JESUS is the reason for the season!

HOPE... that no matter how much preparation we make, no matter how high our expectations for the "perfect" holiday can be dashed in a split second when the family members enter into the equation, no matter how much we spend, etc. JESUS is the reason for the season and upon Him, we can always count!

Are you preparing for the perfect holiday? Or dreading it?

Images of laughter filling the house…aroma of delicious foods drifting through the house…yes, I held unusually high expectations for holiday gatherings. So preparations used to begin literally months in advance. Finding the perfect stuffing…that perfect little chotzke for my mother-in-law…the best wine…the perfect assortment of desserts… even redecorating a few times! Yet, when the day would finally arrive, all the preparation in the world can't decrease my disappointment in the event itself. For in all the hustle and bustle of making the perfect arrangements, I have forgotten what is truly important about the gathering itself.

The relationships with people (and animals) for whom I care deeply.

We are in the thick of Advent season now…only two weeks until the big day...until Christmas. And somehow, all the money and energies that we expend on the preparations, the parties, the gifts, the meals --- well, they distort the true importance of the season.

Remember? Our relationship with Jesus is what this is all about.

John the Baptist doesn't distort the truth of his message. His description certainly paints a colorful image! Like Elijah, John lived on the edge of the desert and found camel's hair and a leather belt suitable attire for a prophet. He fed on locusts and wild honey. Multitudes came out into the wilderness to hear his words and for a baptism of repentance. He taught the fulfillment of prophecy of Isaiah: "Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God".

Yet, much like comedian Steven Colbert, John is able to offend everyone. In today's lesson, he strikes out at the Pharisees and Sadducees who represent the religious establishment. John scolds their ethnic pride and lack of good works. He pushes all who visit to not just rest on their lineage from Abraham but to produce good fruit for others now. Through his rantings, John's excitement focused on the important event – that is, the coming of Christ. John displayed enthusiasm simultaneously with impatience for those who just didn't get the whole baptism thing. Like Isaiah, John had his patience tested, yet remained faithful to the vision and hope for a future of peace.

I find it intriguing that such a rough man draws the people. John has no agent, the people receive only a dunking in the river Jordan, there is probably no food and yet, they travel out from Jerusalem most likely for a half days' journey each way. These people admire one whose needs are minimal, who is the master of his own appetites, who has a deep internal freedom. John the Baptist, with minimal clothes and minimal food, was a magnet. People trusted him because clearly he could not be bought. As Churchill said of Lawrence of Arabia, “Because he despised the world’s prizes, the world held him in awe. He was enfranchised by his indifference to its pleasures.”

His preaching reminds us that during this season there are more important things we should be doing - besides dashing to parties and hastily wrapping gifts. John's message "Prepare the way of the Lord" is not about getting the best tree or hosting the party to end all parties, it's about preparing our hearts to welcome God through the birth of God's only son… by sharing in relationship with others and by self-examination and repentance. When we anticipate the goodness of God's gift to us, then and only then can we find God's peace. And it is when we have the peace of God inside that we are capable to love others fully and work toward peace with all of God's creation.

We are invited to produce the fruits of God's peace in our lives and relationships. Today, many of you either produced the fruits known as "cookies" or purchased these fruits of the bakers' labor.

[hold up cookie tray]

Like our cookie walk today, we all bring our own different colors, shapes, aromas and flavors to the gathering. Consider for a moment how many have labored to bring the finished product to Holy Trinity today. The spectacular bakers among you, and also the cow and her milk, the birds who scatter the seeds, horses who may still pull the plow, the planter, harvester, packager and grocer. And, then the finished product is produced by the labor of the loving hands and hearts here.

[Hold up cookie]

This cookie is not merely limited to the labor of humans for animals, too, have made their contribution to these delectable creations. With the peace of God in our hearts, sown by the Holy Spirit through the witnesses of many others, what other "fruits" might we be able to produce?

The root of Jesse connects the words of John the Baptist and Isaiah - indeed, there is a captivating dynamic here. Isaiah invites us into the presence of the Messiah who "shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear: but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth." This is the peace and hope we await during this season of Advent. God's gracious love and discernment…The images of the lion laying with the lamb in Isaiah make clear that God's righteousness is demonstrated in peace. This kind of peace one might find this week at the Thailand Zoo where a mother sow nurses tiger cubs and the mother tiger similarly provides love and nourishment to the little piglets. True, in captivity, these animals are being controlled by humans, but remember the words of Isaiah….a little child shall lead them. The wolf living with the lamb, the leopard lying down with the kid, the calf and the lion together. Isn't this the world that Christ was born to save? Isn't this the way God asks us to be with others unlike us?

Today we heard Isaiah’s words – what meaning do they hold for us? Do we develop healthy relationships and respond fairly and compassionately in times of injustice? This may seem simple …yet this is how we can prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Isaiah's commitment to the vision of peace and justice models an attitude that we can cultivate when living and dealing with those who have differing priorities and expectations.

Last week, Jeffrey Drake from Metro Chicago Synod spoke to us about the Central Diocese of the Southern Africa Synod. He said that one of the things that most touched him personally was Bishop Phaswana's peaceful, forgiving attitude toward the very government who had imprisoned and tortured him. As the Bishop explained, forgiveness is necessary when the priority is to stay alive and keep the people alive. He had prepared his heart for the advent of Christ and was able to forgive others even in the most inhumane circumstances…Just as Isaiah and John were clearly focused on the future hope that the Messiah would bring, Bishop Phaswana's vision was focused on the hope that Christ can offer for peace.

Today John calls us into Jesus' presence...to be present with Christ is to be planted and watered so that our fruits may flourish. We come to Christ through the waters of baptism...there we have been welcomed in grace and received the Holy Spirit so our lives produce "fruit worthy of repentance". We have the spiritual confidence to empower us to work for peace in this world…God's creation. As we have already been welcomed into Christ's church, so we too will one day be gathered together into God's granary.

We are asked to prepare... to make the road straight for the promised Messiah who will lead us into God's promised peace. Yet John's words also ring out as a call for us to bear the fruits of peace. We can only produce such fruit if we are planted in the soil of God's word and blessed with the waters of God's grace.

God of hope and peace, you have given us identity as your children to prepare us to do your work, your mission. You have asked us to prepare ourselves…to bring peace to ourselves…to those broken relationships…to those different from us…to prepare missions that are intended to bring peace to the world…to your creation.

In the name of your son, Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord,

Amen.

This is the story of Christ the King

Christ gives us his assurance that he will remember us in his kingdom.

Sisters and Brothers, Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and Jesus, Christ the King.

We all have stories to tell…short, long, sometimes too long. Today’s story is one of love amidst pain.

We begin at the first Christ the King festival was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925, because the people of the day had “thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives” and “these had no place in public affairs or in politics.” The pope went on to claim “that as long as individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savior, there would be no really hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations.” This critique of the situation of the world could have been written today, almost 80 years later. One has to wonder how believing people could have failed so miserably to make a change in the world. Have we really accepted Christ as our king? Or do we worship the sovereignty of material things…cars…power…big homes…clothing…retirement funds…bank accounts. Beware - no human system is forever. In fact, I hear that "the market will be what the market will be". Only Christ is sovereign. Under the love of Christ, every "ism" ultimately falls. Even materialism will one day kneel before Christ. The real irony of today is that this festival of Christ the King comes during the height of holiday consumerism. Black Friday….Cyber Monday….

Flashback to 2000 years ago… a little boy born in a wooden manger inside a wooden stable would become a carpenter from Nazareth and now, hang upon a wooden cross. This little boy would be given the honor of the title of "king"? After all Herod was recognized as the "true king" at the time – the Romans had to have "locals" in power positions to enforce their law and Herod was deemed an appropriate puppet king. Jesus does not claim the title "king" for himself. Even as he hung on the cross, this title was used to mock him. Many years after his resurrection early Christians bestowed the title to Jesus. What changed to make the people think of him as a King?

Early Christian teachers took on the task of showing how Jesus fulfilled the ancient faith prophecies of the Jewish people. It became incumbent upon them to place him in the center of Israel's religious traditions. The best way to do that is to connect him to the ideal king, David, through birthright. In our first story today, Jeremiah sets up a shepherd style of servant leadership. The character of shepherd king was thought to be passed on to the rightful heir. This style is based on the ancient concept of a king as both leader and servant when king and sacrifice were synonymous. Pre and early Christian kings were sacrificed by their subjects to assure the future, strength and health of their people. We may be lacking a bit in our imagery of what a "King" is today. Instead, today our stories tell of fairy tale monarchs who lived "once upon a time" and "will live happily ever after." But the king that God has given us is Jesus "who is the sacrifice, whose body and blood is food and drink to his people and whose death guarantees new life. To a world bedazzled by earthly kings God gave …the only True King…He gave Himself. Jeremiah's story then gives Jesus the title of King by the Grace of God, Shepherd of the People and Commander of Israel.

In today's' Gospel story, we hear that some soldiers and even a fellow criminal hanging next to Jesus sarcastically threw the title of King in Jesus' face. Surely if he were truly the chosen one, the King of the Jews, then he could save his mere mortal self. One man present saw through the limits of a royal title bestowed by earthly limitations…the criminal Dismas recognized the true kingdom of Jesus in his bare presence on the cross. This man, Dismas, faced certain death himself – he had no reason to lie…no reason to defend Jesus….but rebuked the others taunting Jesus and requested "Jesus Remember Me when you come into your kingdom". Sincere words that touched the true king of Jesus hanging next to him to reply "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." At that moment, Jesus shows that he is truly a king…sharing his kingdom and offering assurance to a common criminal. This is Christ the King reigning from the common cross of crucifixion, not a majestic gold laden throne safe within the confines of a castle.

In the letter to the Colossians, St. Paul writes a hymn to Christ, the image of God and the head of the church. St. Paul offers additional titles for Jesus – God's beloved son, the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Why the additional titles? How do these help us understand that Jesus is Christ the King? As God's beloved son, our king has direct access to God with out any bureaucracy. Imagery in the ancient world conveyed the significance and locale of that particular god's rule. So if Jesus was the image of the invisible God, wherever Jesus was would determine the locale of God's rule. And, as we all know, the firstborn of any family is the future promise of good for the family. So as firstborn of creation, Jesus set the hope for many good things to follow.

The final way of determining Christ as our king is in the way the titles relating to God also establish a relationship with us. The Risen Christ is the head of the church – as such, he is personally connected to us, the members of the church…the body of Christ. The church as the body of Christ, becomes the living presence of Christ in this world. Just like Baby Ava today, each of us put on Christ in the waters of baptism and we live that identity - listening for God's Word and receiving Christ in the bread and wine. We become witnesses, a way of making Christ present in this world- a testimony of his real presence in this 21st century life. As such we bring the love of Christ into our offices, our apartment buildings, our neighborhoods, our schools, all of our associations and relationships.

Christ reigns in and through each of us. As such, we are called to be Christ to others, to act with justice, to love tenderly, to serve one another. We are called to be hope for the hopeless, be light for the kingdom. We are called to seek reconciliation where there is alienation, healing where there is brokenness--brokenness in the church, brokenness in this nation, brokenness in this world. This is our mission. This is our story. Christ not only gives us assurance of the day when God will reign, but he calls on us to be reconciled to one another and work for peace. Christ commands that we confront whatever injustices we encounter, wherever we encounter them in this world, and resolve them peacefully. He is head of the church and becomes present in this world each time you and I make him sovereign in our own lives.

Last month we heard Reverend Barb Bolson of Night Ministries tell about the 2500 people they serve each year in Chicago… in the dark sometimes cold streets of Chicago. They have 60-100 volunteers who could have stayed home in their nice warm beds or in front of the fireplace and TV. Why is it that these volunteers chose to go and to be among the homeless? As Christ the King showed us on the cross, because love is stronger than pain; love is stronger than anxiety; and love overcomes fear.

This final Sunday of the liturgical year, we have the chance to choose to reconnect with Christ. Today is Christ the King Sunday. Today God says to you and me. “I love you. No matter what your situation, I will be with you in the midst of your pain. Today you will be with me in paradise.”

For as Christ reigned on the cross, he has given us his assurance through times of turmoil that he will remember us in his kingdom.

So, now you are wondering - what can you do today or this week to bring Christ’s reign into the life of another? To whom will you tell this Christ the King story?

ARE WE THERE YET?

Sisters and Brothers, Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Is 1800 miles a long way?…Mommy, where is Florida?…Can we go back home? Why did that car honk its horn? Daddy, she took my book!

ARE WE THERE YET? Yes, long car trips traveling with children can often times be challenging…demanding much of our patience. The incessant questions…seemingly unimportant to us are of great import to the child's mind. Our focus, as the parent, is usually on the destination- the much more important questions to us are "Are we going the right direction and will we get there?"

Today we hear of the Sadducees – Sad, you see, because they believe there is no resurrection - who asked Jesus a question about this whole resurrection thing. They really want to know what the resurrection is and how to prepare themselves for it. But perhaps they were a little nervous about asking such a big question. Or maybe they thought in more detail and required small, detailed answers. So they created a trivial question concerning the status of a woman who marries a total of seven brothers who all predecease her. They seem to enjoy drawing the question out which implies that they were building themselves up in hopes of knocking Jesus down. Then, they ask, after she too dies, just whose wife will she be in this resurrected life? I don't know about you, but if I had the chance to ask Jesus about the resurrection, I don't think I would waste my time with such a trivial question as this! I'd want to know "Am I going the right direction (towards resurrection) and will I make it? But, apparently, the Sadducees were really enjoying themselves as they waited for Jesus to answer their question. Imagine their surprise and humiliation when Jesus countered their ridiculously pointless interrogation with love, depth, humility and grace.

How many times have we asked the trivial question when we had an opportunity to look deeper? I know I have done this. Sometimes, it's easier…sometimes it's not as risky as asking the bigger, more meaningful questions.

I remember my grandmother telling me "there are no stupid questions". The idea that it is all right to ask any question on my mind gave me a freedom to ask many trivial questions without risk. But if I knew there was a limit or restriction on my questions, I feel sure that I would have skipped the small detailed ones in lieu of one big question! Growing up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago in the 60's, I felt like I lived in an isolated island in the world until television exposed me to another larger world. There were heavy questions regarding justice – both in nearby Chicago and in the world. The people shown on TV doing "bad things" like looting and hurting people were mostly people with darker skin. Through my parents and my pastor, I heard about the injustices of the times – violence, war, poverty, discrimination. I was troubled by the contradiction of the poor people surrounded by the opulence of the Vatican and St. Peters' Basilica as I watched the Easter mass. I didn't understand why people had to kill each other in a war much less travel around the world to do so. I felt certain that Jesus didn't want people to be acting this way. My parents and Pastor worked hard to teach me about justice – about treating everyone equally with love. But when it came time for my questions, most of them were about trivial things, and centered around my little world - like asking for the same toy that my friends had.

Besides my family, I was also blessed to have a community of faith and teachers who worked hard to demonstrate justice and equality. Pastor worked hard to bring the concept of justice to our little community. He taught me about people who look and sound different than us; he taught me to question why some people are treated preferentially; he taught me to respect others who believe differently than me; he taught me that there are bigger questions than just having an Easy Bake oven.

I also had a teacher in 7^th grade who taught us of another world that existed outside Ft. Myers Florida. This world was not always as perfect as our world. Mr. Shuflata shared with us his stories of Russia, taught us how to speak Russian, showed us real pictures of people and places on the world map in his classroom. He taught us to question the stories of history that we heard – to ask about "the other side of the story". He had a passion for the founding fathers and the Constitution. He showed movies of FDR, Ghandi, Winston Churchill, and when he showed the movie about the atom bomb dropping on Hiroshima, he became quiet and sad. During the peacefulness of the post-Viet Nam 70's, he taught us that war never does any good. Even so, he was appreciative of those who served and gave their lives for our country. He was proud of being an American and living in such a great country where we have been given the opportunity, right and responsibility to question the important things. Things like the government…business…poverty…justice...life…God.

I understand Mr. Shuflata has since died. I'm not certain if he was a member of a church and I don't know what faith he practiced. I do know that his gift was the ability to open our eyes to the bigger questions of life. His passion for teaching justice and freedom and life will live on through his students. I can picture him sitting in heaven asking God the big questions. I hope that God is giving him some answers!

Do you have questions these days? Of what consequence are your questions? Are they impactful in your life? In the greater world? Do you risk asking the big questions? Or do you, like me, find yourself asking the easier, trivial questions with the less consequential answers?

We can be like the Sadducees…asking the irrelevant, trivial questions instead of challenging with the bigger question. Even in the presence of Jesus, they just can't accept the opportunity to ask the big question. Even in the presence of God's only Son, they take the easy way out. God sent his only Son as a sign of his love for us and sometimes, we don't ask him.

Perhaps they were too worried about the details instead of the end result. The little things in life become so pervasive that we don't have room in our hearts & minds to believe in the big things. If we focus on the small stuff, how do we change ourperspective and believe in everlasting life through Jesus Christ? The church sometimes has this problem of centering its energies around trivial questions. In fact, it is said that the worst church arguments have been over things such as the placement of the lectern in the sanctuary or the color of the narthex walls. It's almost embarrassing in retrospect, to think of the small situations that have garnered so much of our attention when there is so much more to do in this world.

For those of us who have had teachers like Mr. Shuflata along our journey, we have been able to look out the car window and see down the road past the exit signs. We have opened our eyes and seen the beauty and fear and trembling and hunger in the world. These teachers have given us direction to love our neighbors as ourselves and to experience the fullness of life through the Spirit when we love God with all our hearts and minds.

The German theologian and martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one such teacher who played a key leadership role in the Confessing Church, which opposed the anti-semitic policies of Hitler. He was among those who called for wider church resistance to Hitler's treatment of the Jews and represented a major source of Christian opposition to the Nazi government in Germany. He asked the big questions:

What IS the cost of discipleship? What IS the cost of accepting God's grace? Grace is FREE but it don't come cheap.

Bonhoeffer then LIVED the answers to these questions. He taught younger German pastors even in the midst of evil, to pray for the sins of the country and the Confessing Church. He wrote these thoughts and questions while in prison and though he died a martyr's death, he certainly is alive in Christ.

Martin, the Bishop of Tours left his assignment in the army when he saw the presence of Christ in a beggar. He then asked the bigger questions and after release from imprisonment for deserting his military duties, he began to preach. He pursued the big questions as he brought Christianity to rural France….in his death, certainly he is alive in Christ.

Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard's quest to ask and answer the big questions took him from a comfortable life of affluence and acceptance. He served as a prophetic challenge to churches that set the gospel aside as they embraced cultural acceptability and easy faith. His questions lead to a quiet life of cultural persecution as he helped to introduce Christianity to the modern era. To God, he is certainly still alive.

When Martin Luther King Jr was persecuted, threatened, jailed and spat upon, he kept asking the big hard questions of the kingdom of God among us. He asked these questions so that we might one day ask each other "What is the content of our character?" rather than judge each other by the color of our skins or the money in our wallets. Yes, he too died a martyr's death and yet, to God, he and his dream are still alive.

And others, too, asked the BIG questions…

Johann Sebastian Bach asked "What does God sound like?" Albert Schweitzer asked "What is the wideness of God's mercy?" Mother Teresa asked "Who does Christ look like in his distressing disquise?"

Each of these teachers asked the big questions and each of them LIVED their answers.

Who have been the teachers in your life? Who has asked you the big questions? Who has taught you to be open to the Spirit? To always ask and be inquisitive about the big things? Who has brought you to life through the possibilities?

Jesus has brought you to life, to ask the big questions, to keep asking and living your answers. As he told the Sadducees "Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive."

As we continue down the road on our journey, look past the trivial questions that weigh you down. Stay open to asking these big questions:

How can I be move alive in God? How can I help others to be more alive too?

What better way to live out our answers than to fill our days with the love and peace of God!

Are there questions worth spending all the days of your life answering? What questions will you ask? Keep your eyes on the destination…are you going the right direction? How will you get there?

And, how will you answer someone who asks "Are We There Yet?"

Sermon preached Sunday November 11, 207 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church – Glenview IL. Job 19:23-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17; Luke 20: 27-38

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

(pick up cell phone and very matter-of-factly give instructions on silencing phone during worship)

Sisters and Brothers, Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

In July my 7 year old cell phone died. Now, I do not like to change technical devices. I am merely a user and do not wish to relearn all the idiosyncrasies associated with a new device. So, accordingly, my (geeky) husband took the assignment to find me a new phone. One that looked, sounded and felt like my old phone. I don't need any extra features I assured him. Just the ability to talk and hear conversations clearly. Of course, he wasn't able to find a cell phone that just acts as a phone; so I ended up with a very fancy phone that I can use for email, internet access, camera, video and even music!

BUT - the important test – does this device allow me to communicate clearly? Can I hear my conversation partner? Can my partner hear me clearly? Will my message be communicated clearly? Or will there be static or dead cell zones that drop my call? Will there be times that we both have to say "Can you hear me now?"

Perhaps the widow in today's Gospel would have benefited from a clear connection with the judge. It certainly seems that her message to him was not clearly received the first time. Perhaps it was the delivery? Or perhaps the messenger? Or maybe even the message?

Our parable begins by stating that Jesus wanted his disciples to pray always and not to lose heart. The story tells of an unethical judge who didn't relate to others, God or people, at all. A judge at that time was the most powerful of all positions in a community. Then we learn of a widow who persisted in asking the judge to grant her justice. The widow is at the lowest end of the society – no power, no money, no status whatsoever in the community. We don't know why she is deserving of justice, but the fact that she is self-assured, even brazen, about her request tells us that she has confidence in her position. After refusing to grant her justice, finally the judge decides to change his mind. In the original Greek New Testament, he compares her persistence to giving him a black eye, either literally or figuratively. So that he wouldn't have to put up with her, he decided to grant her justice. Truly a David and Goliath story - a lowly widow, somebody regarded by society to be worthless, is able to persist and persuade and get her way in the courtroom of a powerful and mighty judge.

Our first inclination might be to think of the judge as God….but we know our God to be the initiator of all justice and compassion, not hard hearted and uncaring. This judge, however, is unscrupulous, unethical, without conscience, beholden to the power and money found manipulating the system. He does not respect others and does not have the fear of God in him. In a word, he is a sinner.

We are this judge! We all fit this description at times – sometimes more than others. How many times do we insist that we have it all figured out – we have all the answers? How often do we allow the call to come through clearly, so that we do God's work? How often do we ask, listen or heed God's voice? Do our lives leave time for God? Room for God? And what of God's "other" children, those who differ from us? Those who are powerless, even bothersome. People who are poor are bothersome. They remind of us of how imperfect this world is. They make us feel shame…fear…guilt - they even frighten us. Have our hearts become so hardened to the cries of those who find themselves needy in some way? The diminished…the poor…the hungry…the homeless…the mentally ill…the unemployed. Viewing the poor as bothersome may keep us from meaningful relationships with the poor.

What about this persistent widow? We hear that she is a poor, powerless woman at the lowest level of society. Described only as a nameless widow, she was without a significant male in her life to uphold her social position. What else do we know of her? Somehow, she had been wronged. She seems to be a virtuous woman, even at the bottom of society. And, she seems to be quite determined and passionately convinced of her right to justice. She presents a prayerful, constant voice – even a little nagging -in the judge's ear. Our ear?

At times, we may fit this description – sometimes more than others. The widow was persistent. She was sure that she was due justice. She had nothing to lose. She was even brazen about her cause. Some might even say that she had "hutzpah", like my Jewish mother-in-law. When we decide to finally "give in" to someone like her, we open ourselves up to God. Persistent, nagging, brazenly confident, with nothing to lose – these are the kind of messages that God sends to reach us.

Thankfully, our God is faithful and keeps us on constant redial. God doesn't give up on us when there's a dead cell zone. God is always there to listen to us – there are no limiting customer service hours. When we are listening to God's clear call, we will find that we have the power to let go of our arrogance and self-sufficiency and allow ourselves to trust in the power of being children of God…created in God's very own image. It is when we are able to let go of our hard hearts and independence from God that we will find the peace that God offers. True peace will come from our inner peace - the ability to let go and rely on God's faithfulness. And then, we will be able to work for peace on this earth doing justice. Through persistent prayer, God calls us to be disciples… disciples for justice. Listen; God is asking "Can you hear me now?"

It's not easy. We like to be in control. We like to be certain about the questions in life that our children ask us. Perhaps we find it easier to leave God out of our family meetings. We think "God is so busy, surely God has other important things to do". Sometimes we wonder if God hears us. The persistence of prayer gives us access to God just as the widow gained justice from the unethical judge.

BUT we can't do it alone. God wants us to be in relationship with each other. God wants us to break out of our little limited world and engage with the larger world. To be present for each other just as God is always present for us. Our global human family is united through the loving embrace of God. God continues to speak to us, to wear us down, sometimes even giving us a black eye. God asks us to step out into the world and proclaim our faith – to take our words of faith and act on them…to live faithful lives. As St. Paul reminded Timothy, this is what being faithful to the Gospel requires of us. As a community of believers, we can be faithful because God is faithful.

Through faithful prayer we open up and can do justice in the greater world…. for others. The widow's voice fervently prays that we look for justice…that we act justly…that we live faithful just lives…that we walk lightly on this earth…that we proclaim our faith through living just lives. That we be disciples for justice. God helps us to pay attention to those who try to correct us. Many times, others are speaking out on behalf of injustice or poverty or discrimination and we don't listen because it's bothersome or inconvenient. Others may find themselves asking us "Can you hear me now?"

Some people admit that they don't know how to pray. I find great joy in children's prayers. A favorite way to help a child pray is to use the Five Finger Prayer. A dear friend prays "Red Light Prayers" – every time she approaches a red traffic light or stop sign, she has a short prayer with God. Living in the suburbs gives her lots of prayer time!

It is said "Be prepared to be the solution to your prayers". God has given us his only son, Jesus Christ, so that we know God's love through prayer with him. Prayer is also God's gift to us, for us and all about us. Prayer is our dialogue, our attempt to reach outside of ourselves. God doesn't need us to pray, but God has given us the gift of prayer. Unselfishly, with hopes for increasing our faith, to improve our understanding. Prayer opens us up to new possibilities – that are outside our normal realm of living. Prayer expresses our desire to access God… to call God up and dialogue….to be available and listen to God. ..to be heard and also to hear. Martin Luther put it well – "The fewer words, the better prayer."

Listen; God is asking "Can you hear me now?"

This becomes an illustration of the power of prayer as the judge finally breaks down and does what is right and just. There is hope that he may do what is right and just again in the future. We, too, work at justice, alongside people who are poor. We help the disenfranchised to claim their rights, working against today's versions of the unjust judge. We help the urban and rural poor name their assets, gather them together with assets of others and focus those synergies on righteous change.

Oft times, we hear people say hopefully, somewhat hesitantly, "The only thing that we can do is to pray" –– as if prayer is a weak substitute for meaningful remedies. This parable teaches us that prayer is itself a meaningful remedy –– that it engages God's power and makes everything possible.

The Good News is that our Gracious and Loving God intends for us to have a fullness of life through Jesus Christ. With the power of prayer, through Christ, anything is possible. We find freedom in God's faithfulness; we confess our own complicity in injustice; we seek forgiveness and we work with our global family to bring God's justice to this world. We are given hope through God's Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us about the widow and the judge to encourage us to put prayer into action, to live faithfully and not lose heart. And yet, when He comes again, will he find faith on earth?

When we take the time to pray, to open ourselves up to God and listen, we find that the Spirit works through us. When you answer the call, will you hear God clearly? Will you speak the difficult truth to power? Will you challenge the injustices in the world? Or will the connection go dead…you on one end with dead cell zone and God on the other end repeating "Can You Hear Me Now? Can You Hear Me Now? "

Amen.

Sermon Preached at Holy Trinity – Glenview on October 21, 2007; First Reading: Genesis 32:22-31;Psalm 121;Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5;Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

God gives us the power of persistent prayer.

If I only had a brain….

I could while away the hours,
Conferrin' with the flowers,
Consultin' with the rain.
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
I'd unravel every riddle
For any individ'le
In trouble or in pain.
With the thoughts you'll be thinkin'
You could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain.
Oh, I could tell you why
The ocean's near the shore
I could think of things I never thunk before,
And then I'd sit -- and think some more.
I would not be just a nuffin'
My head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry...
...Life would be a ding-a-derry
If I only had a brain!

These prayerful wishes of the Scarecrow from the musical "Wizard of Oz" take me back to a time of wonderment. A time of hope. A time that took me out of my small world and into another world of places and people and things that I could never imagine alone. These characters were persistent and followed a long journey of faith down the yellow brick road to the Wizard of Oz.

Our gospel today is the first of two parables found only in Luke. Both parables center around prayer. This parable begins by stating that Jesus wanted his disciples to pray always and not to lose heart. (Perhaps Jesus knew of a similar story in Sirach that tells of the power of prayer in relationship to divine justice.) The story tells us of the unethical judge who didn't relate to others, God or people, at all. A judge at that time was the most powerful of all positions in a community. Then we are told of a widow who persisted in asking the judge to grant her justice. The widow is at the lowest end of the society – no power, no money, no status whatsoever in the community. We don't know why she is deserving of justice, but the fact that she is confident, even brazen, about her request tells us that she has confidence in her position. After refusing to grant her justice, finally the judge decides to change his mind. In the original Greek of the New Testament, he compares her persistence to giving him a black eye, either literally or figuratively. So he wouldn't have to put up with her, he decided to grant her justice. Truly a David and Goliath story - a lowly widow, somebody regarded by society to be worthless, is able to persist and persuade and get her way in the courtroom of a powerful and mighty unscrupulous judge.

Some see the judge as God….but we know our Lord to be the initiator of all justice and compassion, not a hard hearted and uncaring God. This judge has no shame, in the first century Christian world, this was very socially demeaning - the sign of an empty, closed man. He is also unscrupulous, unethical, without a shred of decency or conscience – does not respect others and does not have the fear of God in him. In a word, he is a sinner.

So who is the judge? We are! We all fit this description at times – sometimes more than other times. How many times do we insist that we have it all figured out – we have all the answers? How often do we allow God to do God's work in our lives? How often do we ask, listen or heed God's voice? Do our lives leave time for God? Room for God? And what of God's "other" children, those who differ from us? We assume that the world revolves around us…how arrogant! Through persistent prayer, God calls us to be disciples… disciples for justice.

The judge then is not God, but all of us. Then who is the persistent widow? The way that the author of Luke writes, we are to believe that she is a poor, powerless woman at the lowest level of first century society. Similar to the widow of Nain, this woman probably had no significant male in her life to uphold her social position. What else do we know of her? Somehow, she had been wronged. She seems to be a virtuous woman, even at the bottom of society. And, she seems to be quite determined and passionately convinced of her right to justice. Whoa – is the widow representing God? A prayerful, constant voice – even nagging -in the judge's ear? Our ear?

God wants us to be in relationship with each other. God wants us to break out of our little limited world and engage with the larger world. God continues to speak to us, to wear us down, sometimes even giving us a black eye. God asks us to step out into the world and proclaim our faith – to take our words of faith and act on them…live faithful lives.

Then the unethical judge is us and the widow is God. God's prayer wears us down, forces us to finally acquiesce and do justice in the greater world…. for others. The widow's voice fervently prays that we look for justice…that we act justly…that we live faithful just lives…that we proclaim our faith through living just lives. That we be disciples for justice.

A wise Worship professor here at LSTC (Dr. Bangert) once said regarding prayer: "Be prepared to be the solution to your prayers". God has given us his only son, Jesus Christ, so that we know God's love through communication, or prayer, with him. Prayer is also God's gift to us, for us and all about us.

Some people admit that they don't know how to pray. I have found great joy in children's prayers. One of my favorite ways to help a child pray is to use the Five Finger Prayer. (show)

Prayer is our dialogue, our attempt to reach outside of ourselves. God doesn't need us to pray, but God has given us the gift of prayer. Unselfishly, with hopes for increasing our faith, improving our understanding. Prayer opens us up to new possibilities – that are outside our normal realm of living. Prayer expresses our desire to access God… to call God up and "logjam"….to be available and listen to God.

The Spirit is the voice of the widow…demanding justice from the unethical judge. This becomes an illustration of the power of prayer as the judge finally breaks down and finally does what is right and just. There is hope that he may do what is right and just again in the future.

Oft times, we hear people say hopefully, somewhat hesitantly, "The only thing that we can do is to pray" –– as if prayer is a weak substitute for meaningful remedies. This parable teaches us that prayer is itself a meaningful remedy –– that it engages God's power and makes everything possible.

The widow was persistent. She was sure that she was due justice. She had nothing to lose. She was even brazen about her cause. Some might even say that she had "hutzpah", like my Jewish mother-in-law. When we decide to "give in" and open up to God, this is the kind of prayer that reaches God. It's not easy. We like to be in control. We like to be accessible to our friends and family. We like to be certain about the questions in life that our children ask us. Many times it's easier to leave God out of our family meetings. We think "God is so busy, surely God has other important things to do". Sometimes we wonder if God hears us. The persistence of prayer will give us access to God just as the widow gained justice from the unethical judge.

The Good News is God intends for us to have a fullness of life through Jesus Christ. With the power of prayer, through Christ, anything is possible. We are given hope through God's Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us about the widow and the judge to encourage us to put prayer into action, live faithfully and do not lose heart. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

We come to God empty, void of anything within ourselves to offer Christ. But we have been baptized into Christ and partake of his Body and Blood in living out our Christian journey. Baptism and the Eucharist are the gifts that Christ freely gives of himself to live within us and sustain us.

As the "great and powerful Wizard of Oz" finally disclosed to the Scarecrow "You've had it all the time". When we take the time to pray, to open ourselves up to God and listen, we find that we can do anything. When we focus on God and venture outside of our small worlds, we find that there is no place like home.

And many times, God has given us the answers before. Christ is our answer and He has been with us since our Baptism.

Amen.

God Protects Us Along The Rocky Road

Focus Statement: God is with us and comforts us through Christ as we travel the rocky roads.
It was a beautiful Chicago summer day as I left the Evanston campus. The lake was pounding against the lakeshore, the sun was shining warmly and the smell of afternoon barbeques was permeating the campus neighborhood. Usually I drove through the neighborhoods to my destination, the Edens Tollway. But this day, I chose to drive Sheridan Road all the way home instead. This day was the exception to my normal journey. However, on this day, the beauty of the Lake Shore Scenic Circle Tour was not totally what I had envisioned. Driving along the winding road with tall trees on one side and the rocky lakeshore on the other side, the sound of the waves pounding the rocks was interrupted suddenly. I was stunned by a large number of "road kill" or dead animals along the road. The stark contrast of the dead goose, cat, squirrel, and raccoon against the life along the beautiful road brought great sadness. This is sometimes the case when we choose a new route, an alternate way to journey to our destination.

Ten days ago we began our Lenten journey. We have contemplated the solemn humility of Ash Wednesday and humbly accepted the journey along the road less traveled. We wore ashes on our foreheads in the sign of the cross as a reminder of our baptismal covenant with God. Last week we wrestled with the Truth found in the contradictions of this earthly world. And, again we were reminded of the truth of the Gospel received at our baptism, proclaimed in scripture, and received at the table in the bread and wine.

In today's Gospel, Luke tells of the Pharisees choosing the safety of Jesus and Jesus defiantly, boldly going straight down the dangerous road to death in Jerusalem. Likewise, in Philippians 3 we find Paul choosing a path of persecution for the sake of the Gospel. And in our Old Testament reading from Genesis 15, God invites Abram to walk the road of danger with the knowledge that "I am your shield; your reward shall be very great". The Psalmist today in Psalm 27 speaks of being afraid and finds comfort knowing he "will live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life… For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble."

Jesus laments about the unwillingness of Jerusalem to be protected like a brood of chicks. He surely would be willing to gather and protect them lovingly as a mother hen would as they journey along the road. This journey towards Jerusalem was not easy even though Jesus knew the outcome to be death. Yet, as he traveled the rocky road, he was true to his mission of gathering God's people.

God calls us to gather together in his name. God gives us comfort as we are sent out on the roads in the world to do God's work. Sometimes the roads we travel don't always take us where we plan to go. Many times, we find ourselves "lost" along the way and waiting for someone to "find" us and redirect us, or assure us. Although our calling as future leaders of the church may not involve death, we certainly will have to deal with it.

As commuter students, perhaps you too have wandered off the main road and ventured to try a new road instead of the interstate. This new road offers new perspective and many times, a better or more enjoyable route to your destination. Sometimes, the road ends up being busier or not as scenic as our usual route. And, occasionally the road is not what you expect…sometimes danger or death is lurking around the beauty of a winding road along the lakeshore.

This week we commemorate the lives of four women who boldly chose the difficult, less traveled, dangerous road in life. The martyrs Perpetua and Felicity, Sojourner Truth and Harriett Tubman. Sojourner and Harriett, were born slaves and chose to travel many treacherous roads to spread the word of God. Sojourner traveled the United States telling how God changed her life. Harriett chose the path of freedom fighter and helped hundreds of slaves escape bondage by developing the Underground Railroad. Despite the danger of this path to her personally, she found comfort and protection in God.

We find the grace of God to be a gift received freely through baptism as a child of God and a commitment to a Christ-centered life. No matter how undeserving we might be, this justification through grace by faith alone is the gift God bestows upon us through baptism and faithful living. The Holy Spirit has presented us to God through baptism and our faith in Jesus Christ. We encounter the Holy Spirit in the baptismal font and the true presence of Jesus Christ in the bread and wine at the table. It is in this gathering that Christ offers us the respite and comfort to continue on our journeys no matter how difficult they may be.

As future religious leaders, we are to uphold this mission by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. In doing so, the public proclamation of God's saving grace through the Christ Jesus is essential. Jesus directs us in the Commissioning of Disciples in Luke 24 "Thus it is written that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem."

Others may have tried to thwart the efforts of Perpetua, Felicity, Sojourner & Harriett. What would have happened if these women succumbed to the distractors? What would have happened to the hundreds of slaves? And, more specifically, when our church faces the possibility of closing its doors, what will we, as identified religious leaders, do?

Jesus Christ has shown himself willing, freely willing, to receive the poor souls that come to him, and put themselves under his protection, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, with tender loving care. We are asked to extend God's word to all in the world through Word and Sacrament, servanthood, compassion, justice, ecumenism, worship, and evangelism. The ministry of church invites all members to minister to each other as well as support the wider mission of the church.

We do it every day. We choose to take an easier road because someone else has already trampled down the thistles and bushes for us. When we choose our friends, we tend to find others with similar interests. When we choose our significant others, we typically gravitate towards those with whom we are comfortable or have life experiences like ours. It is when we step out of the main flow of traffic that we find the true comfort and protection of God.

It is precisely while we are on the rocky road that we will find the good news that God is with us and has given us comfort through Christ who died so that we may live in fullness of life.

Connections through Christ

Focus Statement: When we are broken, grieving and afraid, in Christ, God's compassion embraces us.

Envision with me…. a barren brown area by the iron gate, a grief stricken mother, the son's body wrapped tightly on a stretcher, pallbearers solemnly marching, and the community following in procession.

Slowly they leave the lush greenness of the village and head up a rocky road to the gate that leads them out to the burial grounds. As they approach the gate to exit the village, they encounter a lively group with a leader meandering aimlessly toward the little unknown village. As all arrive at the gate of the village, the leader of the group realizes they are witnessing a local funeral procession.

The leader crosses over to the other side of the procession. With one look, he sees grief, fear, and brokenness in the woman nearest the bier. His eyes convey a strong sense of compassion, a look so strong that it appears to embrace her. He asks her not to weep, touches the bier and everything comes to a stop.

Then with authority, he commands the dead son to rise. The moment the words leave the leader's mouth it is as if they enter the young man's corpse. This strange man speaks with the corpse almost as if he were God. Then, with the whole community looking on, he gives the son, full of words and life, back to his mother.

The community of mourners must be scared! Who is this man? What will happen next?

According to Webster, the definition of the verb embrace is "to hug; to cherish, to love, to welcome, to encircle, to encompass, to enclose."

In preparing for ministry, we are required to attend and participate in the Boundaries Workshop. There we are reminded to be aware of physical embraces and their impact on relationships. I wonder if Jesus went to a Boundaries Workshop? How was he able to express his compassion for the woman without a physical embrace? I imagine that his face looked caringly at the woman and his eyes filled with love. And that his compassion was like a cloud, encircling her in its warmth and love.

I was reminded recently of the power of an embrace. During the first big snowfall in December, my husband fell off a ladder – my daughters declared Daddy to be "broken". Indeed, he bruised his ribs, sprained his back and neck. After four weeks of recuperation, he felt better and was able to move around a little. In my enthusiasm, I hugged him. Yep, the minute I started to hug him, I felt him recoil in pain. But he said that even in his physical pain, just the idea of a hug felt good.

But people aren't just physically broken. Many times one who appears to be "together" on the outside is broken inside. Perhaps yearning for that elusive warmth of love from someone. Or living with depression or addiction. I wonder if we met the woman from Nain on another day, would we sense her brokenness?

Last year we left our home congregations to begin our service at MIC sites. Soon we will be leaving these congregations that we have grown to care for, to cherish, to love. The leaving and grieving process will begin again as we continue to our internship sites.

Along with grieving the loss of these relationships, there is an element of fear. What lies ahead for us? Fear of the unknown is said to be the greatest fear of all… (even above public speaking!) Much like the woman of Nain, we wonder what our future holds on our journey to ordained ministry. Where will we live? What challenges and joys lie ahead for us? Where will we serve?

As we know, the strange man who lead the lively group towards Nain was in fact, Jesus. We know this man as the Messiah, the son of God. Jesus knew that a woman without a husband or son to support her would be considered to be at the bottom of the economic community. This woman was moments away from entering another world where her human worth would change drastically. The compassionate look from Jesus encircled and loved her into a second chance at life. And he didn't stop there – he delivered her son back to her arms to publicly restore her place in the community.

His life of ministry was about compassionate relationships with this world. He often met death at the gate and through God's grace, allowed others to experience life on the other side. Jesus himself was the bridge between two worlds and his life was dedicated to being that relationship for us.

It is through Jesus that God commands us to rise and speak and uphold our baptismal covenant. Through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus Christ offers us Life.

Jesus Christ embraces us when we are in despair, pain and suffering. We will find him in the waters of baptism and in the bread and wine of the Table. Jesus comes to us in the midst of our pain and despair, even when we are not looking for Jesus; he is there for us. Reaching out, healing, forgiving, restoring us. It is precisely because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that we too are raised to new life in Christ Jesus.

The good news is that we are embraced by God's compassion. Whether we are broken inside or outside, Christ lived so that we might experience the healing love of God. As we move from junior year to MIC site to intern site to seminary and onto ministry, God's son lived so that we might know the comfort of God's love. Jesus lived so that we might know the hope that God gives us. Hope for a better life, hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow.

For when we are broken, grieving and afraid, it is in Christ that God's compassion embraces us.

Mothers Day 2007

A farewell dinner. Godspeed and farewell services. It seems as though the bad news of one leaving is often accompanied by either food or the good news of God.

Today's gospel is no different. Jesus spent the evening with his disciples. He washed their dirty feet, he told them of the future betrayal, his upcoming departure from them, taught them the new commandment and continued teaching them about faith. He wanted to prepare them for what was about to come – so that they might see his death through the eyes of faith. He wanted to leave them with something. And, so they would know that he would live after death, he introduced them to the Holy Spirit.

It occurs to me that we all know a little something about being introduced to someone who will be with us to help us along until the primary caregiver can return. Perhaps child care givers, baby sitters, teachers, or foster parents.

In my family, my daughters have 3 mothers… the women who gave birth to them, the women who cared for them from leaving their birth mothers until I was officially their mother. Each of these women fed, loved and taught my daughters things…about life…about love…about faith. Some might even say that these women were with them until I could be….possibly their advocates….their guardians…their protectors….

Mothers love us so much that they want to give us opportunities that they feel they can't offer. It is this kind of unselfish love that can open hearts and minds….As Pastor said last week, this is RADICAL LOVE….radical love generates self-giving love….it is this kind of love that shows true faith in the teachings of Jesus. …Jesus asked his disciples to live and love in ways that seemed impossible. The disciples couldn't do it – not without the Spirit. Jesus told them this Spirit of Truth, would come to help the disciples in Jesus' absence. The Spirit would be God's way to be with them in a different way because Jesus had already been with them.

In the power of the Spirit, Jesus will continue to be present with you. Jesus told the disciples earlier in John "I will not leave you orphaned. I am coming to you".

Love and the Spirit….these are at the center of Jesus farewell message… "Love one another as I have loved you" and "The Spirit of Truth will abide in you when I am gone". A little later, Jesus tells the disciples, "You don't know everything yet. ..you have much more to learn."

Who are we charged with loving with such pure unselfish love until Jesus comes again? What has Jesus asked us to do as stewards, protectors, guardians, advocates until he comes again? As we travel this road in our ministry, who do we call on for support, wisdom, reassurance, comfort and love? Yes, Jesus tells us of the Holy Spirit to remind us of his teaching, of his love and of his ministry. Until he can come again…

In the meantime, God has given us the gift of The Spirit. The Spirit will teach you how to love one another. The Spirit will keep us connected, said Jesus. You to me, all of us to God. And you to one another.

Today is the end of my ministry here and I will go on to another ministry as part of my formation to become an ordained pastor. Pastors say this is the difficult part of becoming and being a pastor – leaving those who you have grown to know and love. I am finding this to be true. I also have learned how important Love and Spirit are in a family of faith…it comes in a blessed feeling of grace. The feeling is so splendidly pervasive that it defies the limitations of words, yet I will try to share with you.

During my time here with you, I have felt and seen the work of Love and Spirit among you. You are sending me with many lessons learned and as you send me out to serve in another ministry, you, too are moving on and going out into the world together... as one unified family of faith. The sign of Jesus' work in us will be peace…the kind of peace that casts out all fears…the peace that comes through radical love and understanding. With the peace of God, our hearts will be unafraid.

And it is in those moments of grace that I have encountered Christ working in you….through the Holy Spirit. These, my dear brothers and sisters, are the moments that I will treasure and call up again when we are apart. It is through the Spirit that we will remain connected even though our physical paths may take us in different directions.

Amen.

Palm/Passion Sunday (Luke 19 and 23)

We move freely in God's love.

We are moving….the words alone bring a sense of doom.

Nos estamos moviendo. Estas palabras pueden generar un sentido de miseria y ruina.

Yet, at the beginning of Palm Sunday, Jesus moved towards the cross in a triumphant entrance fitting of a king…..and now, the ministry of San Francisco de Asis is also moving …. carrying our cross with us along the road.

Al principio del domingo de ramos, el Señor Jesús se movía o dirigía a la cruz después de una entrada triunfal como la de un rey. De igual manera el ministerio de San Francisco de Asís se mueve, llevando nuestra cruz a lo largo del camino.

Jesus knew what his future would be….he knew that in order for us to have full life, he as the son of God, must die for our sins so that we might live.

El Señor Jesús sabía cual era su futuro. Él sabía que para que pudiéramos obtener la vida plena, Él como hijo de Dios, debía morir por nuestro pecado para que nosotros viviéramos.

By our baptism, we too are the children of God. God loved us so much that he gave his only son so that we might live…not only did Jesus die, but he suffered the anguish of knowing what was ahead - his future. He knew that it was the beginning of the end. ..or was it?

A través de nuestro bautismo somos hechos hijos e hijas de Dios. Pues Dios nos amó de tal manera que dio a su Hijo único. Pero el Señor Jesús no solamente murió y punto. Él sufrió la angustia de saber lo que le esperaba, su futuro. Era el principio del fin. Pero, ¿era realmente?

This ministry began full of hosannas, full of visions and hopes for a church community full of God's love... proclaiming the Word of the Lord…perhaps even a sense of uncertainty.

Este ministerio comenzó con hosannas, con esperanzas y una visión de llegar a ser una iglesia en la comunidad llena del amor de Dios, proclamando la Palabra del Señor, quizás con un grado de incertidumbre.

Now San Francisco de Asis will endure "the passion" in the next few months…the next year… perhaps this is the beginning of the end…or is it?

Pero ahora, san Francisco debe soportar “la pasión” en estos meses que vienen, y el próximo año. ¿Será este el principio del fin?

There is a Good Friday in our future…and an Easter resurrection. And the road will lead to a new life of ministry for San Francisco de Asís.

Hay un viernes Santo en nuestro futuro. Pero también un domingo de resurrección. Aunque el camino pasa por la muerte, el camino nos lleva a una nueva vida como ministerio.

The difference is that we know the future – just not the details….we trust in God to guide us and lead us. Just as Jesus was led by God, so we are led by God. We are led by God's love – a love so strong that God knowingly gave his only son to die for us so that we might have new life through him.

La diferencia es que sabemos el futuro, aunque no con detalles. Confiamos en Dios quien nos guía. Tal como Dios guió al Señor Jesús, así Dios nos guía con su amor. Un amor tan poderoso que movió a Dios a dar a su hijo a la muerte para que nosotros tuviéramos vida plena por medio de él.

You have shared with me that you will miss this building….the memories of people and special moments you have had here. Yes, those feelings of sadness hurt and it isn't easy to leave the place we have called home. And you will carry those special memories in your heart and in your mind wherever you go.

Ustedes han compartido conmigo que extrañaran este edificio y todos los recuerdos de personas y esos momentos especiales. Esos sentimientos de tristeza causan dolor pues no es fácil dejar el lugar que llamamos nuestro hogar. Sin embargo, llevarán esos recuerdos en su mente y en su corazón a dondequiera que vayan.

Just as Jesus' ministry did not die with him on the cross, our ministry need not die when we move. God is present with us wherever we go – the Holy Spirit is at work in this community, this family of faith.

De la misma manera en que el ministerio de Jesús no murió con él en la cruz, nuestro ministerio no debe morir conforme nos movemos a otro lugar. Dios esta aquí, pero también en dondequiera que vayamos, pues el Espíritu esta trabajando en esta comunidad, que es una familia en la fe.

We have been given the freedom to move by God…and our ministry moves with us.

Dios nos ha dado la libertad de movernos y con nosotros el ministerio.

As we move away from our church building, it is not death, but life….it is Christ who lives, and lives in us. For even as we face the trials of change and possible death, God is with us. We too know the future of our ministry…we know that it includes suffering, triumph, loss, anguish, love…..perhaps even a sense of betrayal.

Cambiarnos no significa muerte, sino vida. Es Cristo quien vive, y vive en nosotros. Pues aunque enfrentemos las aflicciones del cambio, incluyendo la posible muerte, Dios esta con nosotros. Sabemos el futuro del ministerio, y ello incluye sufrimiento, triunfo, pérdida, angustia, amor, y hasta el sentimiento de traición.

We find God present in the greetings we share, in the baptismal font, sharing Holy Communion with our family of faith, and in the loving presence that is so strong in SFA.

Hoy podemos sentir la presencia de Dios en los saludos que compartimos, en la fuente bautismal, al recibir la Santa Comunión con la familia de fe, en la presencia amorosa tan fuerte en San Francisco de Asís.

Today Jesus comes to us through the Cross, the Scriptures, the waters of our baptism, the bread and wine of Holy Communion and in our prayers. It is the new life that God brings us through the suffering of his son that will guide our path as we move along the road.

Hoy Jesús viene a nosotros en la cruz, las escrituras, las aguas de nuestro bautismo, el pan y el vino y nuestras oraciones. Es la nueva vida que dios nos brinda a través del sufrimiento de su hijo quien nos guiará en nuestro camino

In Christ, we have new life. We also have the opportunity to move…. freely, with God at our side wherever we go. And somehow, moving doesn't seem so daunting anymore.

En Cristo, tenemos nueva vida, y con ello la libertad de movernos libremente con Dios a nuestro lado a dondequiera que vayamos de modo que movernos no se siente tan insegura nunca más.

Amen.