Filled By God - Alex Clark, Guest Preacher
Alex Clark gives us some insight for weekend worship. Alex is a recent graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and returns to First Lutheran, his home congregation, this weekend to preach in our services Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. He will also be ordained on Sunday at 2 pm in the First Lutheran sanctuary. All are invited to attend! Guests are encouraged to wear red.
“God has chosen you!” (Ephesians 1:4)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed [you] in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose [you]in Christ before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. [For God] has destined [you] to be his sons and daughters through Jesus Christ [~ set free to serve the needs of God’s creation through word and deed].” (Ephesians 1:3-5)
Have you ever heard it? Better yet, even said it? … “Mom! Dad! I’ve been chosen for the team … and I didn’t even have to try out!” What an exhilarating feeling, right?! But oh, how quickly we lose it as we grow older. We get all caught-up in the various “try outs” or matters of being “popular enough” … “wealthy enough” … “good looking enough” … “driving the cool car” … “living in the right neighborhood” … with the “right house.” And if we don’t cut-it in the world’s eyes, then we certainly don’t feel “chosen.” Right? Rather, we feel or think something like: “Well, I guess I’m just a nothin’, a nobody, alone.”
In what most biblical scholars consider to be the most sublime of St. Paul’s writings, this letter to the early church at Ephesus and us (which will be our sermon series over the next six weeks), is encouraging the Christian community to keep their hearts up – because despite all their hardship and persecution, they are still God’s beloved “chosen even before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). Echoing the claiming word of God, spoken through the prophet, Isaiah: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine [always!]” (Isaiah 43:1; 45:3-4; cf. I Thessalonians 1:4). So … how does this Word of God relate to you, or in your life with others in your daily life?
A true story from my life, that I pray Christ’s Spirit will speak to yours … I was about to step into the dying room of the hospital. The patient’s name was Jack. I’d been there too many times before; but the incense of death and the deafening silence of fear that accompanied it, made me catch my breath. Why was I here? He surely hadn’t asked for me. And the nurses just told me how he’d told other chaplains to just leave! But he was all alone … And then, it just came to me. Ready or not, I had to go in. (Read chapter 3 of Henri Nouwen’s little gem: The Wounded Healer.)
As I came near his bed, he looked past me with that vacant thousand-yard-stare of combat fatigue – attacked, persecuted by cancer. Under the sheet stamped University of Chicago Hospitals, he was as rigid as a 6 ft. 4x10 oak plank. The timbers were rotting. His insides hollowed-out by all the dis-ease. And he knew it. Feeling lost and deathly afraid. He was coming to the Terminal of life; but there were no friends or family waiting for him, to say “Welcome Home.” And so, all was silent … “Silent night, unholy night.”
In a stumbling sort of way I mentioned something about my name being Pastor John, the evening Chaplain, and would he like to visit. Again, the silence. I felt very uneasy. Why was I here?! It was certainly not of his choosing. It was not really of my choosing. What was “It”?
I struggled for the right word, a graceful gesture – sensing a growing confidence that if anything, I was only adding to his misery. “Nuts!” I thought. “I’m otta here.” … “Would you like me to pray with you?” I asked. (You know, when in doubt, pray.) Silence. And then it just came to us. …
See you at worship this weekend, as we hear the conclusion of God’s Word for my soon-to-be friend, Jack. And for you!
John Christopherson
Senior Pastor
“And Jesus told them to give her something to eat …”
“Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing [Jesus], he fell at his feet, and besought him, saying, ‘My little girl is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live. And [Jesus] went with him. … While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?’ But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ And [Jesus] allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But Jesus put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha cumi’; which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’ And immediately the girl got up and walked (she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. … And [Jesus] told them to give her something to eat” (Mark 5:21-24, 38-43; RSV).
Let us pray: O Lord, we hear the running feet of human desperation in your gospel word for us this day. Not only those of Jairus – whose little girl is at the point of death (well, actually who died!) – but that not-so-quiet-desperation in our own lives that seeks your calming and healing touch … And so, to such dark and desperate spaces and places, that are so out of control and dying, shine your light of life anew upon us – enfolding us with the everlasting hope of your Word-made-flesh in Christ … Yes, the One who identifies with us in such times of trial, and who reminds us again this day from his cross and resurrection, that we are never beyond his saving reach:“Talitha, cumi. My beloved daughter/son arise. Hold out your empty hands. For I am the bread of life given for you, for forgiveness of sin and new life. Take and eat.”
See you at Christ’s table that will be set for you this coming Saturday at Vespers and again come Sunday morning. From the One who gives of his very self for you – through the bread and wine – for forgiveness, for healing, for wholeness, for good, for life anew, for always … Come, take and eat.
j.r. christopherson
Senior Pastor
Just As He Was (Mark 4:36b)
“On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to [his disciples], ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd, they took [Jesus] with them in the boat, just as he was. … And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on a cushion; and they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care if we perish?’” (Mark 4:35-38; RSV)
Being several hundred feet below sea-level and surrounded by large wind-swept mountains, Lake Galilee (13 mi. long x 8 mi. across) is still today notorious for severe squalls – which without warming, hit small fishing vessels with tremendous power. (Note Rembrandt’s depiction of this event in his famous painting entitled, Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee.) But this storm must have been – as my dad would call it – a real “rip-snorter” … Cuz even these swarthy, shiver-me-timbers, rough-n-tumble fishermen were needing a change of underwear!
No! No! No! They hadn’t signed-up for this? … This was no “three hour cruise.” Why was it, that so often, when Jesus bid them to come follow, he’d call them right into the midst of a storm (cf. Mark 4:5; 5:21; 6:45; 8:13)?!… No. Really. Why? … Look at them again, in Rembrandt’s painting. One, two, three, four ... of them scrambling on the lines and mast, praying, pushing on the tiller with all their might. But it wasn’t good enough … They’re scared to death … I mean, if they’d been baseball players they probably wouldn’t have even been able to spit!
They’re trying everything, but nothin’ works. And worse, Jesus is doing nothing! (Seemingly) “I mean, who got us into this big mess in the first place?” Look how they’re staring at Jesus in dis-belief. And it’s here, at this moment, that things become awash. You see, as in times of great trial and fear in our own lives, we too find our words in those of the disciples: “Teacher, don’t you care if we perish?” (Mark 4:38; RSV)
So, where-in-the-world is God in this biblical story? And even more so, what-in-the-world is God doing?! Come join us for worship this weekend, as we look deeper in St. Mark’s and Rembrandt’s paintings together.
Pr. John Christopherson