tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19666280439358352422024-03-13T05:06:57.007-05:00Living into Gracegracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.comBlogger532125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-39854037814157553242024-03-10T11:53:00.000-05:002024-03-10T11:53:34.187-05:00The Way of the Cross: Loving Neighbor - Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Lent Year B, Narrative Lectionary 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d47038cd-7fff-7d84-90f0-8ae134e89198"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Way of the Cross: Loving Neighbor</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lent 4B-NL 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">March 10, 2024</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mark 12.28-44</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Please pray with me: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lord, open my lips, that my mouth shall declare your praise so that no dishonorable words would be uttered by my tongue. Open the eyes of everyone here, that we may see your wondrous beauty in all the world and not be blind to your ongoing acts of creation. Open our ears, that we may not be deaf to the cries of the needy but hear your call on our lives. Open our minds, that our imagination for mission may be stretched and not closed to new possibilities. Open our hearts, that they may not be cold to you or the ones you love but be fertile soil for the planting of your word. Open our hands, that we may not cling to those things that draw us away from you but receive the blessing you have for us and others through us. Open our awareness, that we may remain in the present moment because that’s the only one we have. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“The first [commandment] is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (Mark 12.29-31)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Loving your neighbor is hard.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I walked into the cafeteria after class one day and went over to the table where my good friend Dick and others were having coffee. But before I could say anything Dick said, “Scott, I don’t have time for you today.” I was crushed. Obviously I had done something to upset Dick, but I had no idea what it was. Even worse, I felt ashamed because Dick did this in front of several people. Eventually, Dick and I talked and I learned he was upset because I had bad mouthed his former girlfriend after they broke up. I thought I was taking his side, helping him feel better about the breakup. Dick told me the real reason they broke up. It was a very serious one that helped me understand why it happened. I realized I was being judgmental without all the facts and worse, didn’t bother to understand. I thought I was taking the moral high ground and being a friend. I ended up doing the opposite.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Loving your neighbor is hard with someone you like, and even harder when it’s someone you don’t like. Today we continue our Lenten series, “The Way of the Cross,” which we understand in two related senses. The first is the literal sense as we journey with Jesus to the upper room, Golgotha, the cross, and the empty tomb. The second sense is the spiritual journey we are making as we go deeper into learning how to follow Jesus. As we make this journey, we remember Jesus’ words to deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow him. As we do this, we know that something in our lives must die so we might have life and have it abundantly.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In Mark’s version of this story, unlike Matthew’s, a religious leader is not testing Jesus, but really wants to know what the greatest commandment is. As a scribe, he is well-versed in the law, and is not surprised when Jesus begins with the Shema, the statement about God’s oneness that every Jewish person recites at the beginning of each day. Then Jesus equates the two commandments to love God and neighbor. After the scribe enthusiastically affirms Jesus’ response, he receives an “atta boy,” and the promise that he is not far from the kingdom of heaven. But then a few verses later, other religious leaders are not treated so kindly. Jesus has harsh words for them because their practices produce suffering of widows, a group they were entrusted with watching over and to treat much better. Loving a neighbor is hard, especially when you forget what is important in God’s kingdom.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I enjoy listening to a podcast called Hidden Brain, hosted by Shankar Vedantam. It explores the psychology behind what we do and why we do it. Vedantam has been doing a series called “US 2.0” which unpacks our divisions especially in our current and fraught political climate. Lately, I heard an episode called, “Win Hearts, Then Minds” with sociologist Rob Willer. Vedantam began the podcast with a quote from the Dalai Lama:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.” Then Willer talked about how arguing with someone, trying to change their mind, doesn’t work. That’s something we all know through experience. Willer goes on to say that we need to hold our beliefs in abeyance as we build a relationship with someone else and discover their values. In other words, we need to exercise not only </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">intellectual </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">humility but also </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">moral </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">humility. We still hold onto our values and beliefs, but loosely as we explore what others might be able to teach us.*</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Loving our neighbor is hard, especially when it is someone we disagree with, have fought with, who we don’t respect and might even hate. Yet, that is our calling as followers of Jesus and the way of the cross. We are asked to set aside our fiercely held beliefs and values to listen to others. We are invited to see things from the perspective of the other and to open ourselves to the possibility that God might be teaching us something through them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In my interaction with Rick, I wish I knew then what I know now. Even so, I don’t always get this right; I’m still learning. So it is helpful that we realize Mark’s Gospel reminds us that the last word is always love. Our text that we hear today is at the end of Jesus’ public ministry and from this time forward Jesus will be interacting with his followers and antagonists. So it is that at this ending, Jesus invites us to love God and love our neighbor. We remember that those who are opposed to Jesus aren’t so entrenched that they can’t be open to God’s leading. And remember that love is not an emotion we feel but rather a path we travel, however imperfectly. It’s love that starts this on our journey with Jesus and love that will bring us home.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In closing, I’d like to pray this prayer from St. Francis of Assisi:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand, to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Amen</span></p><br /><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; white-space-collapse: preserve;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; white-space-collapse: preserve;">*You can find the Hidden Brain podcast, "First Hearts, Then Minds," <a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/us-2-0-win-hearts-then-minds/" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-65918532425374481502024-02-18T13:05:00.000-06:002024-02-18T13:05:00.776-06:00The Way of the Cross: Going Last - Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent Year B, Narrative Lectionary 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1912d9f1-7fff-57ee-a85a-2e43d350ba12"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Way of the Cross: Going Last</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lent 1B – NL 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">February 18, 2024</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mark 10.17-31</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’m not going to ask you for money today, but by the end of the sermon, you might wish that I had.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Back in 2011, about this time of year, I was preparing to give my doctoral defense. I had sent off my thesis and wanted to be done with it. I had been part of a cohort that had been together for five years and this was the culmination of much effort. One last thing remained: we had to sign up for presentation slots. I really wanted to go first, not because I thought my thesis was so awesome, but I just wanted to get it over with. But someone else got there first and I decided that if given a chance, I’d go last instead. There was part of me that was trying to be courteous, but if I couldn’t go first, I’d go last. I must admit that I would do so because of the conventional wisdom regarding sitting in an interview: if I couldn’t make a good first impression then I’d make a good last impression.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I don’t think that’s what Jesus had in mind at the end of this story when he says, “The first will be last and the last will be first.” This is the second of three times that Jesus makes this pronouncement. We first heard it on Ash Wednesday when Jesus takes a child in his arms and upends our idea of greatness. Next week we’ll hear it </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">again</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> when Jesus referees a squabble between two of the disciples, again about priority in the kingdom of God, and asks if they will be able to drink the cup that he is going to drink. In a very short time, Jesus must remind his followers again and again that the ways of the kingdom of God are upside down from our culture’s ways and that the way of the cross is contrary to conventional thinking.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Today, the object lesson is not provided by the disciples themselves but a rich man. In other Gospels he is known as a rich young ruler. This man comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. So, we wonder: does he truly want to go deeper into the life of faith or is he simply trying to justify himself? Is he looking for an “atta boy” from Jesus or does he truly want to follow him. My guess is that he is sincere, otherwise he missed a great opportunity to call it good after Jesus’ first answer and say, “Nailed it!” But he presses on and then wishes he hadn’t: Jesus tells him to sell everything he has and follow him. The fact that Jesus looks upon him with love indicates the man was, indeed, sincere in his desire to find life.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now, here’s where we start to get antsy. Is Jesus’ command just for the rich man or is it meant for everyone. Jesus talks a lot about money in the Bible and the dangers of wealth. The American humorist Mark Twain puts it this way. “It’s not the parts of scripture I don’t understand that bother me. It’s the parts I do understand.” Said another way, “Possessions are their own punishment.” Our possessions can end up possessing us. Biblically, possessions were a sign of God’s blessing But that was something that our forebears perverted with the so-called Protestant Work Ethic. They worked hard to achieve material blessings so that they could be assured that God blessed them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But, notice what Jesus asks of the rich man: everything he wants to know is from the Second Table of the Law, the Ten Commandments. The First Table has to do with our relationship with God: “I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods before me. Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.” However, the Second Table of the Ten Commandments has to do with our relationship with our neighbor. In essence, Jesus is asking the man about what he is doing with his possessions. As the man receives blessings from God, is he closing his fist around them or is he holding them with an open hand? Is the man willing to let go in order to gain the most important thing, abundant life?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There’s a story that is told about how indigenous peoples trap monkeys. They cut a hole in the top of a coconut just big enough for a monkey’s hand to get through. They securely tie the coconut to a stake or tree and put meat inside. The monkey will put its hand into the coconut and grab the meat, but won’t let go even when in danger of losing its life.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of course, Peter can’t leave well enough alone and wonders about him and the others. They’ve given up everything, right? It sounds like Jesus gives them a pat on the back, giving them the “atta boy” that the rich man was looking for. Jesus tells them they will receive a hundredfold, but then he slips in “as well as persecutions.” Yikes. I think that Jesus wants to remind us that it isn’t what </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">we </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">do that’s important but rather what </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">God </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">does through us. Just as we rely on God for everything that we have, we even rely on God to help us let go of what is holding us back.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is the second stop on our Lenten journey, “The Way of the Cross,” whereby we make two journeys. The first is the physical trip as we go with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem, which will involve suffering, rejections, the cross, and the tomb. But we also make the spiritual journey of the way of Jesus, what it means to follow him. Today we are encouraged to ask what we might be holding onto that keeps us from following Jesus. What do we need to let go of to pick up the cross? It could be physical things like our possessions, but it could also be things like anger or resentment or jealousy or greed or pride. Maybe it’s even letting go of the notion of needing to go last. Whatever it is, know that we don’t go alone or without resources. For the One who gave himself on the cross continues to give himself in the bread and wine, his very body and blood. For with God, all things are possible. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-48947785737124954832024-02-11T12:10:00.002-06:002024-02-11T12:10:53.243-06:00Listen to Him - Sermon for Transfiguration Sunday Narrative Lectionary 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Listen to Him</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-a24a701e-7fff-d71a-ee9b-f3c33959f54f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Transfiguration B – NL 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">February 11, 2024</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mark 8.27 – 9.8</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“This is my son, the Beloved; listen to him!”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Back in late summer of 2020, about 13.5 years ago, shortly after arriving at my last settled call at Grace in Mankato, I suddenly lost hearing in my left ear. Not having a doctor yet, I went to urgent care and was diagnosed with an ear infection. Furthermore, I was advised by the doctor to schedule a follow-up visit with an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor). I didn’t, but when I didn’t regain my hearing, I did what I should have done sooner. After tests and scans, I was told I had Idiopathic Sudden Sensory Hearing Loss. (Idiopathic means “we don’t know what causes this,” but doctors can’t bear to say that, so they use “idiopathic.”) I was also told that there was nothing they could do because even if they were to attempt surgery to correct what might be a vascular or neurological problem, the surgery would do more harm than good. Furthermore, hearing aids wouldn’t help. I did get a second opinion that agreed with the first.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I suffered for about 5 years with this condition until I thought my hearing had deteriorated further, so I went for another test. This time I was told hearing aids could help. They do help, but only partially. I have a lot of trouble in crowded, noisy places, and the theater is almost impossible. People think talking loudly helps, but not necessarily. It’s not that I can’t hear things, it’s that I don’t understand what I’m hearing. Even so, part of the blessing of having hearing loss is that I can relate to what older people must deal with.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So it was that my ears “perked up” as I worked with today’s Gospel reading from Mark. God says, “This is my son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Today is the end of the short, green season of Epiphany which helps us grow in our understanding of who Jesus is. (Much like the longer green season of Pentecost during which we grow in our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.) Epiphany is bookended by two white festivals, Baptism of Our Lord and the Transfiguration. (It’s also why we’re celebrating Communion today.) Along the way we’ve discovered Jesus being revealed as healer, teacher, miracle worker, and one who goes where no one else dares go, even into death, and one who has and gives authority. Today we hear again how Jesus is not only the Son of God and Son of Man, he is the Messiah/Christ/Anointed One, God’s Beloved.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s a pivotal time in Mark’s Gospel as Jesus turns toward Jerusalem. In this text Mark essentially asks us if we are going to keep following Jesus or or turn aside. It’s a theological fork in the road and Mark could be channeling the words of the incomparable Yogi Berra: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” To push us in this direction, Jesus asks a seemingly innocent question, “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples take the bait and answer. “Some say Elijah, some John the Baptist, and others one of the prophets.” Jesus stops suddenly, looks them in the eye, and becomes more pointed, “Who do </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">you </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">say that I am?” Peter, in a burst of insight prompted by the Holy Spirit declares Jesus to be the Messiah, also translated as the Christ or the Anointed One. But then blows it when he rejects Jesus’ declaration that is is necessary for the Messiah to undergo suffering, rejection, crucifixion, and being raised.One can imagine they all go pale when Jesus says they must deny themselves, take up his cross, and lose their lives to save them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, when God says, “This is my son, the Beloved; listen to him!” we ask, “Listen to what?” And perhaps we can add, what gets in the way of us hearing Jesus and following him? One pointer comes in the text itself, that what gets in the way is setting our mind on human things rather than divine things. There are so many messages in our culture and society that make it hard to hear Jesus. For example, there are factions in our country that demand allegiance to a political party or person. This breaks at least one Commandment and probably more. The first Commandment says, “I am the Lord your God, have no other gods before me.” While we’re at, in the process of breaking this one, we break the Eighth: “You shall not bear false witness” or, as Martin Luther admonished us in a positive way, to speak well of others. (By the way, if you are assuming that I am a Republican or Democrat, I’m neither. What I’m saying cuts across political parties.) I am also not advocating for a theocracy where religious leaders are in charge. I believe that engagement in our democratic process is important, even critical. Yet, the way of Jesus is even more so.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of course, it’s not just the political cacophony that drowns out Jesus’ voice. You could name as many as I can, such as materialism and consumerism, maybe more. But my aim today is not to gore anyone’s particular ox. Rather, I think that listening to Jesus, following his way gives us grounding and perspective to hear these voices. Following the way of Jesus gives us “hearing aids” if you will, to discern healthy messages from unhealthy ones.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To help you with this listening, Pr. Drew and I have put together a Lenten Sermon series, “The Way of the Cross.” This title can be taken two ways. First, we are inviting you to walk with Jesus this Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and to the empty cross on Easter Sunday. The second way is to listen deeply to the scripture texts each week that inform us what that way looks like in our lives of following Jesus, what walking the way looks like. We begin this coming Ash Wednesday on “Being Great.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One final thought: listening to Jesus is hard work, taking up the cross, and denying self. Yet, we are not left with resources for, as ML says, we pray “Lord, give me what you’re commanding.” Furthermore, as we take the gift of Holy Communion we believe that Jesus is present in the bread and wine, giving us food for the journey. So, will you join Pr. Drew, me and your fellow companions of the journey, listening to Jesus? Some day it’s the journey, not the destination, but we believe it’s both. Amen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-9252264048377618182024-01-28T12:23:00.003-06:002024-01-28T12:23:50.469-06:00Saving Faith - Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Narrative Lectionary 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e838569a-7fff-bbf9-5b3a-b4f47ed95726"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Saving Faith</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Epiphany 4B – NL 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">January 28, 2024</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mark 5.21-43</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In March 1980, Mt. St. Helens in Washington state erupted in what was arguably the worst volcanic disaster in North America. A column of ash rose 12 miles in the air and spread for 10 straight hours. One of my aunts who lived in Washington state sent me a coffee cup made from the ash. It’s very light. At least 57 people were killed and hundreds of square miles were reduced to rubble. The resulting mudslides reached as far as the Columbia River, about 50 miles away from the volcano. The total devastation caused an estimated $1 billion damage, about $3.2 billion 2022 dollars.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Two characters in our reading, an unnamed woman and a prominent father, face life-changing death and devastation. Today is the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, the shorter green season that explores who Jesus is, literally bringing us “aha” moments. So far, Jesus has been revealed as God’s beloved Son, healer, and teacher. Last week Pr. Drew told us that Jesus is the one who goes where others refuse to go as we saw in his encounter with the man possessed by demons. Today, Jesus is shown to go even further, where others can’t go: into the realm of death.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mark has crafted a wonderful “sandwich” story, a story within a story that is called an </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">inclusio</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. This format serves to heighten the tension prevalent in the story. Jesus is now back on Jewish soil, surrounded by crowds, approached by a Jewish religious leader. Jairus falls at Jesus’ feet and desperately begs Jesus to heal his daughter. His actions highlight the seriousness of her illness. Jesus agrees, the crowd follows, but then he is interrupted by another desperate person. This one is an unnamed woman, suffering for 12 years with a flow of blood. Not only has she been bankrupt from paying doctors, they’ve actually made her worse.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The woman tries to be inconspicuous, but to no avail. Jesus calls her out, doing so to use the opportunity to praise her faith. He then tells her to go in peace, that her faith has made her well. Meanwhile, a contingent comes from Jairus’ house informing them that his daughter is dead. Jesus shrugs off the crowd, takes a few disciples with him, and tells Jairus to fear not but believe. Ignoring the jeers of the mourners, Jesus resuscitates the girl to everyone’s amazement.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The woman with the flow of blood was desperate because as someone ritually unclean she was dead in the eyes of the community. She could not be around anyone because her presence would make them unclean. Nor could she worship in Jairus’ synagogue for the same reason. In other words, she was also dead to God. Jairus’ daughter, of course, was dead. Really dead (“sleeping” is a euphemism Jesus uses to indicate that death is not beyond him). But she’s dead in another sense. She has been cut off as she entered maturity, short of becoming a woman, marrying and having children. She’s dead to any future she might have had. Yet, Jesus enters into their deaths, the woman and the father on behalf of the girl, and invites them into a trusting relationship, one that results in salvation and peace, also known as </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shalom</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the “Heaven” Bible study this past Wednesday, Pr. Drew led an excellent discussion about Hell. You can’t talk about heaven without talking about hell. Pr. Drew pointed out what we confess in the Apostles’ Creed, that after Jesus “was crucified, died and was buried,” he “descended to Hell.” Aside from not knowing what Jesus did there (some say he preached the gospel!?), we agreed that the larger meaning is there is no place outside of God’s presence and love, not even death. The Apostle Paul in chapter 8 of his letter to the church at Rome declares that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus, not even that great separator, death.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What is often missed in the Mt. St. Helens story is the rapid recovery of the area. True, the gaping crater remains, and the landscape altered irrevocably. But as Rabbi Ed Friedman notes, within weeks everything that appeared on the third day of creation appeared at Mt. St. Helens. (That is no reason to ignore the effects of climate change because, as Friedman notes, the planet will do us in before we do it in.) The bottom line is that there is nowhere God in Christ Jesus can’t go, including death, and bring about life. That doesn’t mean that all will be healed or resuscitated, because new life may look different.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As Our Savior’s Lutheran Church recovers from the experiences of last year, we have “Saving Faith,” trusting that God is present in, with, and through all that happens to us. God in Jesus goes anywhere and everywhere to bring life out of death. Thanks be to God! Amen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-79320711945250446062024-01-14T12:13:00.001-06:002024-01-14T12:13:15.774-06:00Epiphany: Jesus as Teacher - Sermon for the Second Sunday after Epiphany Narrative Lectionary 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Epiphany: Jesus as Teacher</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-5219c2c0-7fff-5ab8-4210-258b3a3aaa0d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Epiphany 2B – NL 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">January 14, 2024</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mark 2.1-22</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mark 2.13</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As I thought about Jesus as a teacher, I couldn’t help but think about one of my favorite teachers. The one that came to mind was my high school Biology II Anatomy & Physiology teacher, Joe Michel. Of course, he was Mr. Michel to us. I enjoyed the experience so much I came the next semester as a teaching assistant. One of the things I liked about Mr. Michel is that he had a deep appreciation for the marvels and wonder of the human body. That was something I resonated with and didn’t feel my usual embarrassment about. I could be unabashedly geeky. Also, Mr. Michel not only made learning interesting, he also accepted us for who we were. He connected with everyone in the class regardless of ability and was fully present to each and everyone of us. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Even so, Mr. Michel also challenged us. He made us want to be the best we could be, to do the best we could do. Finally, I also appreciated his vulnerability and openness. He told us once that he was planning to be a medical doctor but there was one small problem: he couldn’t stomach the sight of blood. (Frankly, I’m glad he didn’t become a doctor, though he would have made a good one.) Years later, it was his example that gave me courage to change directions in my life, first when I decided to pursue another career other than medicine and then when I answered the call to seminary.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Today is the 2</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">nd</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Sunday after Epiphany, a season during which we explore who Jesus is, how he has been revealed to us. Last Sunday, Pr. Drew talked about Jesus as a healer and today we discover Jesus as a teacher. He is teaching to a crowd in his house when he is interrupted by four people who dig through a hole in the roof to lower their paralytic friend into Jesus’ midst. Then he scandalizes the religious leaders by forgiving the man’s sins. Furthermore, Jesus amazes those present by healing the paralytic. Then he adds to the scandal (and foreshadows conflict) by calling Levi, a tax collector, to be one of his key followers. (By the way, if this was the Gospel of Matthew, Levi’s name would be Matthew. It’s not uncommon for people to have two names.) Then, not leaving well enough alone, Jesus accepts table hospitality from Levi and eats with societal and religious outcasts. That’s a no-no for an observant Jew.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Whether Mr. Michel knew it or not, he embodied many of Jesus’ characteristics as a teacher, though he wouldn’t have made the comparison himself. First, Jesus is fully present to people wherever and whenever he happens to be. He accepts people for who they are, whether tax collector, sinner, or even religious leader. Jesus was Mr. Rogers before there was a Mr. Rogers. And though people often seek him out, Jesus more often goes where he needs to be the most. Even so, it’s not the observant religious people of the day who need him most, but the marginalized and outcast.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The second thing Jesus does as a teacher is to be a challenging presence. He meets people where they are but they are not the same afterward. Jesus does this by asking a lot of questions. In fact, Jesus asks far more questions than are asked of him and he often “answers” a question with a question. He does so in a sneaky and often annoying way, such as through parables and metaphors. For example, Jesus notes that he has come for the “sick” and is doing a new thing that doesn’t fit their old preconceptions. In this way Jesus challenges both their thinking and our thinking and preconceived notions about the Kingdom of God, who belongs, and what its values are.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">How might this challenge us? We’re in a time of transition at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in a changing world. We are discerning what God is doing in our midst and what God is calling us to do. We are doing that in a Faribault community that is changing as well. So, how might Jesus be showing us, in word and deed, who on the sidelines we need to walk with? What new thing is Jesus doing in our midst that won’t fit on old cloth or in new wineskins? It’s always important to ask these questions, but even more so now, and to remember that, when we do, Jesus continues to be present, walking with us, guiding us, inviting us to follow in his way. Thanks be to God. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-61008132150220552692023-12-31T11:54:00.002-06:002023-12-31T11:54:38.401-06:00Just the Beginning - Sermon for the First Sunday of Christmas - Narratve Lectionary 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fde5d911-7fff-c306-bc9d-1a9c59880eca"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Just the Beginning</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christmas 1A-NL 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">December 31, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mark 1.1-20</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">On a day when the Vikings play the Packers, I hate to begin the sermon with a story about legendary Green Bay Coach Vince Lombardi, but it’s a good one. In July 1961 at the beginning of training camp, Lombardi decided that would begin each season by taking his team back to the fundamentals. He began doing that because his Packers fell short in the previous season’s title game and he didn’t want that to happen again. So, he addressed the assembled training camp players by holding aloft a ball declaring, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” (By the way, one of the players, probably Paul Hornung, quipped, “Can you slow down Coach? You’re going too fast.”) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It worked, because that year they won the title and Lombardi never lost a playoff game again.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In today’s Gospel reading we hear that this is “the beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, Son of God.” Last September we have been working our way through the Old Testament up to the story of Jesus’ birth. Today’s reading begins our trip through Mark’s Gospel from now to Easter and there are things it would be helpful for you to know about Mark. For instance, Mark was probably the first Gospel written and most likely the basis for Gospels Matthew and Luke. (John is a whole other matter, different from all three.) Also, you can see by today’s lesson that Mark moves fast, hardly pausing for a breath. Jesus is always “on the way” somewhere and things happen “immediately.” Mark can’t be bothered with endless genealogies, angels, shepherds, foreign wisemen, or histories. Finally, though the reader is told that Jesus is God’s Son, his followers are often clueless as to who Jesus is. Others seem to know, but not his disciples.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, although Mark seems in an all-fired hurry, thought it would be helpful to linger a moment over that first and fundamental sentence, “the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” What does Mark mean by “the beginning of the Good News?” One possibility comes from one theologian’s description of a Gospel as “a passion narrative with an extended introduction.” In other words, this is prelude to the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Perhaps Mark is rushing us ahead to the “good stuff” that’s really important in his mind.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But I think a clue to another reason for Mark’s claim that this is the beginning comes in the ending. After the women encountered the empty tomb, they fled in terror, and “said nothing to nobody, for they were afraid.” Mark’s Gospel ends abruptly, so much so that later writers felt the need to add not one but two separate endings. But I think it was Mark’s intention to end that way, that the Gospel was meant to be open-ended. In other words, the good news of Jesus Christ is just beginning, with the story continuing to be written in our lives.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One privilege of being an interim pastor is to hear the stories of how God has worked and is working in the congregations I’m serving. And I also am privileged to hear how peoples’ personal stories intersect those of the congregation. In both instances I hear also how God has been present in, with, and through those stories. At Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, I’ve been astounded how every difficulty and setback – and there have been several, serious ones – has not been seen as an ending but rather as a new beginning of ministry. You haven’t taken those difficult and even traumatic events lightly, but they haven’t finished you either.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions nor do I typically look at January 1</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">st</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> as starting over. But perhaps just this once I can make an exception. Let’s go back to the basics. To do so, I invite us to take the time to think about what beginning God has in store for Our Savior’s Lutheran Church this next year after a very challenging last year. Can you be open to what is unfolding in God’s kingdom? Let’s ask ourselves, “What is God up to at Our Savior’s and what does God want to do?” I don’t know the answer to that but I do know that we can figure it out together. Meanwhile, know that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, crucified and risen, continues to work. So, Happy New Year! Amen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-9511154167841536312023-12-24T18:39:00.000-06:002023-12-24T18:39:46.348-06:00The Christmas Story - Sermon for Christmas Eve 2023<span id="docs-internal-guid-e6a71d5a-7fff-da53-2331-714e5d9f1f94"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Christmas Story</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christmas Eve</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">December 24, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Luke 2.1-20</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It seems that Christmas is a good time for stories, and no doubt many will be told this year, around the Christmas tree or table.If we were to gather, our family would tell the story of a bachelor uncle who grudgingly came each year, demanding that we not get him a gift yet get anyway. We’d talk about the year that all four of us children got identical clock radios by parents who scrupulously made every Christmas equal, down to the last penny. And there’d be that poignant Christmas when my sister, then too old, got her last doll. And I’d tell about the Christmas time when I baffled that same sister by disguising her present so well that it made her crazy. Then there’d be the time my mom made lutefisk because my Swedish great aunt and uncle came to dinner, a dinner that stunk up the house for days.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Of course, in many homes </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Christmas story will be told again in one fashion or another, either around the tree or the table. It’s the story about how God took on flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth, as the Gospel writer John tells us. It strikes a chord in us, not just because it’s about a cute, vulnerable, baby. And not just because it involves angels and shepherds and animals and wise foreign visitors. It strikes a chord in us because we want to be reminded that God cares about us enough to be with us.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Unfortunately, there’ll be competing stories told this Christmas that stand against this one. Some of us will tell ourselves that God is distant and doesn’t care about us anymore, if at all. We’ll tell ourselves the story that God may come for other people, but God doesn’t come for us. We’ll tell the story that we have done such awful things that God couldn’t possibly come to us. Or perhaps we’ve bought the story that our worth is based on what we give or what we get. Most deadly, we tell ourselves that we must be happy because this is a happy time of year, and everyone else is happy so we should be happy, too.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’m not going to tell you those stories aren’t true, because they might be your truth this year. Rather, I want to invite you into the larger one that encompasses these smaller stories. The Larger Story of Christmas tells us that God meets us where we are and as we are, no matter what. Two thousand years ago, God came to a people “who lived in great darkness” amid oppressive governance and so God continues to come to us, especially in our darkest times. The Larger Story says to the Smaller Stories that, evidence to the contrary, God continues to come. And, as Mary, who pondered all these things in her heart, we take to heart the Larger Story that surrounds our stories.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As you gather around the Christmas tree or table this year to tell stories, please hear the Larger Story of God’s love for you. Hear of a love so strong that God will go to any length to show you that love. In a few minutes, God will come down yet again and be made flesh in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. You will hold God in your hands and know that the one who gave God’s self at Christmas continues to give that Love over and over again. We think that this story is too good to be true. Rather, it is too good </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">not </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to be true. Merry Christmas, God’s Beloved. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-89737272605942566492023-12-03T11:32:00.000-06:002023-12-03T11:32:22.068-06:00Mysterious Hope - Sermon for Advent 1B, Narrative Lectionary 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-625c00e1-7fff-66f6-29ad-d5e6a7a6e4d9"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mysterious Hope</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Advent 1B – NL2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">December 3, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jeremiah 33.14-18; Mark 8.27-29</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">You may already know this by now, but I love to read novels, especially murder mysteries. One of my favorite Minnesota authors, either Allen Eskens or William Kent Krueger (I don’t remember which) said that all stories are mysteries because you don’t know how they will turn out. Early on in a story, especially if it’s not particularly engaging, I’ll wonder where this story is going and not until half or two-thirds in that I find I’m really hooked and can’t wait to see how it ends. Then, at the denouement, I can usually see the breadcrumbs the author left earlier, but sometimes I’m mad because it seems the ending is pulled out of thin air. Even so, very often the ending isn’t what I expect, which is great, but I can see how we got there.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Today is the First Sunday of Advent, a time of preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. We all know the story, of course, and more or less how it ends. Yet, here we are reading it again just as we do each year. I’d like us to think of these Advent texts as theological breadcrumbs scattered along the way that give us hints of what is to come. The themes of Advent include not only preparation, but of watching and waiting as well. So, I’m asking you today: Can we not rush to the “end” but rather examine the breadcrumbs to see what they tell us about that ending?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One breadcrumb today comes from the prophet Jeremiah, a singularly depressing fellow. Life starts out pretty good prophecy-wise as he encourages the reforms proclaimed by King Josiah. We met Josiah last week who did not walk in the ways of his father and grandfather, kings who “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” Sadly, neither Josiah nor his reforms lasted long enough as both his son and grandson will do the same thing as Josiah’s father and grandfather. Meanwhile, Jeremiah was faced with the resulting blowback because of their apostasy, first from Egypt and then Babylon.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">During Jeremiah’s time, the southern kingdom of Judah went from being a vassal state of Egypt to being destroyed by the Babylonians. This much the same that happened to the northern kingdom of Israel 200 years before, except it was the Assyrians who were the aggressors. Jeremiah will be urging the people to repent and not resist the coming siege to the very end. Imprisoned by the palace guard, Jeremiah will be abducted and taken to live out his days in Egypt, but not until he utters a word of hope amid total devastation. His promise: even though there are no kings left in Judah, it’s not the end. The breadcrumb he places states that there will be a day when a new king will arise, one that is different from all the rest. This king will execute justice and righteousness.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This word of hope is important for Our Savior’s Lutheran Church as we wonder about our future, especially in view of the events of the past few months, even years, that leave us wondering where God is. To probe this hope a bit, I’d like you to do an exercise with me by being “Jeremiahs.” As you find yourself in this ongoing story today, what is your greatest hope for OSLC in the coming years? After you receive Holy Communion, fill out a Hope Slip at either table by completing the sentence, “My greatest hope for Our Savior’s is … .” The church council will read through the slips to get a sense of what your hopes and dreams are. Then the Transition Team will process the slips more intensely early next year.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There’s one more breadcrumb in our readings today, Peter’s assertion that it is </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jesus </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">who will be this Messiah. We also know this because we’ve read the end of the story happening at Easter. But we also know what Peter and the others don’t know yet, and what Jeremiah predicts, that Jesus is unexpectedly so. It will take a long time for the disciples and the early church to realize that what they have found in Jesus is far more important than what they were looking for.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One more thing that I learned in an early college literature class. The American novel that developed was different from its predecessors in that the American novel was open-ended. It left you wondering what happened next. As we go through Advent to Christmas and beyond, I encourage you to savor this time. Not only to sit with the “breadcrumbs” but also to discover those clues about what God is doing as you prepare for your next settled lead pastor, and not assume you know the ending. Because like the great American novels, the story is open-ended and still being written. What’s your greatest hope for Our Savior’s and how might God answer in unexpected ways? Watch and wait as you prepare. Amen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-72870447316513122412023-11-12T11:35:00.000-06:002023-11-12T11:35:43.577-06:00 The Heart of Love - Sermon for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Year A - Narrative Lectionary 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-70853e63-7fff-4207-3782-238c7be861d4"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Heart of Love</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 24A – NL 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">November 12, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hosea 11.1-9</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Things are getting a little crazier in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Have you been able to sense it these past few weeks? God has remained faithful to God’ people, fulfilling the promises to Abraham and Sarah that they’d be the ancestors of a numerous people. Though they became numerous as slaves in Egypt, God rescued them through Moses who led them back to the Promised Land. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">On the way, God and the Israelites entered into a covenant that they would be an exclusive item. Settling in the land as a loose confederation of tribes, life began to be hopeful when King David united the 12 tribes and his son Solomon brought order. Unfortunately, it’s gone downhill since then as the rebel Jeroboam convinced the 10 Northern tribes to secede, and it keeps getting worse. As we learned last week, all of the kings following Jeroboam “walked in his ways and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord,” principally worshiping other gods like Baal.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s been 100 years since Elijah dueled the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel and the Israelites have not changed, continuing to treat YHWH as just another god along with others. But what has added to the craziness has been a bloody civil war with its Southern brother, Judah, designed to convince them to join forces against the encroaching threat of Assyria to the north. Israel is in danger of being overrun and made a vassal state of a powerful nation. All seems hopeless.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Into this situation comes another prophet, Hosea, who for 10 chapters doesn’t make it any better for Israel and the Northern kings. Through the prophetic act of his marriage to his wife, Gomer, who exhibits serial infidelity, and his rebellious children, Hosea holds a mirror to the Israelites accusing them of the same things that are happening in his life. In other words, Israel has not only committed religious adultery and rebelled, they have also trusted in earthly kings instead of their heavenly king. By not trusting in YHWH, they have sown the seeds of their own situation, which does not look good.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hosea begins our reading today reminding the Israelites YHWH’s faithfulness by recalling the seminal event of the Jewish people, the Exodus from Egypt. Unfortunately, he says, they will now “return to the land of Egypt.” In other words, because of their unfaithfulness they will become enslaved again and the devastation will be even more horrific, if that’s possible. Indeed, Hosea’s prophecy will come true. Assyria captured the Northern Kingdom, also known as Samaria, in 722-1 BCE. And in typical conqueror fashion, the Israelites become captive and carried off into exile inAssyria.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Well, that’s a real upper, isn’t it? That is if it weren’t for the tender words Hosea speaks to them in the midst of the harsh ones. He shifts the metaphor he’s been using from marriage and children in this life to God as a parent. The difference this time is that God is faithful and caring. God’s love for Israel is like a parent who cannot help but continue to love no matter what. The only thing that is stronger than God’s disappointment and anger is God’s love. Hosea indicates that, although Israel will be chastened, this will not be the end of God’s faithfulness and love for them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As a parent, I can understand God’s love, if imperfectly. I love my children no matter what they do. However, as a </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">child </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of God I’ve also experienced it. You see, I was one of those young people who left the church after Confirmation for various reasons. Some of the reason had to do with how unjustly I perceived that my father was treated by a previous church. Though I’d just affirmed my baptism, I wasn’t sure I believed in God and in the years following, in high school, college (at a Lutheran one at that!), and a few years into my adulthood, I lived like I didn’t believe in God.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But something happened. It was a small thing but became a big thing. Soon after Confirmation I got a call from my pastor, Hugh Gilmore, wondering why he hadn’t seen me in church. I’d been very active until that point. I told him of my crisis of faith and said I was done with the church. To Pr. Gilmore’s credit, he responded kindly. He didn’t try to argue with me or guilt me but simply offered to talk with me if I wanted. But more importantly, he told me I was always welcome back to Hope Lutheran Church.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Years later a coworker invited me to a young adults group. I was ready to start looking for some answers to questions I had about God and the faith. But I think it was Pr. Gilmore’s tender care several years earlier that laid the foundation for my ability to try the church again. I was loved back into the church. That’s one of many reasons I want all our young people (everyone really) to know that no matter what happens to them, no matter what they do or where they go, there will be a place for them. (By the way, I met my wife, Cindy, in that young adult group and we were married at Hope Lutheran Church.)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As I’ve become a pastor, I have emphasized what I told our children today about God’s love. I want to make sure that they understand that baptism is God’s gift to us and that it’s for us more than it is for God. Baptism is God’s way of promising us that we will always belong to God, always be loved by God no matter what happens in our lives, that we are God’s Beloved Children. What we’ll learn in the coming months as we get closer to the Jesus story is that it gets worse for Israel and Judah. But we will also learn that God will go to great lengths to get this message across, including giving his only Son, Jesus, to do so. That’s the heart of love. Thanks be to God. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-4280785196033825582023-11-05T12:52:00.002-06:002023-11-05T12:52:39.681-06:00For All the Saints - Sermon for All Saint Sunday Year A (Narrative Lectionary 2)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f548d01d-7fff-8543-39d0-90f557fa05c9"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For All the Saints</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">All Saints A – NL 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">November 5, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">1 Kings 18.17-39</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s been about 50-60 years since last week’s events where the kingdom of Israel was split into after the death of King Solomon. The 10 Northern tribes of Israel (not to be confused with the whole country) remain separate and in contention with the two Southern tribes collectively known as Judah. Our reading today concerns the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Although not all of the northern kings are Jeroboam’s direct descendants, they all are “spiritual descendents” who have “walked in the way of Jeroboam and have done what is evil in the sight of the Lord.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thus enters the prophet Elijah who challenges the behavior of the evil king Ahab. Ahab has not only married a foreign woman, Jezebel (yes that Jezebel!) but has gone after her gods, Baal and Asherah. There is a drought in the land with an accompanying famine. The drought and famine are ostensibly the Lord’s way of getting their attention for worshiping false gods. It is in this situation that the Lord’s prophet Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a contest. In one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible, Elijah stands up for the Lard against the false gods.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Every advantage is given to the prophets of Baal. They are on their own turf and thus have the “homefield edge.” There are 450 of them and only one of Elijah (who stretches the truth about that a bit). They get the choice of bulls, their typical sacrifice. And they get more than enough time to get Baal’s attention, all under the taunting of Elijah. When it is his turn, Elijah takes the leftover bull and rebuilds the altar of the Lord with 12 stones. He digs a trench around the altar and pours 12 jars of water over it. After all of this Elijah utters a simple prayer to the Lord. In the prayer and all the actions Elijah reminds the people of Israel of their history, of who they are and whose they are. They belong to the one true God, the Lord.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">St. Elijah stands up for the Lord. Now I want to tell you about another saint who did so in a different way, my Grandpa Johnson. Grandpa was born and raised in Rice Lake, WI where he owned a milk can re-tinning business. He turned the re-tinning business into a truck body business that grew tremendously during World War II. Grandpa Johnson was so busy he brought his two brothers into the business. After a while, the two brothers started to force Grandpa out of the business. I don’t know all of the details, but Grandpa Johnson, who was a very strong Christian, decided that rather than fighting his brothers he would move the family westward and start a new life. That would be him, my grandma, and eight of their nine children, excluding the eldest, my mother.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Grandpa would have gone all the way to the Pacific Ocean but instead they settled in Spokane WA. It was a compromise with my grandma who said, “This far and no farther.” There Grandpa Johnson turned what had been a hobby, building boats, into a business. (He was one of the first, if not the first, to use fiberglass rather than wood to build his boats. Grandpa was a very creative man.) I don’t know if I could do what Grandpa Johnson did, and I know that he wasn’t perfect, but he is still an inspiration to me even though he has been gone a long time. And I do know that he prayed for his children and grandchildren every day until the day he died; (BTW, Johnson Truck Body still exists in Rice Lake, though it is owned by a German company. It does all of the Schwan’s trucks, which have little plaques on the side that say “Johnson Truck Body.”)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Today we celebrate the Festival of All Saints, when we remember those who have died in the past year. All Saints was originally designed to commemorate those who died as martyrs for the faith. (Martyr literally means witness.) We tend to think of a saint as someone who is extra-especially good, and that’s true, but a saint is also those who have been claimed by Jesus through baptism, who are redeemed by his blood. That includes you, me, all who have come before us, all around the world, and all who come after.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In a few minutes, we are going to experience that mysterious “great cloud of witnesses” as we come forward for Communion. This is where God comes down in a dramatic way, giving God’s very self to us. As you do so and light a candle to remember your beloved, also do so for those like Elijah and Grandpa Johnson who by their example by standing up for God and inspire us to do likewise. So, let us give thanks to God who strengthens us to do so as well by giving us God’s self through Jesus. Thanks be to God. Amen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-2969335609040148692023-10-22T11:51:00.004-05:002023-11-05T12:52:11.052-06:00The Paradox of Faith - Sermon for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost A - Narrative Lectionary 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f684cef6-7fff-3079-0874-35163d5116c5"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Paradox of Faith</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 21A – NL2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">October 22, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">2 Samuel 5.1-5, 6.1-5; Psalm 150; Mark 11.8-10</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I love language, especially putting words together to both amaze and amuse. The events of the past few weeks and the texts this week prompted me to think of those things in language that we call oxymorons and paradoxes. An oxymoron is two words when put together make you scratch your head. My favorite oxymoron is “jumbo shrimp.” A paradox is two ideas which seem to be contradictory yet are both true. In the Lutheran church we say that we are both saints and sinners at the same time. We are saints because we have been fully redeemed by the blood of Christ. However, we are also sinners because we still mess up. To use another phrase, we are “already, but not yet.” Sometimes oxymoron and paradoxes seem to bleed over into each other as in these two wonderful desserts, a hot fudge sundae or Baked Alaska. These are paradoxically both hot and cold while using oxymoronic names.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">There is a lot of truth in today’s readings today but there are inconvenient truths that are unfortunately left out. Last week we heard the story of Ruth, a non-Israelite living in the time of judges, who follows her mother-in-law Naomi to Israel with hesed, steadfast love and faithfulness. There Ruth marries Boaz and has a son Obed, who also marries and has a son Jesse, who marries and has eight sons. It is the eighth and youngest son, Ruth’s great-grandson, David, the boy shepherd, who becomes anointed king of all Israel. And, I should add, it is David who is the ancestor of the One anointed as Messiah, Jesus.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As I said, there is much truth expressed in our readings today. It is true that it is David who is able to unite the people of Israel, who is recognized as their de facto leader over and against the former King Saul. And it is true that it is David who chooses the neutral city of Jerusalem as his capital and who brings the Ark there ensuring that God is at the center of the life of the people. This movement is appropriately celebrated with unbridled joy. It is true that most theologians believe it is David who wrote Psalm 150, rightfully praising God. Finally, it is also true that Jesus enters Jerusalem to the cheers of crowds as the anointed Messiah.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Even so, there’s other truths lurking. David’s triumph has come with unbridled bloodshed, the killing of King Saul by his followers, the killing of those who opposed him, and the soon-to-be extinction of the Philistines. It’s also true that David brings the Ark to Jerusalem to consolidate his power and that this “man after God’s own heart” impregnates another man’s wife and then conspires to have him killed. Finally, it is true that Jesus enters triumphantly one day only to be arrested, tried, and crucified a few days later.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s important to recognize these paradoxes as we think about Israel and Palestine. It is true that Hamas is a terrorist organization that openly states that their goal is the annihilation of Jews and the Israeli state. It is also true that Israel openly states that their goal is the destruction of Hamas. It’s true that historically the Jews have been persecuted wherever they’ve lived in the world and it’s also true that the Jews who were once the oppressed have now become the oppressors of the Palestinians. They’ve had their knees on the necks of the Palestinians for 75 years.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It is true that Hamas is not the same as the Palestinian people but it’s also true that Hamas are the only ones standing up for Palestinians, albeit inappropriately. It’s true that Israel the political state is not the same thing as the religion known as Judaism and the religious and the secular often clash. It is true that Hamas is Muslim, but it is also true that most Muslims do not advocate terrorism. It is true that some Christians, especially in the US, support Israel’s oppression of Palestians because they believe in Zionism, that Jesus will return to Jerusalem.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, what do we do about this? Does our faith tell us how we might deal with these tensions? I think so. First, we might humbly admit our part in this conflict, ask God’s forgiveness, and seek what we can do. Second, we recognize we can’t resolve the tensions but rather recognize them and live with them. Life is complicated and the Bible is honest, sometimes brutally so, about the human condition. Third, we realize that this is complex and will take time to work through. There are no easy answers, despite what some claim.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Meanwhile, we are to go where Jesus went: to the cross. The cross is the place where we stand with those who are oppressed and we do so by showing compassion, which literally means to suffer with others. There’s a phrase that might help, “Think Globally, Act Locally,” which could involve prayer for our leaders and advocating with them for just solutions. This could also include sending support to sufferers through Lutheran Disaster Response, the Red Cross, or other worthy organizations. And we can promote conversations and understanding, such as we are doing this next Wednesday.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It is meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise God. We do so even, and especially when, our hearts are breaking amid the brokenness of this world. The best Psalms are the ones that lament our situation yet proclaim God’s love and faithfulness. That’s the great paradox of our faith, that to live for others means to die to ourselves. Because the One who died for us did so that we might live and that’s not oxymoronic, that's the truth of faith. Thanks be to God. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-34637691203200204812023-10-15T11:15:00.000-05:002023-10-15T11:15:50.468-05:00Steadfast Love - Sermon for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Narrative Lectionary 2)<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-da36b83b-7fff-e9d7-dcf0-cf51c7515de8"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Steadfast Love</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 20A (NL2)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">October 15, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ruth 1.1-17</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This past Wednesday I asked the worshippers what made a good friend, just as I did with our young people this morning. As today, they gave several excellent responses: a good friend keeps confidences, doesn’t tell stories, is a friend no matter what you do or don’t do, gives you hugs, and is honest with you even if it’s hard to hear. I’m guessing that you could add several more characteristics to this list.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">These characteristics could be summed up in the biblical term </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hesed</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, which means steadfast love, faithfulness, or loyalty. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hesed</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is something that is at the forefront of our reading from Ruth this morning. Since the Ten Commandments were given to the Israelites last week, they have wandered in the wilderness 40 years and finally settled in the Promised Land, grouped into 12 tribes. It’s a loose confederation with no central ruler and where disputes are settled by judges. It is in this setting that the book of Ruth finds context.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Because of a famine in the land of Israel, Naomi, her husband, and two sons travel to Moab for a better life. There the two sons take Moabite wives. Ultimately, all three men die, the two sons are sonless themselves. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem because the famine has eased and decides to leave her daughters-in-law so they might be able to build families themselves. Orpah reluctantly goes back, but Ruth steadfastly refuses and utters that famous declaration, “Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die—there I will be buried”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We don’t know what Naomi did to stir up such steadfast love and loyalty within Ruth. Perhaps it was shared grief or that Naomi’s God was more attractive than Moab’s gods. But we do know that this relationship is remarkable because historically Moabites and Israelites were enemies. We also know that for Naomi to return as a widow in Israel was very precarious. Without a husband or sons, she would have no means of support and life would be very hard for Naomi. Perhaps Ruth saw that and was determined to help.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Another remarkable feature of the story is that Ruth would face certain discrimination in Israel for being a foreigner Now, discrimination isn’t remarkable in and of itself, given the history of Israel and Moab. We’ll learn that even when Ruth displays her incredible faithfulness to Naomi and, as we will see, her subsequent marriage to Boaz, a prominent Israelite, she’ll always be “the Moabitess.” Yet, through it all, Ruth remains steadfast, and she and Naomi find a way where there was no way.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now, here is “The Rest of the Story” as Paul Harvey used to intone. Ruth marries Boaz, whose own mother, Tamar, was of questionable repute. They have a son, Obed, who also has a son, Jesse. Jesse will have seven sons, the youngest who is a “man after God’s own heart,” David. As we’ll see next week, it will be David who becomes king and unites the 12 tribes of Israel. And, if you read chapter 1 of Matthew, it will be David’s descendant, Jesus, who will be the Messiah. Ruth is the great-grandmother of Jesus 28 times.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The story of Ruth is not only some interesting bit of backstory to the Davidic monarchy and the Jesus story. The steadfast love and faithfulness of Ruth is a microcosm of that of the God who does the same. As we’ve seen already this fall, this is a God who makes a way where there seems to be no way. We saw God make a way by providing a son to a couple well past child-bearing age. This God made a way by freeing a people out of slavery, and making them numerous while bringing them into the Promised Land.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We still have a lot more story before we get to the Jesus story at Christmas, but through it all and beyond God will demonstrate God’s </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hesed</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, God’s steadfast love, loyalty, and faithfulness. It is this assurance that sustains us in our faith journeys, both individually and together as a community of faith. It is God’s steadfast love that carries us through this time of uncertainty, trauma, and chaos. As we gather around God’s Table, we receive God’s very self, God’s assurance that God will make a way for us where there seems to be no way. As God does so, we are not surprised when that way includes unlikely people like Ruth, me, and you. Thanks be to God. Amen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-40246805501465657702023-10-01T12:53:00.000-05:002023-10-01T12:53:06.180-05:00A Re-Membering God - Sermon for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost A - Narrative Lectionary 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A Re-Membering God</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-c5530fe8-7fff-2658-73b4-5cb23694065b"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 18A NL2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">October 1, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Exodus 1.8-2.10; 3.1-15</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">After a long time the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Exodus 2.23-24)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I was eating lunch with other interim pastors when the young woman approached our table. “Pastor Olson, do you remember me?” As I panicked a bit she revealed her name, Carwyn. Had she given me a few seconds more I would have indeed remembered her because I not only taught her in Confirmation but her older sister and brother as well. Not to mention I officiated at her sister’s wedding and the baptism of her sister’s first child. Besides, Carwyn hadn’t changed all that much. After inquiring about her and her family, she had to finish lunch and get back to her work. As I sat down, a colleague said, “Don’t you just hate that?” Actually no, because I was grateful </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">she</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> remembered </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">me</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the midst of their suffering, the Israelites in Egypt wondered if God had forgotten them. Much has happened since our text from last week when Jacob wrestled with God at the Jabbok River, getting a blessing and new name in the process. He reconciled with his brother, Esau, finally returned home, and had a twelfth son, Benjamin.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But it’s the 11</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> son, Joseph, who the rest of Genesis focuses on. Out of jealousy, Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery down in Egypt where he ultimately rises to power as Pharaoh's right-hand man. Through dream interpretation, he helps prepare Egypt for seven years of famine. The famine results in his whole family moving to Egypt where they are welcomed and given a home. That is, until a king arises that doesn’t remember Joseph and becomes afraid of the Israelites and their ever-growing numbers.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We don’t know how long the Israelites were groaning before “God remembered,” but we do know it was at least as long as it took Moses to be born, grow up, and spend years in exile in the desert. It seems as if God has forgotten God’s promises to the Israelites, but the Hebrew indicates that it may be more that God’s attention wandered. To the groaning Israelites, there is not much distinction. Regardless, the situation now has God’s full attention because Moses is ready for God to act through him. And this time, unlike last week, God is prepared to disclose who God is: “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In that statement, God not only discloses something of God’s self, God tells them they aren’t forgotten. God isn’t some Johnny-come-lately who happens to show up and claim to be their God at the last moment. God not only always has been, always is, and always will be, this is the same God who has always been with their ancestors, beginning with the promise made to Abraham, repeated to Isaac and Jacob. All evidence to the contrary, God has been paying attention, working to re-member them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Though none of us has had to endure generations of slavery like the Israelites, there are times in the midst of our suffering when we wonder if God has abandoned us or even if God exists. In a book published after her death, Mother Teresa of Calcutta admitted to enduring a “dark night of the soul” for years, even decades. And with conversations with some of you, you wonder how much more trauma Our Savior’s can endure. The good news is that those promises made the Israelites continue to be ours through Jesus Christ.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Exodus, God’s deliverance of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land will become a seminal and defining event. It will also become a prominent theme at Jesus’ Last Supper as Jesus becomes the Passover lamb who is sacrificed and whose blood sets us free from bondage to sin, death, and the devil. But through it all is the remembering, as Jesus admonishes us in the Lord’s Supper to “Do this in remembrance of me.” It’s important to know that this is a special kind of remembering, where Jesus is not merely brought to mind but rather is made present in a very real and tangible way, his very body and blood taken into our very selves.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In this meal we’ll be receiving soon, we’ll not only remember God’s saving acts that assure us that God has not forgotten, but we’ll also be re-membered, that is, put back together and made whole. “Do you remember me, God?” “Oh, my child,” God says, “more than you can possibly know. How can I ever forget someone who I claimed in baptism, marked with the cross of my Son? But so that you can remember that I remember, here is a piece of me to hold onto. For I am the God of your ancestors who will be with you always, even unto the end of the age.” Thanks be to God. Amen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-52250904572102848282023-09-24T11:58:00.000-05:002023-09-24T11:58:10.585-05:00For Real - Sermon for the Seventeeth Sunday after Pentecost Year A (Narrative Lectionary 2)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For Real</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-4d5b1d9b-7fff-dd05-5825-4e5323be4613"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 17A (NL 2)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">September 27, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Genesis 32.3-13, 22-30</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Growing up, I would occasionally watch All Star Wrestling on TV, cheering or booing the likes of The Crusher, Verne Gagne, and Baron Von Raschke. I watched, knowing full well that it wasn’t real, or that’s what I learned from my older brother. Even so, All Star Wrestling made for great theater and entertainment. One still came away with the understanding that wrestling is the most intimate of sports, that even in the cleanest of contests wrestlers get “down and dirty” with one another.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A lot has happened since last week, where we learned that Abraham and Sarah received the promised son Isaac. Isaac narrowly escapes being made a sacrifice by Abraham, grows up, and marries Rebekah. Rebekkah gives birth to fraternal twins who couldn’t be more different: Esau, “hairy red” the hunter, a “man’s man.” And Jacob, whose name means “supplanter” or “trickster,” who is the farmer. The Lord informs Rebekah that the brothers will be contentious. Indeed.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jacob will trick Esau into selling his birthright for a bowl of stew and conspire with his mother Rebekah to deceive Isaac into giving Jacob a blessing rightfully belonging to Esau. Jacob flees the rage of Esau, going to his uncle Laban where he falls in love with one of Laban’s daughters, Rachel. Jacob agrees to work for seven years to marry Rachel, but Laban is as big a cheat as Jacob, pulling a bait and switch with Rachel’s older sister Leah. So, Jacob works seven more years to gain Rachel’s hand.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jacob earns Rachel, but unlike Leah she has trouble conceiving; shades of Sarah and Abraham. Rachel gives her maid to Jacob as a proxy, and so does Leah when Leah stops being able to have children. Finally, God “remembers” Rachel and she bears a son, the 11</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> between all four women. Meanwhile, God prospers Jacob at the expense of Laban, who is getting the tables turned on him for his treachery.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">After 20 years of these shenanigans, Jacob wants to go home and so he gathers everything and leaves while Laban is away. Laban catches up with them, but they reconcile, make a covenant, and Jacob goes on his way. Jacob is finally heading back to the land of his ancestors, but there’s a catch: he learns that his brother Esau and 400 men are coming to meet him. Between this news and his nightly encounter, Jacob sends his flocks and family ahead, hoping to appease Esau.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jacob’s wrestling match with the nameless, initially faceless man was extraordinary and is a metaphor for our own faith journeys. For Jacob is not only wrestling with God, but also with Esau and himself. Jacob knows he is a schmuck and knows he deserves retribution for what he did to Esau, but he also reminds God of the promises God has made to his family. In the end, though Jacob will never be perfect, he does extract a blessing and a new name from God. He now becomes Israel, one who strives with God, which will also become the name of the multitudinous people. A twelfth son will be born, and the eleventh, Joseph, who will end up in Egypt where the Israelites will become numerous, too much for the Egyptians to handle.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But what I found most extraordinary about today’s story is not so much that we wrestle with God, for I imagine that all of you have stories to tell of your intimate confrontations with God. In fact, it could be said that Our Savior’s is at our own Jabbok River right now. No, what I find is that God comes and wrestles with us and it’s not fake or staged. It’s for real. In Jesus Christ, God got down and dirty, becoming human in all its humiliation and embarrassment. As Paul in Philippians reminds us, that God voluntarily emptied himself to walk among us.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One of our sacraments that ties this together is baptism, where God again comes down through the Holy Spirit and gives us a new name, Child of God, just as he has done for Hudson this morning. Like Hudson, God promises to be with us always, especially in our darkest times, providing us with a wrestling partner who helps us see the face of God in the most unlikely of places. And as God does so, God pronounces a blessing on us that you are God’s beloved child. Thanks be to God. Amen</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></i></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; white-space-collapse: preserve;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></p></span>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-41051894930839896962023-09-10T11:28:00.000-05:002023-09-10T11:28:14.636-05:00For All the Lonely People - Sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Year A (Narrative Lectionary 2)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For All the Lonely People</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-b7054a2c-7fff-4f69-5d41-7f445b218398"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 15A (NL2)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">September 10, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Genesis 2.4b-25; Mark 10.6-8</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Dick and Anne were members of a congregation we plugged into while I was in seminary at Gettysburg, PA. Our two young daughters were particularly close to Anne, who was the children’s choir director. That is until Anne was tragically killed in an automobile accident, which devastated all of us. Anne was a beloved member of both church and community. Not long after Anne’s death, I encountered Dick at an event. As he discussed his life without Anne he casually said, “You know I’ll get married again. I’m not meant to be alone.” Those words startled me because they seemed premature and rather cold. But as I thought about that comment, I realized it was not a slight to Anne, rather a tribute to the life they had together.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">God says, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” We begin this second year of the Narrative Lectionary that takes us on a whirlwind tour through the biblical story. Starting with Creation in Genesis we survey the Old Testament this fall that takes us to the Jesus story at Christmas. We then continue with Jesus’ life through his passion and death in Lent and resurrection at Easter. In the time of Easter and following we’ll hear about the experiences of the early church as they try to figure out what Jesus’ message means. This year, we will hear readings from the Gospel of Mark, either as the central text or in support of the Old Testament readings.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Prior to this morning’s reading from Genesis 2, God has created everything and pronounces it good. Today, the narrator goes “back to the future” by being more specific about the creation of a garden and humans to care for it, including an apparent miscalculation by God to provide Adam with a partner. Now, I need to say something about this text: though I believe this story expresses a deep truth about humanity and or relationship to God, I don’t think it is true in the way many people think of it as true. For example, I can say that I love my wife with my whole heart, and that would be a true statement, but it would not be factual. I cannot take my heart out of my body and love my wife with it in some physical way. So, one of the consequences of understanding this kind of truth is that this reading is not meant to be a proof text for the exclusivity of heterosexual relationships. We intuitively know that there are other important relationships. Besides, the Hebrew word for “helper” is often applied to God in the Old Testament, as in “God is a very present help in times of trouble.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">At the heart of the text is the truth that God created us to be in relationship with God and each other. And these relationships are meant to be mutual, even with God, as we are, theologian Phil Hefner said, “created co-creators.” To be “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh” is to realize that we are interdependent with one another. To paraphrase the poet John Donne, “No one is an island; everyone is a piece of the continent, a part of the main,” ending with, “Ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Unfortunately, we know what happens next and it’s not pretty: the cooperative and collaborative interdependence gets broken as humanity distrusts God and places blame upon each other. Work becomes difficult, brother kills brother, nations are scattered, and the earth is flooded. Yet through it all, we’ll hear the rest of the story as God works tirelessly to reconcile God’s self to humanity and humanity to each other and the promise that God never, ever gives up.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A story is told about a visitor who visits a friend on a cold, blustery day. The friend invites the visitor in and they settle before a roaring fire. After pleasantries have been exchanged, the friend says to the visitor, “I know why you’re here. It’s because I haven’t been to church lately.” The friend then relates to the visitor all of the slights, hurts, and offenses he has experienced from the church, mostly real and some imagined. The visitor doesn’t say much, nodding to indicate he is listening. When the friend is finished, they sit silently for a moment and then the visitor rises and silently takes a glowing ember from the fire and places it to the side of the hearth where it loses its heat. Presently, the visitor gets up and places it back in the fire again, where it quickly heats up. The visitor again wordlessly sits down. After a few moments, the friend says to the visitor, “I understand. I’ll be in church Sunday.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I think that Our Savior’s is a “fireplace church” where even in our brokenness we depend upon God and each other and the heat of God’s grace and mercy carry us through. Chris told me this morning that today is the third anniversary of his son, Aaron’s, death, something that understandably is still painful and leaves a hole in his heart. But he also said how important the grief group here is to him. I’ve heard other stories about the importance of this place, that no matter the brokenness we experience, God’s love sustains us. For it is not good that we should be alone, for God has made us helpers and partners. Thanks be to God. Amen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-88360177934290909612023-08-27T14:18:00.001-05:002023-08-27T14:18:44.496-05:00Foolish Faith - Sermon for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Narrative Lectionary Summer Series: Creeds<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Foolish Faith</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-4046ff9b-7fff-77f6-26c3-ee1be5e6f3e4"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 13A – NL Creeds 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">August 27, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our Savior’s, Faribault, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">John 1.1-5, 9-14, 16-18; 1 Corinthians 1.18-25</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ron was a faithful member of a congregation I served. He was almost always in worship and involved deeply in its life. When Ron passed away, I met with his son to plan the funeral service, as I always do. I was surprised when Ron’s son asked me not to include the promise of the resurrection in my funeral sermon. He explained that Ron really didn’t believe in the resurrection, but instead followed the teachings of Jesus in how he lived his life, which by all accounts, was one of integrity, kindness, and grace. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Today we reflect on the Second Article of the Creed, the one having to do with Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, and I know that Ron isn’t the only inhabitant of our church who puts less stress on Jesus’ resurrection. That’s interesting given that perhaps you’ve noticed as I did a few years ago that there is something missing from the creed:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the only Son of God,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">eternally begotten of the Father,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">God from God, Light from Light,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">true God from true God,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">begotten, not made,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">of one Being with the Father;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">through him all things were made.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For us and for our salvation</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">he came down from heaven,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and became truly human.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">he suffered death and was buried.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">On the third day he rose again</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">in accordance with the scriptures;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">he ascended into heaven</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and is seated at the right hand of the Father.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and his kingdom will have no end.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Did you notice that there is no mention of Jesus’ ministry or teachings? There is nothing about his command to follow him or to go his way. The Creed goes from birth to death to resurrection to ascension and finally to consummation.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Luther, in his explanation to the Second Article does something similarly:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from all eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, freed me and delivered me from sin, death, and the power of the devil, not will silver and gold, but with his holy and precious blood and innocent suffering and death, in order that I might be his, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as he is risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now, we know that Jesus’ ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing are important, and that Jesus does indeed call us to follow his way, the way of the kingdom, to love God and neighbor. What the creeds strive to do is to emphasize that Jesus is far more than a good teacher or role model. In echoes of the creation story in Genesis, John’s Gospel emphasizes that Jesus was present from before there was any beginning, that all things were made through him. In essence, John claims, Jesus, too, is God.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now, even that claim isn’t much different from mythologies of other cultures where gods often take human form. That is, until we get to the foolishness of that same God willingly dying on a cross for our sakes. In essence, the Apostle Paul says that if you want to know what God is like, look to Jesus. And if you want to know what Jesus is like, look to the cross, which sounds like utter foolishness. We are a broken people, and Jesus takes the brokenness upon himself and in doing so sets us free.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We Christians are an odd bunch. We foolishly believe there is more than the broken and dead things of this world, that death and brokenness are not the last words, nor are they the most important words. We believe that in death and brokenness we see life and healing, just as we did with Theone’s celebration of life this past week. We believe, some from the outside might say foolishly, that God will work through the brokenness and pain we have experienced as a congregation to bring new and abundant life.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It is in that assurance and promise from God through Jesus Christ that frees us to live foolishly. Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, picking us up when we stumble, dusting us off, and sending us on our way, that we can dare to live. In doing so, we are able to walk as children of light, bringing hope and healing to a hurting world. Jesus Christ is more than a good person, so much more, and through that “more-ness” we are more as well. We are more because we foolishly believe. This is most certainly true. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i>My sermons don't always preach as they are written. For video of the sermon with the entire service, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=our+savior%27s+lutheran+church+faribault+mn" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></span></div></span>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-5821748859174142082023-07-16T11:26:00.000-05:002023-07-16T11:26:04.001-05:00The Prodigal Sower - Sermon for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Year A<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-421867df-7fff-8b2e-4deb-f3f25ac44dfd"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Prodigal Sower</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 7A</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">July 16, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christ, Preston, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">By way of introduction, I’m going to give you a little glimpse into the life of a preacher. One thing you need to know is that most preachers work very hard on their sermons and take them seriously. Furthermore, we’ve all had the experience where a sermon we thought was good got no response and the opposite is true. A sermon we thought was a dud, but didn’t have anything else to offer, went over big. Frankly, while we appreciate it when people say, “Good sermon, pastor,” the response we’d </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">like </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to make is, “That remains to be seen.” If you’ve said that to me, chances are I’ve not been that snarky, instead saying, “I was preaching to myself. If you got something out of it, so much the better.” I truly believe that if the text doesn’t speak to me, it probably won’t speak to you. Even so, my favorite comment from parishioners is, “You made me think.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The response (or lack of it) to the Good News of Jesus Christ is at the heart of today’s Gospel reading in Matthew. Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower and to be clear, in spite of his explanation, there still remains a variety of interpretations. Today I’m going to think along the lines of what Matthew’s community dealt with and why some commentators think Matthew included this parable in his collection. That is to say, Matthew used this parable to address an important question: why did some people respond to the Good News and why did some of them not, a situation in the early Jewish synagogues that caused some conflict.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s a similar question put to Martin Luther by his protégé Philip Melanchthon 1500 years later. If God’s Word is so powerful, why doesn’t everybody accept it? Luther, in response, breezily answered, “The Spirit blows wherever and whenever it wills.” Of course, that’s no real answer at all, but it’s the best he could do. But before we proceed, it’s helpful to remember that parables are not puzzles to solve; they are mysteries to be entered. They are to open </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">us </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">up more than we are to open </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">them </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">up. So, when we enter this parable, it needs to be from a place of humility as we realize that all soil conditions apply to each of us at one time or another. In other words, we’re not always good soil.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The aspect of the parable that stands out for me today is the prodigious behavior of the Sower, who could be known as the Prodigal Sower. Though some people make a case that casting seed far and wide was a common practice in Jesus’ day, it seems to me excessively generous and perhaps downright wasteful, as Jesus’ explanation shows. Yet that doesn’t stop the Sower from the practice; God’s Word is thrown about like glitter. One interpretation is that God never, ever gives up on people, no matter what the result, and keeps spreading the Word regardless of the consequences.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s important to remember that most of Jesus’ parables are Kingdom parables. Jesus often begins his parables by saying, “The kingdom of God is like…” His parables try to describe the way of God’s activity and values that are difficult to pin down, and not “this is how we should live” kind of parables. Having said that, and reminding you that I’m not proposing the final solution, I think that there are questions raised by actions of a God who liberally and tirelessly spreads the Word. So, let me raise a few questions based on my time with you that you might find interesting to entertain.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Some of you have wondered why more people haven’t returned to worship or reengaged in the life of the congregation. Perhaps you know people who have fallen away, or may even have gone to other places. This is a complex question that the Transition Team touched on and your leadership discusses often. But rather than address it head on, what if we allowed the Parable of the Sower to creatively expand our thinking with these four questions: </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">What would it mean to scatter God’s word extravagantly and not worry about the results? This is not to say that outcomes don’t matter, but what if they are less important than liberally broadcasting God’s love, grace and mercy?</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">What would it mean to remember that it’s God’s job to give the growth, not ours? The Apostle Paul reminded the early church of that when he declared that he planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">How could you walk alongside people on their faith journey rather than criticizing their “soil?” Can you be cultivators, helping to prepare people to receive God’s Word?</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-wrap: wrap; vertical-align: baseline;">Could you be patient, realizing that the seed you scatter might lie dormant for years before bearing fruit? </span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Good News is I think you have begun to take these questions to heart, whether you realize it or not. You’ve recommitted to building partnerships in the larger Preston community and want this wonderful facility to be used by more groups, both inside and outside the membership of the congregation. Furthermore, rather than criticize the number of people who join you electronically, you are strengthening your digital presence and wondering how you can creatively connect even more so. But most importantly, you are opening yourselves to God’s Spirit, wherever it leads.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thank you for inviting me to walk with you on this portion of your faith journey. I’ve never felt as welcomed and supported as I have here, and I trust your new pastor will, too. I can think of no better words to leave you with than those of the Apostle Paul told the church at Philippi, “[I am] confident of this, that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” If that’s all you remember from this sermon and my time with you, that will be enough. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons often preach a little differently than written and you can find the video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christlutheranpreston" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-88921297638906246002023-07-09T13:01:00.000-05:002023-07-09T13:01:27.683-05:00The Yoke of Love - Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Year A<div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Yoke of Love</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-3d3f3a16-7fff-0d96-05cd-f2c850bc1edb"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 6A</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">July 9, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christ, Preston, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Matthew 11.16-19, 25-30</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’m not sure why or how, but I grew up thinking I had to do things myself, that I couldn’t ask for help from anybody. Perhaps it was being the middle-oldest of four children or maybe it was my parents' strong work ethic. Regardless, I rarely asked for help. That started to change when I was a pastor in Winona and had surgery on my shoulder. I had to ask my wife for help to do the basics of care. Around the same time, I was discerning whether to enter a doctoral program. With one daughter already at Winona State and another one on the way, it seemed financially impossible. So, I told God that if he wanted me to do the doctoral program then </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">he’d </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">have to provide the funds. God agreed, but told me that </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’d </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">have to ask for them. Which I did. And which God did.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I’m guessing that I’m not alone in this affliction of self-sufficiency and apparently people in Jesus’ time suffered from it, too. Last week we finished the Missionary Discourse as Jesus prepared his followers to be sent out to do the work he was doing. He has resumed his teaching and preaching and gets an odd question from John the Baptist, who is in prison. “Are you the one who is to come or should we wait for another.” In essence, Jesus says, “Yes.” Then Jesus turns to the crowds, extolling John the Baptist in his role as the forerunner to his ministry.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Our reading for today picks up there and Jesus turns a bit crankier. He takes a swipe not at the crowds who are following him, but at the religious leaders of the day who can’t seem to be satisfied where he and John are concerned. Using the parables of the flute, a metaphor for the celebratory nature of weddings, and the wailing, a metaphor for the mourning that happens at a funeral, Jesus says that no matter what he or John do or don’t do, whether they drink or don’t drink, the religious leaders are critical. But, he says, they can’t have it both ways. Jesus is cranky because they not only refuse to listen to a word from God, they also make religious life harder for the people.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As if everyday life weren’t hard enough, especially lived under Roman rule, the religious leaders heaped up additional burdens. And, if we need any more dumped on us, the Apostle Paul exposes our all too human condition: we do those things we hate to do and don’t do the things that we want to do. But then Jesus’ tone softens and he turns back the crowds, inviting them into rest for their souls. It’s at that point that Jesus’ invitation reminds us that we don’t need to go it alone or do life ourselves.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To make his point, Jesus uses the image of the yoke, one which the people would have been familiar with. You all probably know more about yokes than I do, but I understand they distribute the load more evenly. In fact, I believe that two animals yoked together can do more than two individually. Yet, the yoke Jesus offers is not a new law or religious rule, but rather a yoke of love. Remember the two greatest commandments, to love God and love others. As Zechariah shows us, this king doesn’t come proudly on a warhorse but rather in humility.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This need to share burdens is one of many reasons we need to belong in community. Over the last eight months I’ve seen how you have cared for one another in so many ways. You’ve wrestled with how we can strengthen that sense of community post-pandemic. You’ve stepped up, claiming the ministry God has been doing in, with, and through you and found creative ways to deepen your relationships with each other. An African proverb says it well: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” You will be going far because you will be going together. So, whatever burden you’ve brought here today, know that you don’t have to carry it alone. The One who is gentle and humble in heart gives you rest for your soul. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons often preach a little differently than written and you can find the video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christlutheranpreston" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-1182266746156346782023-07-02T10:16:00.000-05:002023-07-02T10:16:06.812-05:00 The Declaration of Dependence - Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Year A<div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Declaration of Dependence</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-af33c4b6-7fff-9886-9420-74d4f7b968f9"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 5A</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">July 2, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christ, Preston, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Matthew 10.40-42</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This verse and those that follow are often used as a basis for extending churchy hospitality to outsiders. Congregations proudly declare, “All are welcome” which, of course, is a very good thing to say and do. Unfortunately, most congregations fall short of living this out, believing that they are truly welcoming, but in reality only to themselves. Christ Lutheran Church in Preston may be an exception. Congregations do better when this invitation is made to the table of Holy Communion, but again fail to realize that it doesn’t always mean it when, as one child once said to me, “I’m not welcome.” Indeed. That led to some serious conversation about who gets to commune in that congregation. That may be a growth area for Christ Lutheran Church as it discerns what “All are welcome to the Table” really means. We’ve already had some initial conversation.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Also, unfortunately, these verses aren’t really aimed at churches </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">offering </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">hospitality but rather </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">receiving </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">it. We are at the end of the so-called “Missionary Discourse” in Matthew’s Gospel, the second of five blocks of teaching by Jesus. Two weeks ago, we heard Jesus describe the great need in the world and how he selects 12 of his disciples to be apostles, sent out into the world to bring healing and good news. Then we heard how they were to rely on the hospitality of others and, in the midst of certain blowback and even persecution from some people, that God will care for them as God cares for all creation.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jesus wraps up his instructions to the 12 with this claim, that those who receive them and welcome them don’t just receive them, and not even Jesus in his name, but God as well. Now that’s an amazing claim, and we enjoy the idea of a cup of cold water extended to us for what we do. But it’s also a warning of sorts that may result in the water being thrown in our faces rather than given to us in a cup. What we do or don’t do, say or don’t say, reflects not only on </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">us </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">but also on </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">the one </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">who sent us.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This is an important word to hear because the church no longer has its privileged place it once held in society. Almost everywhere I go, parishioners lament the encroachment upon the church’s “territory.” Sundays are already gone and Wednesday nights are going. Sports and other activities are virtually every day during the week and not just seasonally, but year-round. Ministeriums are vanishing and church becomes one more obligation among many vying for peoples’ time. It may not be happening as much in smaller communities like Preston, but it is still happening.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That sounds dire, doesn’t it? I don’t think it needs to be, and perhaps it may even be a good thing. How so? Because now that the church is decentered and pushed to the periphery, perhaps it can remember why it exists and to whom it is to be sent: to heal the broken in God’s world. Additionally, we get to recover our prophetic voice that is often silenced in accommodation to the culture. We advocate for those on the margins who are unable to advocate for themselves.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This week, we’ll be celebrating the Declaration of Independence, an important remembrance for our country. Even so, I think that today we should celebrate the “Declaration of Dependence.” In other words, we rely on the Gospel, not the privilege of position. We are Christ’s hands, feet, and voices in the world, bringing the Good News of God’s love. Welcoming all to Jesus’ Table is a good start as it strengthens us to go out and see how we can bring hope and healing to a world that needs us to walk alongside it, not berate it. Whether you receive a cup of cold water or get one thrown in your face, know that you are a beloved child of God sent in Jesus’ name to Love God, Love People, and Follow Jesus. Thanks be to God. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;"><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons often preach a little differently than written and you can find the video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christlutheranpreston" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-49970344422508416452023-06-25T11:00:00.001-05:002023-06-25T11:00:29.016-05:00No Fear - Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Year A<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7def1d62-7fff-91ab-0bf5-e2dfc3f58dc0"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">No Fear</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 4A</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">June 25, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christ, Preston, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Matthew 10:24-39</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In chapter nine, Jesus had been traveling along, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God and healing many people. Suddenly he stopped and sensing an opportunity for a teaching moment with his followers. One can just imagine him sitting down holding forth in what we now call the Missionary Discourse, the second of five blocks of teaching in Matthew’s Gospel.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Friends, look around you. See how many people need to hear the Good News of my Father’s love? There are so many needs and I’m only one person. Is your gut twisting like mine is? Do you have compassion on them like I do? They are like sheep without a shepherd or like ripened wheat with no one to bring the harvest.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, here’s what I’m going to do. You twelve, who I’ve called disciples, who have been with me and heard my teaching, I have a special assignment for you. You are now called apostles because I’m sending you out to do the work I’ve been doing. Now, this is going to sound crazy to you, but we’re going to do things differently than other teachers and students. First, because God’s love is free, you are not to accept any payment for healing people, curing lepers, and even raising the dead. Nothing. Second, take nothing with you, no money, extra clothing, not even a bag. Trust that people will feed you and house you. Trust that you will be provided for.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now, I need to prepare you for something that might happen to you because it’s happened to me. What you are doing is not always welcome. The Good News of God’s love and grace is not seen as good news to everyone. Also, because you’re my friends and followers some people will hate you because of my name and reputation. That may not be fair, but that’s the way it is. And you really shouldn’t be surprised because we all belong to each other.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I wish that was all that you had to face, but I want to be totally honest with you. You’ve probably already noticed that my mere presence causes an uproar in families. Sons argue with their fathers, mothers with daughters, everyone taking sides. Of course, I don’t want that to happen, but that’s how it works out. Someday people will agree not to talk about me at family gatherings because it causes too much commotion. Maybe it’s already happening.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Frankly, one reason why my message is so hard for people to is that it requires a different way of thinking, one that goes against everything people are taught. My message invites people into a new way of life, one that demands unwavering loyalty to my way, the way of God’s kingdom. You’ll understand more about what I’m talking about after my crucifixion. But for now, know that when you follow me and give your life to serving others you will find true life.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Right about now I sense some of you drifting away, wondering what you signed up for. That’s okay. I’m not going to soften anything I’ve said because I want to be honest about what it means to go about in my name. Instead, there’s more because with God there’s always more. Here it is: don’t be afraid. I know, that sounds easy for me to say and simplistic, but it’s important. You see, God has you covered. You see those sparrows over there, what some of you call a poor man’s meat because that’s all they can afford to eat and the cheapest sacrifice available for the temple? It may sound incredible, but nothing happens to any of those sparrows that God doesn’t know about. And in case that doesn’t wow you, God even knows how many hairs are on each of your heads. Seriously.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Two thousand years from now someone will pick up on this and say that a life lived in fear is a life half-lived. That’s right, 2,000 years and people will still be experiencing what you are experiencing right now, trying to figure out what it means to follow my way. The important thing to remember when I’m gone is it’s because of God’s love and care that you can do this, in spite of all the difficulties that come with the territory. None of us can do this on our own, not even me. So, get out there and do the work that God needs to have done, to love and bless a world that is hurting and needs to know that God loves them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Indeed, Jesus’ words were prescient. Those early followers would be treated just like Jesus was treated. Matthew’s community would face blowback from people in the synagogues who didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah. People in positions of authority felt threatened by Jesus’ message of love and acceptance to marginalized communities. But Jesus was also right about God’s presence with Jesus’ followers down through the ages. The way of Jesus has persevered, even if it hasn’t always behaved in the way of Jesus. It may seem creepy that God knows everything, and that might not be good news to some people. Even so, to know that God is with us in, with, and through the good, bad, and the ugly sustains us every moment of every day. As the Apostle Paul notes, death no longer has a hold on us. Because we have no fear, we are able to Love God, Love People, and Follow Jesus. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons often preach a little differently than written and you can find the video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christlutheranpreston" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-76979744716953338102023-06-11T11:48:00.001-05:002023-06-11T11:48:22.486-05:00On the Fringes - Sermon for the Second Sunday after Pentecost Year A<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b75128c4-7fff-76d0-c719-1e51794df3af"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">On the Fringes</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Pentecost 2A</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">June 11, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christ, Preston, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Matthew 9.9-13, 18-26</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I listened to a podcast a few weeks ago on something called the “Imposter Syndrome.” Have you ever heard of that? According to the magazine, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Psychology Today</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, “People who struggle with imposter syndrome believe that they are undeserving of their achievements and the high esteem in which they are, in fact, generally held. They feel that they aren’t as competent or intelligent as others might think—and that soon enough, people will discover the truth about them. Those with imposter syndrome are often well accomplished; they may hold high office or have numerous academic degrees.” The podcast I heard listed such accomplished actors as Viola Davis and Tom Hanks as dealing with Imposter Syndrome.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I think many of us struggle with Imposter Syndrome in one form or another. We have self-doubts, wondering if we belong. I know that I’ve been part of groups where people were far more accomplished than I, leaving me wondering if I belong. I suspect that some of you here today have similar feelings, that you wonder if you really belong, especially here in this church. You look around and see others who have their faith-act together and think you are a fraud compared to them. Well, if you are one of those, this sermon is for you and me. For the others who don’t have this problem, please sit quietly until we’re done.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We have an interesting cast of characters in our Gospel reading from Matthew 9 today and I wonder if they had doubts about belonging, whether they were worthy of Jesus’ attention. Matthew, the reported namesake of this Gospel, was himself a tax collector. He is joined by other tax collectors, “sinners,” a woman with hemorrhages, and a dead girl, along with her father (synagogue leader), Pharisees, disciples, and Jesus of course. Then these odd characters are found in odd situations. Jesus calls Matthew, who immediately follows, eats with the disciples, tax collectors, and sinners, all under the curious eye of the Pharisees. Jesus himself follows without hesitation the synagogue leader to attend to his daughter and, while on the way, encounters the woman with the hemorrhages.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s helpful to remember that many of these people were on the fringes of Jewish society. Tax collectors because they collaborated with the Romans, handled unclean money, and took advantage of people by overcharging them. “Sinners” was a catch-all phrase for those who didn’t observe Jewish laws. Women with flows of blood were ritually unclean as were dead people; observant Jewish men wouldn’t touch them because they would become unclean. Not only does Jesus consort with these people who are on the margins, but he also eats with them, unthinkable in that day and age.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In case we miss the point, Jesus declares that mercy is a core value of God’s kingdom and furthermore, he didn’t come to call those who have it all together, but rather those who are on the outs. Frankly, the worst thing that happened to Christianity is when the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the early 4</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> c. and Christianity became the “official” religion of the empire, suddenly becoming mainstream. True, Christianity spread quickly because of this, but it quickly forgot who it came for and why. As an aside, the leaders of the church also became obsessed with the power this brought them, forgetting that they came to serve the people rather than the other way around.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, if you’re one of those who have it all together, you can leave anytime and don’t need to come back because this place isn’t for you. But, if you don’t have it all together, feel like you’re not good enough, a fraud, then this is where you belong. The good news for you today is that you don’t have to pretend anymore because Jesus came for you. The issue isn’t whether you deserve God’s love or not, what others think, or what you do or don’t do. The issue is that Jesus invites you to follow him in order to love and bless our broken world, especially you. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons often preach a little differently than written and you can find the video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christlutheranpreston" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-36106965783582209152023-05-28T10:47:00.000-05:002023-05-28T10:47:09.143-05:00E Pluribus Unum - Sermon for Pentecost Sunday Year A<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">E Pluribus Unum</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-9017d0d2-7fff-f22b-9413-0a9a28b1b5fa"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pentecost Sunday A</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May 28, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christ, Preston, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Corinthians 12.3b-13</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Susan related a story from her days as the young wife of an equally young Army officer, Lloyd. To understand this story, you need to know that it was before the Army became an equal opportunity employer with women serving alongside men. The Base Commander’s wife invited the wives of the newly arrived officers to a reception at her home. After they’d arrived, the Commander’s wife instructed them to sort themselves by rank. Susan, a bit flustered, knew her husband was a lowly Lieutenant and let the others move themselves around, figuring she’d be at the end of the line. After they sorted themselves out, the Commander’s wife sternly admonished, “Ladies, you have no rank! It’s your husbands who have rank, not you.” With that, the Commander’s wife informed them that they had no special status because of that of their husbands.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Apostle Paul may have been expressing the same sentiment to the church at Corinth. This was a church that Paul founded and with whom had a deep relationship. This intimate relationship was maintained through letters back and forth. Most scholars agree that 1</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">st</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and 2</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">nd</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Corinthians contain a mashup of several letters Paul has sent, as many as five. We have none of the letters that the Corinthians wrote, but we have some of Paul’s. They would ask Paul questions and he would respond and we have to guess at the issues by how Paul responded. It’s like listening to one side of a phone conversation. Like many communities of faith, the Corinthians were trying to figure out what it meant to be followers of Jesus. Remembering that this was a scant 20 years following Jesus’ ascension, to a large extent Paul was doing the same thing.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The situation of the Corinthians made this question important. Corinth was located on a busy trade route in Greece and the city contained a diversity of peoples. The church at Corinth likewise mirrored that diversity: there were old and young, rich and poor, slave and free, Jew and Gentile etc. None of these groups was used to gathering with the other. In addition, all had previously worshiped various gods. Prior to today’s text, Paul answered questions about worship. In particular, it appears that the rich and privileged were able to gather early for the weekly meal, which has come down to us as the Lord’s Supper. Not waiting for the working people, they ate and drank to excess, leaving nothing for the others. Paul admonished those who were privileged that they must wait for the others and eat together. (That’s the issue in 1 Corinthians 11, not how old you need to be to take Communion.)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s not the only divisive issue as Paul addresses the idea the Corinthians had that some spiritual gifts were better than others. In fact, as we can see in chapters 13 and 14, the gift that caused the uproar was speaking in tongues. Those who spoke in other tongues deemed their gifts superior, giving them a higher rank. However, Paul makes two points and then a metaphor to explain how wrong this is. First, Paul insists that there is only one Spirit, Lord, and God, not three (or more as the Corinthians were used to). Second, Paul tells them that all of the gifts are to be used for the common good, not their own personal aggrandizement. He then illustrates his points with the metaphor of body. They are all like many members of one body. Later, he’ll tell them they are the body of Christ, who is the head. Thus, in addressing the issue of spiritual gifts, Paul is also speaking to the larger issue of unity in the midst of diversity.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Rabbi Ed Friedman has noted, this is the same phenomenon that is baked into the fabric of creation and being worked out since. Millions of years ago, single-celled organisms gained the ability to join with others and as time passed, cells would specialize and become the diverse multi-celled creatures we see today. Even so, this diversity is always in the service of the larger whole. The whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. This process of giving up some independence in service of the larger whole, Friedman notes, was used by the original 13 colonies to form the United States, most eloquently stated by James Madison in </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Federalist Papers</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This led to the unofficial motto, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">E Pluribus Unum</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, “out of many, one.” Diversity serves the greater good.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I counsel couples preparing for marriage I always tell them that, “If my wife and I were the same, one of us would be unnecessary." There is diversity of opinion here at Christ Lutheran about what the next pastor should be like and if there should be shared ministry with Union Prairie Lutheran. That’s good and healthy as long as some of the cells don’t become cancerous and insist everyone else be the same or, to shift the analogy, thumbs don’t dictate to the rest of the body, The unifying principle of America is found in the Constitution and Bill of Rights, but of course, our unifying principle is Jesus Christ, crucified, risen, and ascended. This is neatly summarized in your mission statement: Love God – Love People – Follow Jesus. To do so we are blown by the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life. Thanks be to God. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons often preach a little differently than written and you can find the video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christlutheranpreston" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-20153646314283492232023-05-14T12:15:00.000-05:002023-05-14T12:15:06.937-05:00Jesus 2.0 - Sermon for the Sixth Sunday of Easter Year A<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-12e1a0bf-7fff-908d-4794-6ea8387f8cf1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus 2.0</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Easter 6A</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May 14, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christ, Preston, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 14.15-21</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My wife and I have been married almost 43 years and of course, been together longer than that. An early lesson I learned still sticks with me all these years later. I learned that most of the time when she gets upset about something she doesn’t want it fixed. Rather, what she really wants is for me to just sit with her, commiserate with her, and maybe hold her hand. That was (and still is) hard for me because I dislike seeing her in pain and I want to fix it. But it’s not about what I need; it’s about what she needs. That’s a lesson that’s carried over as a pastor, to know when someone just wants a presence, someone to listen.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jesus said, ‘And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.’” These verses follow last week’s well-known text about Jesus preparing a place for his followers and us and the well-known “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” It’s the Last Supper, just before Jesus is arrested, tried, beaten, and crucified. He knows his followers will feel lost and alone without him, so he does three things in this long, final speech to them. First, he reminds them of his mission from God, which is now </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">their</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> mission from God, to love and bless the world.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second, he tells them they </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">be together again, that he goes to prepare a place for them. And third, in the meantime, as they focus on the mission, they will not be doing it alone. In a foreshadowing of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Jesus tells them that </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">another</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Advocate is coming, this one also sent by God the Father just as he has been. In other words, the Holy Spirit is going to be Jesus 2.0, only they won’t physically see him.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Greek word that the NRSV translates as “Advocate” is </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">paraclete</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(No, this is not the bird parakeet. The Holy Spirit is depicted by a different bird, the dove.) If you were to look at 10 different Bible translations, you will probably see 10 different words, such as Counselor, Guide, Helper, etc. I’ve even seen “Coach” used. If you literally translate </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">paraclete</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, it becomes something like, “One who has been called to walk alongside.” Or, as it sometimes happens, one who comes to sit with another and perhaps holds her hand. We know that living our life is up to us, but the presence of another makes that living easier. That’s why community is so important to us.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is all well and good, but according to the text, it seems this presence depends upon whether we love Jesus or not. It’s almost a “chicken or the egg” conundrum. Which comes first, God’s love or our love? First of all, we remember that elsewhere in the Bible it says that “God is love,” and that “We love because he first loved us,” both in 1 John 4. But I think it’s also helpful to know that the Greek word for ‘if” can be also translated “since,” or “when.” In other words, “Since you love me you will keep my commandments” or “When you love me you will keep my commandments.” Jesus is trying to express in words what is almost inexpressible, the mutually abiding love relationship between God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and us.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, Jesus is not talking about romantic love here, though there can be feelings involved. Rather, Jesus is talking about </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">agape, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sacrificial</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> love. Even so, it’s still true that when you love someone, when you are in a mutually abiding and intimate relationship, you </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">want</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to do the right thing. So, we don’t beat someone else up because we don’t think they are following Jesus properly. That’s not our job. Instead, we become Jesus </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.0</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Christ to others, walking alongside in both difficulty </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> delight. May you know the abiding love of the Holy Spirit and share that love with others always. Amen.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons often preach a little differently than written and you can find the video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christlutheranpreston" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-63803878786517410862023-05-07T12:22:00.000-05:002023-05-07T12:22:23.848-05:00The Way of Jesus - Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Year A<div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Way of Jesus</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-139ef738-7fff-0fbf-669a-efacebd91f9f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Easter 5A</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May 7, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christ, Preston, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 14.1-14</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the spinoff TV shows from“Star Wars” pantheon is called “The Mandalorian.”, The title character is a bounty hunter, something of a loner from a group of displaced peoples. Mandalorians wear special armor called Beskar, virtually indestructible. Their armor includes a helmet that hides their face and they never take off because, as they say, “This is ‘The Way.’” The Mandalorians also cite a Creed that guides their behavior and way of life as they seek to follow “The Way.” Furthermore, whenever there’s a debate about what to do and a decision is made, after agreement they all chime in by saying, “This is ‘The Way.’”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interestingly, the early followers of Jesus called themselves The Way long before being called Christians. The book of Acts tells us that they were given the name “Christian” by outsiders, but that they were known amongst themselves as “The Way.” This designation no doubt derives in part from Jesus’ words about himself from today’s Gospel in John 14. He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” words we hear quite often at funeral services, for good reason. So, here we have another “I am” saying we often encounter in John. Last week it was, “I am the Gate,” and by inference, “I am the Good Shepherd.” We remember that Jesus uses the “I am” sayings to denote a special relationship with God. “I am” is the name God uses with Moses in the desert when Moses asks God whom shall he say sent him when the people ask.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We may feel whiplash as we find ourselves back in John where we spent four weeks in Lent. Yet, there we looked at the texts as we prepared for Jesus’ crucifixion, but here we look at the texts through the lens of the resurrection. Perhaps this is a flashback that helps us to recall what he said to his followers before his crucifixion. On the night of his betrayal at the Last Supper, Jesus is preparing them for his absence. He assures them that he is not abandoning them as well as reminding them of the mission to love and bless the world.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We often think about Jesus’ statement in exclusive tones, that no one can get to heaven if they don’t confess that Jesus is their Lord and Savior. But as important as that is, I don’t think that’s what Jesus is saying here. First, though Jesus does talk about eternal life, he wants that assurance to give us life right now. Second, when Jesus says “I am the way” I think he is saying, “Walk the way that I walk.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, what does it mean to walk the way of Jesus? Well, he has given us some guidance earlier in chapter 13. This whole conversation, Jesus’ last words and marching orders to his followers takes 5 chapters in John’s Gospel. It is often called the Farewell Discourse. At the very beginning of this last night together, before they do anything else, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. And as he does so, he gives them a “new” commandment, to love one another as he has loved them. In other words, the way of Jesus is the way of service.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we think about this, we remember more "Ways of Jesus." We remember how he eats with the outcasts of society, “tax collectors and sinners.” We remember that he stands with the poor and marginalized who are oppressed by the powerful of the world. The way of Jesus welcomes little children, the least of these, into his arms as he treats them with respect. The way of Jesus tells us that true life is found by giving ourselves away for others, that we gain our lives when we lose them.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Mandalorian people have broken into factions that interpret “The Way” differently. Part of the storyline involves understanding those differences and finding ways to be The Way together in spite of them. That’s part of the work of walking The Way of Jesus, so important during this transition time. There’s no better start than your own mission statement: “Love God, Love People, Follow Jesus.” This is the Way. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons often preach a little differently than written and you can find the video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christlutheranpreston" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966628043935835242.post-74962612846404315902023-04-30T11:36:00.002-05:002023-04-30T11:36:45.859-05:00Sheepgate or Shepherd? - Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter Year A<div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-97bd8400-7fff-e4c1-f2eb-c50f75f80e1c"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sheepgate or Shepherd?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Easter 4A</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 30, 2023</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christ, Preston, MN</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 10.1-10; Psalm 23</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s an old joke, “When is a door not a door?” The answer, of course, is “When it’s a-jar.” However, in some cases a door isn’t a door if no one can find it or use it.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My last settled call at Grace in Mankato had an early 1900s building that originally faced Main St. (South) to which was added a separate educational wing in the 1950s (North). In the 1960s the old church was replaced by a new one that now faced 4</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> St (East) and cobbled with the educational wing. Navigating the building was like being in an Escher drawing: you think you were going up but were really going down. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately, the address of the church was still on Main St. at a place in the building that had a rarely used door. Furthermore, the church offices were located </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">downstairs in the back </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on the alley side of the building (West). So, except for a couple of hours on Wednesday and Sunday, people had to use the alley entrance to come into the building. To make matters even worse, that door was located in a long, dark tunnel-like opening. A building consultant called this the Super-Secret Members-Only door, hardly inviting.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I am the gate for the sheep,” Jesus tells the religious leaders of the day in John 10. We are back in the Gospel of John where we were for four Sundays in Lent as we looked at those texts pre-crucifixion. Now we will sojourn and view the texts from John through the lens of the resurrection. Either way, we remember that Jesus’“I am” statements make a claim. When Moses encounters God in the wilderness and asks God who it is that sends him to deliver his people, God responds “I am.” Today is “Good Shepherd Sunday” when we normally focus on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. But these 10 verses remind us Jesus also claimed to be the gate, or doorway, for the sheep. He recognizes the confusion of those first hearers, confusion that we share: which is he, Gate or Shepherd?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I was in candidacy to become an ordained pastor, the Washington Metro DC synod had a committee that oversaw me as well as other candidates. The question I often asked about them (and other similar candidacy committees) was this: are they gatekeepers or shepherds. In other words, quite often candidacy committees function as gatekeepers, making candidates prove they are worthy to be ordained. I was grateful that my committee members were more like shepherds, helping me through the process. This is a metaphor that I often use in my work as chair of Committee on Reference & Counsel as we consider various resolutions to come before synod assemblies. Are we gatekeepers or shepherds?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, which is Jesus, Sheepgate or Shepherd? The answer, of course, is “Yes!” But this is not in the sense we normally think. We’ll leave the metaphor of Jesus as Shepherd until next year. Today I want us to reconsider what it means for Jesus to be the gate of the sheep, not as being a barrier but rather the way into new life. And it’s not that we have to prove our worthiness to be a part of Jesus’ flock. Instead, where others put up walls and barriers to access God’s freely given grace, Jesus doesn’t. Jesus is a doorway to enter God’s love.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grace Mankato is one of the most welcoming congregations I’ve met, but you wouldn’t have known it by the Super-Secret Members-Only door. The Good news is that now their building matches their identity. Through a building renovation project, the offices are at the front of the building and they’ve changed their address to reflect that new, visible location. As we think about Jesus as the Gate, I want us to ask ourselves what barriers, physical or otherwise, we might have erected that prevent people from encountering and experiencing the love and grace of God? What policies or procedures hinder God’s freely given grace and mercy? Jesus is the gate to God’s love. Thanks be to God. Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-size: medium;">My sermons often preach a little differently than written and you can find the video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christlutheranpreston" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></span></div></span></div>gracemankatopastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13608144755079864278noreply@blogger.com0