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.
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.
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