and homes to us, as we did to them. I think about Mr. Michel, my high school Advanced Biology teacher, who stayed after school so I could get some much-needed extra lab work in, but also opened himself up to us in other ways. Who taught you?

There is much about our world that isn’t generous and even resists the notion of generosity. It’s a world symbolized by Pontius Pilate and those religious leaders that want to see Jesus dead. It’s a world where power reigns supreme and any threat to that power is met swiftly and with deadly force. Getting ahead, amassing stuff, doing whatever it takes to succeed are the orders of the day.

It was my wife, Cindy, who helped teach me a better, more life-giving way through sacrificial giving. Either just before or just after we were married, Cindy informed me that we would be tithers, giving 10% of our income to the church. Two thoughts entered my head, which I had the good sense to keep there. The first thought was, “Does she know how much we don’t have?” Of course, she did because she’s an accountant and handles our money. The second thought was, “I wonder how long this will last?” Well, it’s lasted over 41 years.

The true teacher, for Cindy of course, and ultimately me, was God through his Son Jesus Christ. Through sacrificial giving, I’ve learned to trust God for everything I need and I’ve never lacked for anything. Even more so, God doesn’t ask any more from us that God is willing to give: his own Son Jesus Christ. Jesus as Christ the King has a halo of thorns for a crown and a cross for a throne. 

You see, it’s not me who is the hero, nor any of the others I mentioned, but God through Jesus, the Good Shepherd who calls us to awaken and heed his call to generosity. So, who taught you about God’s sacrificial love through generosity, and who will learn from you? Amen

For a video of the full worship service including the sermon, click here.

Be Aware! Sermon for the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost B

Be Aware!

Pentecost 25B (Lectionary 33)

November 14, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

Mark 13.1-8

A number of years ago, Cindy and I were invited to a local restaurant for a “free”  meal, which was to include a “presentation.” In other words, a sales pitch. Cindy was smart and declined to go, but I can’t turn down a free meal and so I went even though it wasn’t free. The presentation included a scary and graphic movie that was intended to encourage you to buy a fire alarm system for your home. By the end of the night I was convinced we needed one. Fortunately, a cooler head prevailed and I realized I’d almost been manipulated into buying something we really didn’t need.

Now, protecting against fires is a good thing, but I can’t help thinking of Jesus’ words, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead you astray.” Today’s Gospel contains the opening verses of what is called Mark’s “Little Apocalypse,” teaching of Jesus to his followers about the end times. For Mark it’s Jesus’ “Farewell Address.” He is preparing them and us for life following his crucifixion, death, and resurrection.

Most scholars believe that Mark collected these stories about Jesus and wrote them down after the temple was indeed destroyed just as Jesus predicted. This happened in 70 CE following an ill-conceived Jewish insurrection against the Roman occupying forces. They also believe (and I agree) that Mark was trying to help his community come to grips with serious events. It’s 50 years after Jesus’ resurrection, he hasn’t returned, and life is chaotic. If the social, political, and religious turmoil weren’t enough, Christians were fighting themselves with many claiming to speak in Jesus’ name.

We may not be obsessed with the end times (though there are Christians who are) nor with Jesus’ return (though there are some who insist on finding out). But we do live in chaotic, challenging, and uncertain times with voices competing for our attention. We are in yet another wave of a pandemic that doesn’t seem to be letting up, prices are rising faster than our paychecks, people are shooting and being shot in record numbers. So, we look around for something to hold onto, such as political parties, financial advisors, clubs and the like.

Now, getting involved in our political process, joining a helping organization, and managing your money wisely are good things to do, but they cannot nor will they save us from the chaos that surrounds us. As pastor and public theologian David Lose reminds us, “the Christian faith does not offer an end to uncertainty or insecurity.” Rather, it roots us in the One who gives us our identity as God’s beloved children. Therefore, Lose says, “the antidote to uncertainty, it turns out, isn’t certainty, but courage.”

I’ll still wear a mask, get vaccinated, have working smoke detectors, and invest wisely, but I won’t do it out of fear. Instead, I’ll do it with the assurance that God holds all things in God’s hands. Knowing that God has secured our future frees us to live today, to enjoy what God gives us. Perhaps it is better to say “Be aware” than “beware” so you distinguish the helpful voices from the ones that will lead you astray. May the words of the crucified and risen Christ strengthen you today and always. Amen.

For the video of the worship service including the sermon click here.

Persevering Love - Sermon for All Saints Sunday B

Persevering Love

All Saints B

November 7, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

John 11.32-44

I was called to the hospital because Donna had just died and her family wanted me to come. Her daughter, Linda, Linda’s husband Tom, and their two daughters, Anna and Julie, were gathered around, obviously grieving. It was not unexpected as Donna was getting on in years and had been in ill health, but still, the death of a loved one is hard. I’d gotten to know the family well, having walked with them through the illness and death of Dorothy’s husband, Elmer, a few years earlier. Plus, I’d interacted with the girls in Christian Education, but Confirmation and Sunday School. Furthermore, Tom, Linda, and the girls lived just around the corner from Cindy and me.

Now, I’ve walked with a lot of families over the years and I have the ability to maintain some distance through death and dying. So, I was surprised on this occasion to feel their deep grief in a way I hadn’t before. Upon reflection, I realized that I wasn’t grieving for Dorothy, who had lived a long life and was making this expected journey. I wasn’t even grieving for Linda and Tom, who had experience with this. No, I realized I was grieving with and for Anna and Julie, whose tender grief was palpable. It broke my heart to see their vulnerable hearts aching at the loss of their grandma.

So, if I can be so bold, it is that I think I can understand a bit of what Jesus was experiencing at Lazarus’ tomb. There’s more to the story and I need to take a few minutes to set the scene. In chapter 10, Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd. … The sheep hear my voice, they follow me, and I give them eternal life.” Then, at the beginning of chapter 11, Jesus is elsewhere when he hears that Lazarus is ill, but he deliberately waits two days before traveling to see Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, during which Lazarus dies. When Jesus finally decides to go, the disciples think it too risky because of the animosity of the religious leaders in Jerusalem, but ultimately decide to go and “die with him.”

As Jesus nears the family, Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus, hears about it and goes out to meet him. Martha gives Jesus the “what for” because he delayed coming to them. Yet, she makes some of the most profound statements of faith in the Bible, affirming the resurrection and Jesus’ ability to do as he asks God. Then Jesus makes another “I am” statement: “I am the resurrection and the life,” which Martha also affirms. Martha returns to her sister, Mary, and encourages her to have her own “meet Jesus moment.”

As Jesus greets Mary and he sees the grieving around him, he gives rise to the shortest verse in the Bible and favorite of Confirmation students everywhere: “Jesus weeps'' (or as the NRSV translates, “Jesus begins to weep”). Jesus sees the devastation that death wreaks on humanity and, because of his particularly close relationship with Lazarus, Mary and Martha, deeply feels their sorrow. But there’s more: Jesus is deeply angry, most likely because the power death holds over our most precious relationships. The mourners make an astute and very important observation: “See how he loved him!” Even so, it should have been, “See how he loved them!”

“WandaVision” is a TV show in the so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe, a series of films based on Marvel Comics’ superheroes. It aired following the last Avengers, “Avengers: Endgame” and features Wanda (aka the Scarlet Witch who has immense powers), and Vision, a very advanced android who had supposedly died during “Endgame.” I won’t spoil it, but in one scene Vision tells Wanda he has never experienced loss because he never had a loved one to lose. He implies that this was true until Wanda came into his life. Then he says this now iconic phrase, “What is grief, if not love persevering?”

Indeed, what is grief, if not love persevering?  Our grief is evidence that love does not die. And when Jesus raises Lazarus, he gives us a foretaste and down payment on our resurrection to eternal life. When we struggle with the big question of “Where were you, Jesus?” like Mary and Martha, Jesus answers with a resounding “On the cross!” defeating Death through persevering love. My sisters and brothers in Christ, as you light candles on All Saints in the midst of your grief, for all the losses you have suffered,  may you be washed over by the profound persevering love from the One who first loved us. Amen.

For the full worship service, including the video of the sermon, click here.

Christian Freedom - Sermon for Reformation Sunday B

Christian Freedom

Reformation B

October 31, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

John 8.31-36; Romans 3.19-28

From time to time, when I was in junior high school, one of my classmates would disappear unexpectedly and without explanation. Usually, this was a boy of questionable behavior, but sometimes it was a young girl. When this happened, the rumor was that he (or she) was “up the river,” i.e., in reform school. We didn’t really know what was “up the river,” but we knew it wasn’t good, and perhaps even threatening. So it is that the word reform carries the notion of something broken that needs to be fixed. 

Indeed, when Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses (propositions for debate) on the castle church at Wittenberg on this date in 1517, it was because he saw something greatly amiss in the church of the day. But I was reminded by Rolf Jacobson, Luther Seminary Old Testament professor, that there are plenty more “Re words” that can be used to celebrate this day. Return. Renewal. Restoration. Reawakening. Revival. Recommitment. Re-creation. This is not to gloss over the fact that something might be terribly misguided in our churches today. It’s to say that perhaps this is an opportunity to see where God’s Holy Spirit might be blowing through the church in new ways. It’s an opportunity to remember (another “Re word”) that our God is an active God, constantly on the move, doing new things in our midst.

There were some people following Jesus 2,000 years ago who had a hard time seeing this new thing that God was doing. People were stuck in a particular way of thinking and doing things, especially the religious leadership of the day. Jesus invites them into a new relationship, a living, loving relationship with God through him. That’s what Jesus means by continuing in his word and by continuing he means that favorite world in John’s Gospel that means abiding, staying, or resting. By abiding in Jesus, we follow the way of Jesus which is true life freely lived. But some of these folk can’t see it.

Lately, there has been a lot of noise about freedom of the “You can’t make me [fill in the blank]” variety. Sadly, what gets lost in the cacophony is that we not only have freedom from things, but we also have freedom for things. We forget that our freedom as Christians comes as a gift. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in our Romans passage that we have been “justified by faith apart from works,” i.e., set free by a gift of God’s grace. Because we don’t have to prove ourselves worthy of God’s love, we are freed to serve God and our neighbor.

Good Shepherd is in a time of transition and times of transition can be a bit uncertain, perhaps even scary. Of course, coming on the downside of the pandemic adds a whole other layer to the uncertainty. There might be a tendency to wonder what is broken at Good Shepherd that needs to be fixed, and that’s okay; it’s not a bad question to ask. But what if we look to one of the other “Re words” and see this time as an opportunity to see what God is up to in this place, where the Holy Spirit is blowing, and what new thing is happening? Return. Renewal. Restoration. Reawakening. Revival. Recommitment. Re-creation.

This Reformation Sunday, I invite you into this process of discerning where God is leading us. What if we entertain new ideas, try small experiments, and invite new voices to the table? Speaking of the table, maybe when we say “All are welcome to the Table,” we mean more than just those who are 5th graders or older. And maybe we set that Table at every service, every week because we all need it to receive God’s love and mercy more often than not. God has a mission to love and bless the world, and for that mission God has a church, one of which is Good Shepherd. The Son has freed you from worrying about your future so that you can dream a dream only God can fill. Thanks be to God. Amen.

For the video version in worship click here.

To See or Not to See? - Sermon for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost B

To See or Not to See?

Pentecost 22B (Lectionary 30)

October 24, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

Mark 10.46-52

I think one of the worst things in life is to be ignored, to not be seen as a person. A couple of months ago I walked into a fast-food restaurant and was ignored. No one even said, “Somebody will be with you soon.” After about five or ten minutes, I left. It’s bad enough when it’s strangers that ignore you, but it’s worse when it’s somebody closer to you. I joined a fraternity my freshman year at Gustavus and was generally involved, but over time I grew disenchanted largely because of the initiation proceedings.

My senior year, the guys were wrestling with the issue of our group picture – not everyone could be there when the yearbook photographer could come. After a while of this, I quietly raised my hand and when I was finally acknowledged I simply suggested we take two pictures, one for the yearbook and one for us. The frat president looked at me, stunned, and exclaimed, “That’s a great idea O!” (My nickname.) The affirmation was hollow because until that point I had not really been seen as a valued member of the fraternity.

It’s natural to focus on the healing of blind Bartimaeus in today’s Gospel reading from Mark 10, someone who was unable to see and, because of that, unseen. Indeed, after weeks of Jesus turning our world upside down with hard sayings about what it means to follow him, a good old-fashioned miracle story seems to be a welcome reprieve. Since chapter 8 where this section on discipleship started, Jesus apparently had figured out how to heal a blind man more quickly and efficiently. There it took a bunch of spittle and mud plus two tries to get it right. Here all Jesus has to do is declare him healed and Bartimaeus can see again.

Yet, if we look deeper into the text, there are elements about seeing we might otherwise miss. As Jesus, his disciples, and the crowd leave Jericho, Bartimaeus tries to get Jesus’ attention. He calls Jesus “Son of David,” the first time this occurs in Mark. The interesting thing to note is that Bartimaeus, a blind man, sees Jesus as the Messiah (or Christ) when Jesus’ own followers don’t. The crowd and disciples, first oblivious to his presence, try to shove Bartimaeus out of sight.

It’s not until Jesus stops and asks Bartimaeus to come forward that the crowd acknowledges his presence in any meaningful way. Suddenly, Bartimaeus becomes more than background noise to them. When this happens, there are two more things Jesus does that are huge. First, Jesus stands still to meet Bartimaeus. That’s important because in Mark’s Gospel Jesus is always “on the way,” meaning that he is always headed to Jerusalem, laser-focused in his mission. But here he has a “Mr. Rogers moment,” where he stops everything he is doing for the sake of the person in front of him.

The second thing Jesus does is ask Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” Now, that’s the same question he asks the brothers, James and John, in last week’s Gospel reading, which they muffed by asking for positions of power. Although the question seems innocent enough, it’s important because it gives Bartimaeus agency. Jesus does not presume to know what Bartimaeus needs or wants, although he probably does. Even so, Jesus treats Bartimaeus as a whole person who has the ability to direct his own life. And then Bartimaeus does what the rich man two weeks ago couldn’t: he tosses aside his only possession and follows Jesus.

It’s all too easy to be blind to people on the margins of society. And if we do see them, we assume we know what’s best for them and make decisions on their behalf without involving them. When I was working on my doctorate, I came across something called The Participatory Golden Rule: “Consequence takers ought to be decision makers.” I love that there are differently-abled people here at Good Shepherd who are seen and valued. Today’s Gospel is a reminder to make sure they are given agency and full inclusion in our congregational life. It also prompts us to open our eyes to see who else in the community is on the margins and needs to be included. That may even be the person sitting next to you in the pew, someone who is feeling left out, unseen or ignored. To see or not to see, that’s the question Jesus poses today. Thanks be to God who gives us Jesus, the Son of David, the Messiah through whom we have the eyes to see. Amen.

For the video version in the worship service click here.

Service through Self - Sermon for the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (Confirmation Sunday)

Service through Self

Pentecost 21B (Lectionary 29)/Confirmation Sunday

October 17, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

Mark 10.35-45

When I served congregations in Mankato and Waseca, I had the opportunity to belong to the local Rotary clubs. For those who don’t know, Rotary is a service organization similar to the Lions and Kiwanis. I joined Rotary to connect with other community leaders and to learn more about what was going on in our respective communities. I also resonated deeply with what Rotary stood for, such as the Four Way Test: Of the things we think, say, or do 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Much of the Four-Way Test culminated in Rotary’s motto, “Service above Self,” which was celebrated annually with a banquet bestowing awards on community individuals and organizations that embodied this value.

Service above self seems to be a value Jesus is promoting in our Gospel reading from Mark 10. In fact, “service about self” could be argued to originate from Jesus himself. Here, two of his followers, James and John, want positions of prestige and honor when Jesus comes into his glory (whatever that means). When the other 10 find out they are livid, probably because they didn’t think of it first. What is ironic about this request is that Jesus has just made his third and final passion prediction, telling them in vivid detail how much he is going to suffer through his arrest, trial, torture and crucifixion, with only a passing reference to his resurrection, or glory.

Like the previous two times Jesus makes this same prediction, they can’t help but misunderstand and saying something stupid. And just like the other two times, Jesus clarifies what it really means to follow him. Furthermore, like the other times, Jesus flips their world around by saying that true greatness is found in serving others. In case they still don’t get it, he finishes up by saying that’s what his mission is all about: serving. The implication is clear: as Jesus serves by giving his life for others, so do they as his followers. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.” (BTW, no matter how obtuse the disciples are, Jesus still patiently teaches them and they still follow him, a good lesson for all of us.)

You may not be aware that each Confirmand here today wrote a Faith Statement Paper and had to endure a half hour interview with me. These young people wrote amazing, faith-filled papers that would bring tears to your eyes as they did mine. During the interview, I asked them all what they wanted to do at this point in their lives, what kind of vocation they seem to have. They all gave terrific answers. But I then challenged them to think deeply about how they will serve God and neighbor throughout their callings, because that’s what God calls each of us to do. 

(Another by the way: I also asked them if they considered being a pastor, but nobody did, some quite emphatically. I didn’t at that age either, and would have been just as emphatic. I told them it was my job to identify young people who might be thinking about ordained ministry and encourage them in that idea. But it is also your job as a congregation to encourage young people you think have the gifts for ministry. )

In all seriousness, I want to address the Confirmands, reminding them what they are about to do here today:

In our time together, I reminded you that you are going to say “Yes'' to what your parents did for you at your baptisms. They started you on this journey of faith of following Jesus, and you agreed that you were going to continue on that journey. What we didn’t talk about much is that you do not belong to yourself in the same way any more. Yes, you still belong to God in a way that will never change. But as such you belong to all of these others behind you, not to mention the world. You are not your own.

But the good news is that they also belong to you, which is great because following Jesus is one of the hardest things you’ll do. They’ll be here to help pick up the pieces when life goes sideways and you’ll be there for them for the same reason. Serving above self is a great ideal, borrowed from Jesus, but it’s more accurate to say service through self because it is God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit who makes this hard work even possible. Confirmands: know that God has set you aside for good works and gives you the strength to do it. You are blessed to be a blessing. Go in God’s peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.

For the video version of this sermon, click here.

With an Open Hand - Sermon for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

With an Open Hand

Pentecost 20B (Lectionary 28)

October 10, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

Mark 10.17-31

In 2016, about five and a half years ago I took a sabbatical, my first in 20 years of ordained ministry. It was a wonderful gift of time and reflection. A major portion of the sabbatical was a Quiet Retreat (not totally silent) at the former Holy Spirit Retreat Center north of Janesville, run by the Sisters of St. Francis order based in Rochester. When I arrived, I was greeted by Sr. Monique, who greeted me by name. When I asked how she knew me, I learned quickly I was the only male attendee. I almost turned around and left, but I'm glad I didn’t. I was able to read, sleep, meditate, work with a spiritual director and take long walks.

One day as I prepared to take a walk, I made sure I had my wallet and cell phone before leaving. As I did so, I wondered why taking those was so important. Was I afraid the nuns would steal them? I didn’t need them; why was I so attached to them? So, I began leaving them behind, reflecting on how my possessions often end up possessing me and wondering where the fear came from. So likewise, today I’m inviting you into a spiritual practice, “With an Open Hand.” You should know there are other names for this practice, and you should also know that we will be traveling through some territory that may be uncomfortable for you. That’s okay; participate as you are able. If you need to take a break, sit quietly until we’re finished.

The difficult territory we are traveling through is our Gospel reading from Mark chapter 10, the story of a wealthy man who comes to Jesus wondering about eternal life. There’s a lot we don’t know about why the man comes to Jesus. Maybe he truly wants to know if there is anything he can do to merit God’s grace. Maybe he’s a seeker. Or maybe he is smug about his destiny and simply wants an “atta boy” from Jesus. There is much to be discussed here that we don’t have time for today, but what I want to focus on is how our relationship with our possessions affects our relationship to God and each other.

So, like my phone and wallet, I think that there are things we all hold so tightly it affects our functioning. There’s a story that says indigenous peoples trap monkeys by placing food in a hollow coconut tied to a tree, with a hole just big enough for a monkey’s hand, but not for its fist. All the monkey needs to do to be free is simply open its hand, but the monkey refuses to do so, even if it means saving its life. So, here’s the uncomfortable part: what are you holding onto with a clenched fist that’s trapping you and keeping you from the life God wants for you?

It could be possessions that are possessing you. One of my colleagues told me of a former neighbor who bought a very expensive car for his daughter who had just gotten her drivers license. Unfortunately, he couldn’t sleep because he worried she’d be car-jacked. It also could be anger at something that happened to you, a grievance you have against someone or suffering you have endured. As a congregation, it may be something that holds you back and keeps you from moving into the future. In this spiritual practice of “With an Open Hand,” I’m not suggesting that you “Let go and let God,” nor am I saying that you need to “Give it to God.” Those may be helpful practices for you. What I am suggesting is that you open your hand and hold whatever it is lightly. In other words, you acknowledge the item is yours, but that no longer has power over you.

We are able to do this because we have a God who opens his hand with his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus willingly opened himself through love, just as he loved that rich man, so we might have life abundant, not just at some future time but today. If you are willing, I’d like you to close your eyes and think of one thing that you are holding onto that is keeping you stuck. When you have thought of it, tightly clench it in one fist.  As I pray, slowly open your hand and hold that item lightly, acknowledging it but knowing that it has no power over you any longer. God loves you and opens his hand so that you may live because with God all things are possible. 

Good and gracious God, giver of all good things: help us open our hands when our fists are clenched tightly around the things that keep us from the life you intend for us. Free us from the tyranny of being possessed by our possessions. Loosen our fingers so that we may hold those things lightly, acknowledging they are a part of us but no longer control us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

For the video version of today's sermon click here.

The Heart of the Matter - Sermon for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Heart of the Matter

Pentecost 19B (Lectionary 27)

October 3, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

Mark 10.2-16

If you want to boil a live frog, do you know how to do it? You don’t just heat up water and toss the frog in because the frog would immediately jump out. Rather, you put the frog in room temperature water and slowly turn up the heat. By the time the frog realizes what’s happening, it’s too late and the frog is done for. I don’t know if this is really true, but it does express a truth about what can happen in a relationship. That’s why I use this analogy when I’m working with couples preparing for marriage. If you’re not careful, your hearts harden a little bit over a period of time until it’s too late.

We have another of those texts that include “things I wish Jesus never would have said.” For those who have gone through the pain of divorce or watched our loved ones go through it, and for those who were brave enough to try again, these words are salt in old, yet still fresh wounds. To be up front about this, I don’t think God intends for us to be in abusive or life-sucking relationships. It seems clear that sometimes divorce is the best of not very good options. And in my experience, couples can find grace in trying again.

So, what do we do with this text? First, we have to acknowledge that Jesus was dealing with a real problem in his time. There was a strong disagreement about divorce, who should get them, and how easily they could be gotten. There were two schools of thought within the Pharisees, the religious leaders who came to Jesus. One faction believed divorce should only be done in extreme cases and the other faction believed that men could divorce their wives for any reason, as little as burning the breakfast toast. Second, we have to realize that the Pharisees were more interested in trapping Jesus and making him choose between one side so the other side could attack him.

In response, Jesus makes two moves. First, he appeals to the lawgiver himself, Moses, and tells them that in expounding the Law Moses only granted divorce because of their ancestors’ hard hearts. Second, he takes them back before the Law was given to Moses, back to the very beginning of creation to illustrate God’s intention that humanity be in mutual, life-giving relationships. So, whereas the Pharisees are only interested in what they can legally get by with, Jesus is more interested in how we treat each other, particularly the vulnerable, such as women and children.

In other words, this text is about relationships and what kind of community we are going to be. Africans have the word ubuntu, which can be loosely translated, “I am because we are.” It’s all about community. The reality is that we are not a community of the strong or the perfect or “rugged individuals.” We are a community that welcomes the vulnerable, the broken, and those on the margins who seek a place of loving, healing relationships. As Martin Luther noted, the church is a hospital for the sick, not the well. And in being such a place, we bring that loving and healing into the world.

Marriage is one of the most important relationships we have; it is not to be treated lightly. And we must do all we can to support people in their marriages. But it’s not the only relationship we have and in order to preserve all of our relationships we must watch out for hard hearts. I tell couples they need to pay attention to their hearts, that the work of marriage is keeping hearts soft. That’s a good reminder in all our relationships and is the heart of the matter for today. God’s intention is that through God’s love in Jesus crucified and risen that we experience healing and share it, too. Know that you are beloved children, wrapped in the arms of Jesus, and blessed to be a blessing. Amen.

For the video version of today's sermon click here.

Cut It Out! - Sermon for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 Cut It Out!

Pentecost 18B (Lectionary 26)

September 26, 2021

Good Shepherd, Wells, MN

Mark 9.38-50

Last week, we reminded ourselves that we are on a journey with Jesus, just like the disciples are. Just as they were on the way to Jerusalem where Jesus will be betrayed, tried, crucified and resurrected, and Jesus was teaching them the way of discipleship, so have we been learning the way of Jesus. Jesus’ words these last few weeks, this week, and the weeks to come will continue to push our limits of ability to hear, like the disciples, because we are reminded that the way of Jesus is hard, which should not be surprising to us.

Also last week, we discovered that Jesus wants us to pay attention to voices that we might ordinarily miss or ignore. He uses the example of a child, reminding us to look for guidance at the margins of life. In a similar vein, in today’s Gospel reading Jesus reminds his followers, and us, to not be so arrogant as to believe that God can only work through us. He reminds us that we don’t somehow have it all figured out, that we are not the only bearers of truth. God can and does use other Christians, people of other faiths, and even those of no faith

But it’s the passage about cutting off body parts and going into hell that I’ve been pondering this week. Before I get to that, I want to say a little bit about Jesus’ use of hell and the other disturbing images in today’s reading. Long story short, nowhere in the Old Testament does it talk about hell, especially as a place of eternal torment. The term sheol actually refers to the place of the dead; that’s it. Those images of hell as a place of eternal punishment came into existence in the intertestamental period, the time between the Old and New Testaments, and got picked up by those religious leaders that Jesus has such a problem with, the Pharisees. More importantly, it’s important to know that a vast majority of the early church fathers denied this new doctrine. Rather, they favored universal salvation. However, like the Pharisees, the doctrine of hell as eternal torment was used by church leaders who wanted to control parishioners and used the threat of hell to do so.

So, why is Jesus using this language? I believe it’s to get our attention and say, “This is serious stuff.” And, if I may be a bit crass, Jesus is saying in today’s lesson, “Cut it out!” But, I’d like to go deeper into the text and play with the image of being maimed, cutting off body parts. To cut to the chase, if we took this text literally and were to cut off a body part every time we caused someone to stumble, we wouldn’t be able to walk, feed ourselves or see where we were going, among other things.

What do we do? The reality is that we need to recognize we are all spiritually maimed because, in fact, we cause others to stumble, but what we do and what we fail to do. We are walking wounded, having damaged ourselves as much as we have damaged others, even though we may look whole on the outside. When I was a young store manager I fired one of my sales ladies, Nadine, because I found she’d lied on her application. I used it as an excuse to do what I didn’t have the guts to do otherwise because I hadn’t been satisfied with her work. Though I was well within my rights to let her go, it was not the right thing to do, and certainly not a good witness for Christ. I’ve carried that wound with me for over 40 years and wish I could go back and change it. Maybe you have similar regrets.

Where does that leave us? Is there any good news? It’s helpful to me to remember that even Jesus enters heaven maimed. After the resurrection, when Jesus appears to the disciples in the upper room, he still has the scars of the crucifixion on his hands, feet, and side. So, through Jesus Christ and his grace, our scars are being redeemed and can be used for healing. I can’t go back and fix what I did to Nadine, but I can do better. Since then, whenever I’ve had to let someone go, I’ve made sure I’ve done everything in my power to help that person succeed and that letting them go is a last resort. But, I’m not the hero in this story; Jesus crucified and risen is.

The cup of water we can offer our thirsty world comes from a well of suffering, both ours and God’s. We who follow the way of Jesus know what it’s like to be thirsty, to find refreshment in God’s love and share that love with others. This is serious and important business, which is why Jesus tries to get our attention in these teachings. Jesus invites us to look around, perhaps find those who are already doing this work and join in with them. God be with you, fellow wounded healers on the road in this life as you bring refreshment to a thirsty, hurting world. Amen.

For the video version of the sermon click here.