Luther Talk - A Road Trip

 

Bright and early the group departed for Eisleben, the place of Luther’s birth and death.

Today, Eisleben has one Lutheran congregation with four ancient church buildings. Membership is declining and the congregation is figuring out how to continue, especially with the upkeep of buildings. The congregation rotates worship between three of the buildings.

 

St. Peter and Paul Kirche (late-Gothic) reimagined the church as a ‘Centre for Baptism.’ The original baptism font no longer exists, but it was here that Luther was baptized, Nov. 11, 1483. The Centre, through workshops, baptisms, retreats, tours, and baptisms, emphasizes that baptism is “the most important attribute of Christian faith and life in the centre of the church.”

 

You will note in the following pictures: a renovated chancel with the 1505 St. Anne altarpiece; a baptism pool for full immersion baptisms; and a crucifix from the 1400.

 

The crucifix is particular to this region and there are others that have survived the centuries. The body is wood that looks like it would be smooth to the touch. Over the centuries the wood has cracked here and there. The head of Jesus was given hair. The hair is horsehair. The explanation as to why is no longer known. I found the piece quite moving. Perhaps in part because of the beauty found in brokenness and the age old story of Jesus coming alive in a simple way, again and again. Jesus comes to us and for us.

 

St. Anne’s Kirche (Renaissance) and monastery (Augustinian founded 1516) sit a top a hill overlooking the town of Eisleben. The biblical stories are brought to life in reliefs and paintings. The guide tested our biblical knowledge by walking us through each relief and having us guess the story. Once upon a time, in Luther’s time, it is the pictorial representations that reminded people of the stories. Most people did not read and there were not yet books or pamphlets in the Germany language.

The Augustinian monastery is a close encounter with Luther space. He stayed in the gabled monks’ cells several times.

 

St. Andrew’s Church is named such because St. Andrew is the patron saint of miners. Luther was born in Eisleben because his father was a miner. This church sits at the centre of the historic city, once a Romanesque church, after a fire (1498) was rebuilt in a late-Gothic style.

Luther took a road trip to Eisleben. He was invited to act as a mediator between factions of the governing family. While in the town he had opportunity to preach. Luther’s last for sermons were given from the pulpit in the picture (minus the canopy). Luther was sick and his heart was weak, so much so that he could not finish the preaching of the final sermon.

 

A Road trip –

We never know when the road of life ends for each of us. What will be my last act? My last proclamation of the gospel? Will I – does grace compel me – to keep preaching and teaching until I no longer have the strength to utter any more words…

 

Luther Talk - I Belong to Something Bigger

 

Rev. Ireneus Lukas, LWF Regional Secretary of Europe, gave us a presentation on the Lutheran World Federation. He began by asking, “In a word or short phrase, describe what the LWF is to you.” After our answers he gave his, “I belong to something bigger.”

 

The step in the picture is one of the approximately 537 steps in the Schlosskirche tower. Notice the wear. The step, once flat, is now concave and deeply pitted by centuries of peoples’ feet travelling up and down.  Suzy wondered how many have taken the journey up and down the stairs? It is steep, confining, and dizzy-ing.

 

The work of the LWF is kind of like the steps in the Schlosskirche tower. The LWF consists of 153 member churches who are in communion with each other. Think of each step as a member. All the churches are connected to a central axis – a specific understanding and articulation of God’s grace. God gives grace. We can not earn it or pay for it. It is a free gift.

 

While we can not work to earn God’s grace, the LWF members do work at the task of being in communion. Being a communion of churches is a gift, but it does come with challenges. Communion does not mean conformity. The steps each church climbs in their own contexts differ widely. Some struggles are a steep climb. Relationship building among the members of LWF makes communion full and abundant. It begins one step at a time, connecting individuals face to face and growing relationships.

 

This building of relationships gives all member churches a much bigger view!

It is like the view from the top of the Schlosskirche tower. Breathtaking! Full! Wide!

We are encouraged to witness the expansiveness of grace through relationship. In relationship – communion- we can hope that one day the LWF vision will be lived reality:

 

Liberated by God’s grace, a communion of churches, living and working together for a just, peaceful, and reconciled world.

Luther Talks - Within, Within, Within

 

Yesterday I visited an exhibit of items from Luther Haus.

Hanging in the exhibit was a painting. The painting has Luther teaching his children to sing. Within the painting one sees other paintings on the wall. The oil paintings are of Luther’s father and mother, by Lucas Cranach the Elder. This was a very exciting moment for me!

I saw these portraits at the Wartburg-Castle in Eisnach, when I visited Germany 30 years ago. I recognized the portraits within the painting!

 

Suzy suggested the title of today’s ‘Luther Talk.’ She has been repeating ‘within, within, within,’ as a little chant all day long! This is her response to the contributions of people in the class. I have uttered the word ‘interesting’ on more than one occasion. Suzy says that repeating “within, within, within,” is a calm way for her to express amazement that our classmates are all Lutheran pastors. We are all within the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) – even though our experiences, practices, interpretation/application of scripture, and articulation of theology are diverse. Within – we share a common understanding that we are about preaching the gospel, that God’s grace comes to us, for us. This grace changes everything.

 

Within.

Interaction with fellow members of the LWF is seeing and recognizing portraits on the walls of other peoples’ lives and churches. We have recognized the portraits of old – of reformers, churches, missionaries, Christ -- that have and continue to shape who we are as Lutheran Christians. They are hanging on our walls while we have continued to live life, remembering the past, but not living in one particular painting. The gospel is reborn, has been reborn, into each new context we encounter.

 

this is the study group with the Lord Mayor of Wittenberg. We represent churches from Canada, USA, Argentina, Eritrea, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Tanzania, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Czech Republic.

Within.

There is something precious in finding grace within unexpected places. Delighting in grace within an abundance of expression. The generosity of grace within relationship and fellowship.

Within, within, within.

Luther Talks - Remembrance and the Lutherangarten

How does one mark significant events? Human ceremonies celebrate, remember, observe, commemorate... So many of our occasions are full of emotion and complexity. 

The Luthergarten was a global project of the Lutheran World Federation to commemorate 500 years of Reformation (2017).  500 trees for 500 years since the Reformation --  In the middle of the tree park the walkway stones make a Luther Rose and the pavilion canopy in the middle is a cross. Trees were planted by member churches and churches of the ecumenical family (Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist...). Learn more at www.luthergarten.de

The 500th commemoration was not a rah-rah Luther or Lutheran event. It was a reflective moment by a confession of churches who stood together and proclaimed: salvation, human beings, and creation are not for sale! This was the theme. Grace as God's gift, lived out in our lives, ALIVE.

This picture is a sculpture in the ground of the courtyard of the Parish Kirche, St. Mary's. On the church facade, 4 metres up, there is a carving from 1290 that has Jews depicted as pigs. Rather than removing this ugly history, it was left to cause a person to cringe. The sculpture on the ground was added in 1988 to acknowledge Christian antisemitism as precursor to the Holocaust. An explanatory plaque in German and English is also included in the space. 

On Nov. 9th, 2026 in the evening, community members gathered to remember Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass). Every year this remembrance is a moment to reflect on this dismal chapter of Nazi antisemitism. This sculpture turns to a memorial where the towns people place white stones to remember the lives of Jews and others. The bubbling up 'goo' through the cracks - illustrates that anti-semitism continues to percolate. Hate percolates and can poison a society. This is not be forgotten.

This is the ELCIC tree. Tree is alive!

It is Remembrance Day and I am a Canadian in Germany. 

Remembrance Day  (Nov.11) is important. As a pastor I am a keeper of peoples' stories. I carry the stories of:  WWII veterans, Displaced Persons, German soldiers, occupied peoples, present war refugees, current military personnel, civilians without choice. War takes and takes and takes. War is death: physical, emotional, spiritual, environmental, societal...

And here is Tree. Alive! 

I placed my poppy here in remembrance that after death there can be healing and life.

Poppies grow amid the crosses, row on row. 

 

Luther Talks - Theological Breakthrough

 

Every time one turns around, there is another archway. An open passageway to a mystery. The door is there for anyone and everyone. You can journey through with intention, curiosity, or simply to keep on walking. I chose to investigate many of the open passages. Sometimes I was welcomed into a courtyards alive with art, unique architecture, and experienced a moment of delight and surprise. Other times I was disappointed because the opening looked inviting and promising only to find blank walls, empty space, or garbage containers.

Study time explored Martin Luther's theological breakthrough. There were two operable views of how humans were put put right with God: Via Antiqua and Via Moderna. Both systems relied on God giving grace--- meaning energy--- down to humans. The human then does the best they can with what they have been given working their way towards God. Each action on the human's part can advance them up the ladder or down the ladder. At each step God sends more energy that the human uses the best they can. The trouble was one never knew where they were on this ladder' how close they were making it to God and being fully righteous.

This picture is the backside of the Luther monument in the Wittenberg town square taken from the Lord Mayor's ceremonial office. It is a different perspective of Luther. Luther's theological breakthrough was completely different. Grace was no longer 'energy' to help people DO right. Grace was a gift that was given to humans, not so they tried to achieve being righteous like God, but a gift to be human. This passive righteousness allowed humans to be in relationship with God and with this gift - and all the gifts given - to serve fellow human beings. 

Humans received with grace the gift of faith. Faith defined as 'trust in the promises of God.'

Our group walked through the doors of the old city hall and were welcomed into what is now the ceremonial office of the Lord Mayor of Wittenberg. The surprise was a very large book. The mayor honoured us by inviting us to sign our names, along with the church we represent. We did nothing but follow the mayor at his invitation through the door. We were surprised by the welcome and that we all - without question -- were invited to write our names in the book. I wonder if this is how our names arrive in the 'Book of Life' at the end of our days? At God's invitation to us to write it there.

Luther Talks - Context Matters

Suzy was very excited to learn that there are hedgehogs in Germany. They are wild and yes, you might be able to see a few in the streets, although they are soon to hibernate. She wants to go exploring tomorrow …. And everyday … until she sees one.

 

Our study today was a history lesson. The Renaissance, the rise of cities, universities, illiteracy, technological change, health, the Empire (Holy Roman), Islam, European ‘age of discovery,’ were all significantly operable in Luther’s context. Reading the list – does it sound familiar to the time in which we live?

 

The church is very much connected to a specific context, in a specific time. Following the writings of Luther in the order they were written, one discovers they were written to address specific matters in his context. He had two worlds – one that was academic and one that was pastoral. His pastoral writings might surprise you. He wrote a little pamphlet to his barber on how to pray. He wrote a revolutionary piece “Consolation for Women Whose Pregnancies Have Not Gone Well,” meaning miscarriage or still-births. At the time it was believed that God was punishing women for sin and that is why their babies died. Luther did not believe this at all.

 

When walking through this door, into the courtyard of Luther’s house, if you look up the entry ceiling is painted. In the middle there is a Luther Rose. If I did not tell you, it was a picture of a ceiling, would you have guessed? Context matters.

 

In our time – our context – how do we respond to the significantly operable things in the world? Illiteracy (academic and spiritual), technological change (AI), health (pandemics, cancer, mental health), Empire (nationalism, falling democracy), Islam, ‘age of discovery” (space, oceans…)?

How do we teach, preach, and live the Gospel? How do we live out God’s unconditional love and grace?

Luther Talks - On a Scale of North and South

The LWF (Lutheran World Federation) is a communion of 153 member churches. Pastors from various churches throughout the communion are attending the 31^st Theological Seminar for Pastors.

Getting to know each other we were asked to make a line, placing ourselves on a global North-South line. Then asked to arrange selves by age; years ordained; and our favourite gospel.

What we learned is that we are diverse! Where we are from, our experiences, our likes, our theological perspectives --- we represent a wealth of treasure.

 

Katarina von Bora (Luther’s wife) took us back in time for a walk through the alt town of Wittenberg. In what was once Lucas Cranach’s courtyard, there is an ancient building where modern quilt like patches have been painted on the exterior wall. In a way it represented our group. We all carry Luther with us because we all studied Luther. The theology we teach, preach, and confess started with Luther --- maybe even in conversation beside this very wall.

Katarina showcased for us the number of bright academics who became friends. Passionate about education these professors challenged each other, the empire of the time, and hierarchy of the church. Difference of opinion led to lively debate, honest study, and continued conversation.

May this continue to be so for the church today and for the next two weeks of study.

'Luther Talks' - Four Hundred Years, Now Five Hundred

Four Hundred Years, has been on my bookshelf since seminary. Someone was cleaning out their library. I have never read it. The book contains a group of essays reflecting on 400 years of Reformation. Why not include reflection on 1917 thoughts of Luther?

 

In 2017, the 500^th Commemoration of the Reformation, was marked by the Lutheran World Federation with a threefold theme: Salvation, Creation, and Human beings NOT FOR SALE. The church reflected on God’s grace in a hurting world and our response to the grace we have received. This changes how we approach and actively work for mercy and justice.

 

In 1917, the 400^th Anniversary, as presented in the essays, was rah-rah Luther. Speaking of men and God as ‘He,’ the essays leaned into a Reformation that happened in 1517 and remained in a time capsule. The essays do remind readers of important Lutheran tenants: education of all, scripture in the hands of all, and grace for all. The essays introduce Luther as a person who loved children, music, the Bible. There was little reflection on the muddier parts of Luther’s writings. It comes across as ‘nice.’ It comes across as hero-worship.

 

The book is pre-WWII. While having read Luther in seminary, my Lutheran theology and ethic was formed with conversation partners who were influenced by WWII (Bonhoeffer, Tillich). I grew up in a church that articulated reformation as ongoing. Word is living Word and grace is present and active. My experience of Lutheran is not one with a time capsule or hero-worship; it is rather alive, as the ELCIC (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) tagline states: “living out God’s grace and unconditional love.” 

 

"Luther Talks" with Suzy and Pr. Kimber

 

13 1/2 hrs later Suzy and I have made it from Halifax to Newark (USA).

Thunderstorms and air traffic control stops hindered us from getting on any flight to Germany. We are on tomorrows flight that leaves the same time every day. This means Suzy and I will miss church and the visit to Luther's grave on Sunday morning. Suzy is really not sure how she feels about that because she was working on the 'kid's corner.' I tried to tell her that we would be worshipping only not leading. That could have been a shock to everyone.

The picture above is us... safe and happy in a hotel in Newark. Thanks to Tim for finding and booking us a room. We have had a late supper and will soon head to bed. 

I wanted to take a minute to share a bit of journey.

1. COVID caused me to not want to get excited about upcoming events because they might get cancelled. I didn't allow myself to plan too far in advance and big adventures were beyond my grasp. This adventure ends the fear of disappointment. It is noted that mental health is always a work in progress. Courage is a stepping stone for my mental health.

2. Reading Luther texts that I have not read for 30 years, or didn't entirely read in seminary, has drawn me back to the beginning of Lutheran theology. There is an appreciation for the writings and how Word changed the world. I am also glad that the church kept reforming, teaching; challenging and applying Word to each generation in a unique way. 

3. I have deep gratitude. Because I have resources small crisis are only frustrating but not debilitating. This certainly helps with what might have been a day that was too much. The people throughout today were extremely caring and kind. In each airport, large groups of people were stranded or rerouted. Staff spent many extra hours at work and with care accommodated their passengers.  And people laughed, smiled, and calmly waited. Today I heard more THANK YOUS ... including once I was in the US.

Suzy and I hope to share a blog post each day to share an experience and something we thought about. 

Until I write from Wittenberg,

Hugs and Son-shine

More than One Pan Flute: A Sermon for All Saints

 

There is a Peruvian musician who plays on the Halifax waterfront. He wears traditional Peruvian clothing with added jingles on his pantleg. He plays a harp and a large multi-tiered pan flute. Perhaps you have had the pleasure of hearing his music. He is an amazing pan flute player.

Pan flutes are an instrument handmade from reeds. Modern pan flutes have two or more rows of reeds that make a complete musical scale and then some. A person can play a whole musical selection on their own. But I heard a story this week of pan flute makers in the Andes – in the 14^th century, pan flute makers made a single row of reeds. No pan flute contained all the notes. Two flutes were required to make music. Pan flute players had to work with each other, as a back and forth, conversation of pan flutes. It was a call and response. There was a give and take relationship of the players and their energy. This created the sound, volume, and speed that created music. It was like a spoken litany where each had to listen to the other, feel the spaces, fill in the blanks, and grow the music together.

The pan flute story is a parable for this All Saints’ Sunday.

 

The modern pan flute mirrors cultures that encourage individualism. A consumer culture seduces us to believe that ‘I’ can have it all, on my terms, with my own effort. “I” can do it all alone. I can march to my own drum, play the jingles, the harp, and all the notes on a flute at the same time…by myself. ‘I’ deserve more and can take as much as I want; the more tiers on the pan flute the better. It is with a self-centred and self-absorbed attitude, that ‘I” face -conquer- the world. I make noise alone.

In contrast the 14^th Century understanding of pan flutes is what is happening here on this All Saints’ Sunday. We confess that: No one has all the notes. No one has it all figured out, especially in matters of death and grief. Both death and grief are isolating. We feel alone. Today we acknowledge that we are only one tier of a pan flute. We can not heal alone. To make music, to bring wholeness, it takes people. It takes at least two pan flute players; listening, responding; holding each others’ notes and adding to the conversation. The service today is an affirmation of needing community.

 

For those paying attention to the scripture readings, you will have noticed the emphasis on community. They, those; multitude, every nation, every tribe, people, languages; children of God. There is no I or me, single child, or one alone on the margins. Every reading reflects on community.

 

A liturgist described All Saints’ Sunday as the church, a community of faith doing memory work together. This work has been done for centuries through continual use of ancient liturgies, the re-telling of stories, the repetition of scripture and creeds and sayings that give comfort and hope. It is a community who invites all who are grieving to come along. It welcomes those with tears and sadness, the feeling of being lost, those with anger and guilt. The community welcomes, embraces, and listens. We sit side-by-side in a shared understanding that we are broken and that is okay. We sit together, not running away from suffering or pushing down feelings. We do not try to be okay – and especially not on our own. Together we name those we love whom we have lost; by resurrecting their names their memory has life. We stir the great cloud of witnesses with honour and remembrance and overall gratitude for love experienced, love that lives on. Love that outlasts death, that will outlast grief, love that continues beyond our tears. Love that never ends.

 Today we are reminded that we are connected to a great company -- those past, present, and yet to be. A host of people from age to age, a great cloud of witnesses, and being called children of God - part of a family.

 

The apocalyptic scripture texts, like those read earlier, often distract us because – self-centred as we are- we start imaging what the afterlife will be for ‘me.’ For my loved ones. What I want it to be. The point is missed if we go no farther than the mechanics or the physical whats of the next life. Listening more deeply we are invited to hear that everything is written in the plural; no one is alone or isolated in God’s time.

In Revelations the author conveys that there is a place of blessedness and hope – beyond the ordeals and circumstances of human experiences, beyond suffering and grief. This text was written as the Roman Empire was oppressing subjugated peoples and severely persecuting followers of Jesus. Matthew too, wrote under the oppressive rule of Empire, where the Empire had destroyed the Temple – the place of God and of gathering for a whole people. In the midst of chaos, the texts were written as hope for scared, suffering, persecuted, and grieving communities.

People gathered in Synagogues. Jesus’ communities met in upper rooms, courtyards, peoples’ homes. People didn’t have Bibles, rather, the gospels and letters were read to gathered groups of people; copied and passed on to other communities. People prayed together in prison, accompanied each other on journeys, and as groups continued to feed and serve the marginalized.

The Beatitudes of Matthew’s gospel are part of his continued emphasis of God’s kindom. Kindom is everyone living in shalom, peace – where no one has too much and no one has too little. Power is shared. Mercy and justice flow. All are in relationship with God, each other, and creation. In past weeks we have noted Matthew’s world view that this kindom, God’s kindom, has come near. Christ is present and incarnate. The kindom is already here, but we still find that we live in the ‘not yet.’ Matthew articulates the reality of everyday life. Life is full of paradox.  

 

Author Parker J. Palmer wrote:  The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure; the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair; the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring; these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings. If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.

Theses words are worth repeating: The deeper our faith, the more doubt we must endure; the deeper our hope, the more prone we are to despair; the deeper our love, the more pain its loss will bring; these are a few of the paradoxes we must hold as human beings. If we refuse to hold them in the hopes of living without doubt, despair, and pain, we also find ourselves living without faith, hope, and love.

 

The beauty of community is that on the days I have faith, hope, and love – I have faith, hope, and love that I carry with me and offer here, with others, for everyone. On the days I have doubt, despair, and pain – I come to community – and find in the community enough faith, hope, and love for the moment. Its as if each of us were given only a few reeds on our pan flute. The Greatest Pan-flute Creator understood that we would try to live life’s paradoxes by ourselves. Here in our responses back and forth, our singing in different voices, our hearing holy words and making response, our coming to the table and receiving and going, conversation over coffee, a knowing nod, an elbow touched, a weary smile, an understanding look, space to allow for silent sorrow, a listening ear … in this God’s kindom draws near. It is in this that faith, hope, and love are made into music that fills and satisfies our hearts, embraces and engages a community, and makes us whole despite being broken. And we have courage to risk experiencing doubt, despair, and pain – because to be whole is to live into faith, hope, and love.

 

Source of the Springs of the water of life, come wipe away every tear from our eyes. Embrace us as we embrace each other. Give us courage to listen and bear each others brokenness. Christ, heal us through community as we live and share the paradoxes of life. And grant us the music of faith, hope, and love. In your holy name, Amen.

Show Up! Christ Will do the Rest

 Confirmation has been a process of reformation. While Luther’s Small Catechism remains a key component, supporting material varies. There is not a manual for clergy to follow or a set curriculum. Confirmation classes are a product of their time, culture, tradition, and the skills of the teacher.

 

Elders in my previous parish, all remembered memorizing hymns as you would poetry. They remember that Confirmation Sunday was the hurtle to being allowed to come to the altar rail and to receive communion. They also recounted how anxious they were on Confirmation Sunday because confirmands, in the presence of the congregation, would individually be asked questions by a council representative. It was like a test to make sure students knew enough. Once questions were asked and answered sufficiently the service continued with the confirmation liturgy. Rachel and Rebekah – any of us for that matter - can you imagine being asked questions to answer in front of everyone?

 

I have been reading sections of Luther’s writings, the reading list for my study trip to Wittenberg. I came across a great question for confirmation and Reformation Sunday. How many Gospels are there?

A student of the Bible, and I suspect most of you, will answer four – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. If readiness for confirmation were based on our knowledge, Luther would have failed us all. Luther was adamant, there is just and ONLY, ONE Gospel.

The gospel is about Christ, telling who he is, what he did, said, and suffered. There is one gospel described by many people - for instance the letters of Paul, Peter, and the early church are nothing but gospel. When we talk about Christ, we too share the gospel.

 

A second question Luther might have posed: Tell me, when does Christ come to you? The response to this question is not as quick as to the gospel question. In some traditions, a person answers in the giving of testimony; others the speaking in tongues is a mark of the Way; in others it is in a mystic experience, vision, or dream. When does Christ come to you?

This is not a trick question, especially if asked during the reading of the Word, the sermon, the hymns, or the words of the eucharistic prayer. Luther explained that Christ comes in the preaching of the gospel; this is nothing else than Christ coming to us.

The preaching and proclamation of the gospel is telling who Christ is, what Christ did, said, and suffered. In this, through this, Christ comes to us.

 

In baptismal and confirmation promises, we promise to hear God’s word, and live among God’s faithful people. Where in the world do we do that? Also, not a trick question. Where in the world do we hear God’s word and live among God’s faithful people? At church. In participating in faith community. Even if the pastor is a lousy preacher, the Word is proclaimed in the reading of scripture, in the Word of the sacrament, in the Word of hymns and the music that winds itself into our hearts. The easy and obvious answer is that, one place where Christ comes is here.

In Lutheran tradition great importance is given to the hearing the Word. If there was one action or demand on us it is putting ourselves in a place to listen and receive Word. Simply put, come to church, and trust that the Word will do the rest. Show up – that’s it. Be curious and open. Listen – here Christ comes.

 

Luther’s perspective, like that of the prophet Amos, was that the cruelest disaster is ‘a famine of hearing God’s word’ and the greatest grace, as written in the Psalms, ‘God sends forth his Word.”

The only thing necessary for the Christian life, righteousness, and freedom is the holy word of God, the Gospel of Christ. Despite what we hear and learn from the world, the gospel is the only thing that satisfies. Luther had an expansive understanding of the Word – the Word is Christ, living today in the very act of hearing it. It is so powerful that the Word of God makes hearers rich because it works faith within – it is an experience, an invitation, that entices not commands, interweaving Christ with who we are. It reminds we have worth and this empowers.  Luther recorded quite a list in defining the Word of God. The Word of God is abundant and enriches because it is life, truth, light, peace, righteousness, salvation, joy, freedom, wisdom, power, grace, glory and every blessing imaginable. The Living Word proclaims that because of Christ we belong, we are loved, we are not alone, we are enough. Praise be.

 

Truth be told, regardless of our answers to the questions Luther might have posed to a confirmation class, all the students would be confirmed. Confirmation is not about what you know. Not about being right. Coming to the service is enough. Each of us came to worship this morning – it is enough.

Because God through Christ has permeated creation with grace and redemption. There is absolutely nothing you or I can do to earn God’s unconditional love and grace. It has already been given through God’s extreme action of becoming incarnate, of suffering and dying, and in so doing redeeming death, sin, and all that is deemed unworthy.

 

Luther used the image of a wedding to describe relationship with Christ. It fits with what is happening here this morning. Confirmation is a giving of a vow – a giving of our heart and intention – where we are married in a way to Christ. We are in a shared relationship where our brokenness is embraced by Christ, and Christ’s essence becomes our own. Some people, when introducing their spouse will call their spouse ‘my better half.’ Christ, the better half, brings a fullness to all that we are, all that we have, and all that we will be. There is a prayer in the wedding liturgy that asks that the love of the couple be seen by others as an example of God’s love among us. Love is not reserved for a couple to hoard and keep for themselves; love that is love overflows beyond any one relationship. Love of God, friend of Jesus, is only such when the love overflows and is of benefit to the whole world.  And all we have to do is show up!

Christ – the Word we hear and experience – does the rest.

 

My best friend when talking about terrible behaviour, particularly people who are rude, disingenuous, or self-absorbed, venting will say, “Just be a person.” That is all that is asked of us, be a person, show up. You are enough. Christ is the rest.

 

Why does it sound so simple? And yet so difficult to accept?  Because the world tries to convince us otherwise. Holding us in bondage, a slavery to the idea that we are not enough, that we are wrong, and backward. It serves the ways of the world, the ways of empire, if we are chained in fear and indecision, and convinced of our inability to change what is. The empire in order to survive, needs hope to be locked in solitary confinement, so that the Word is silenced. The empire is afraid for it knows that the proclamation of the gospel – the invitation to belonging, redemption, and grace through Christ - has power to change and restore everything. And for empire this is too much.

 

And the end of empire begins

In that step of turning towards God

Showing up -  and Christ, the Word, will do the rest.