Sermon for June 26, 2019: To KNOW and to GROW: FRUIT!

The following sermon was preached by Rev. Mark T. Peterson, on June 26, 2016, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Holliston, MA. It is the 5th sermon in a 6 week series on Galatians, entitled TO KNOW, and TO GROW. 

Galatians 5:1, 13-25¹For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
  ¹³For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. ¹⁴For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
  ¹⁶Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
  ²²By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

Today, we are in our 5th week of reading from Paul's letter to the Galatians, and as we read from chapter 5 today, we remember that Paul wrote to the Galatians and to us; so that we can KNOW and GROW. Mostly, so that we KNOW that we are the People of God and so that we GROW in what our holy identity means.

Paul writes today so that we KNOW that we have been called to lives of freedom, and that it is Jesus Christ that has set us free to live these lives. In making this point, Paul also clarifies, that this freedom is not mere self-indulgence. Rather, the freedom that Christ sets us free to live for, runs counter to self-indulgence. 

To help us get the picture, Paul lays before us two lists. The first are those things which are self-indulgent, and merely feed our own desires, or our own flesh, our own condition of doing-whatever-I-wantism. The second list are the things that nurture us, the Fruit of the Spirit. These are the type of things that we are free to indulge in, the things that God has given us as a part of our daily lives, and the things that really do make life worth living. As the People of God, these things are what help guide and fulfill our lives. 

Now, I have a story about one fruit of the Spirit, self-control. I have found this story useful in sharing it with Charlie and trying to teach him about self-control. When I was younger, maybe 7 or 8, I was outside playing and my sister locked me out of the house, perhaps not even the whole house, I think our other door was indeed still open. Regardless, I just really wanted to get into the house through that door. My own self-indulgent tendencies took over, and I was just so mad and upset, and to make matters worse, was that there was full-length window right next to the door. Through that window, I could look in and see my sister, who was making faces at me and teasing me. My own anger level was rising, and much to my sister's surprise and my own, I kicked that window. Thankfully, it didn't just shatter all over the place, but it is etched in my memory how I took my foot out, and all I could see was the hole where my foot had been. I guess the window was only a little broken. But I had really displayed an utter lack of self control, one of the things that really mark us as the People of God. 

My parents were so upset they sent me away, they told me to just leave, and so I went and stayed at my neighbor's house for three weeks. I'm kidding, my parents loved me, and their love is what made me a part of my family, not my own good behavior or ability to show all the Fruit of the Spirit. I'm sure that I got into a little bit of trouble, but I mostly remember the lesson I was taught about self control. This same lesson is one we try to teach to others, one I'm trying to teach to my own sons. This is a lesson we remember and keep in mind as adults, because just like our inner-child, we can become self-indulgent as well. 

These things that things that Paul writes about in his "no" list, in his "don't do these things" list, are things that we all keep on continuing to do right through our lives. They are things we all engage in, even Paul, and of course myself. Enmity, strife, anger, and all the other no-no's are places we like to dwell in, soak in, and feel in. Sometimes it feels so good to let go, and perhaps kick that proverbial window, just as I did. No matter who we are or where we are, we are all subject to the items on the "no" list. 

Today, with the rise of the internet, of social media, it seems as if our self-indulgences are on a whole different level. `With so much opportunity, right there at our fingertips, a click away, it's so easy to post something, or respond, or like something, or do whatever, as the people we are interacting with may not seem like people. They are just a screen and our interactions can lose some of their humanity, and some of their fruit. At the same time, the internet has the ability to connect us to each other in ways that we would have never thought possible years ago. The internet, like everything else that has been a new thing in the lives of humans has it's positives and negatives. The problem, as always, lies with us as humans, and our own problematic inner-child or self-indulgent spirits. In the end, it is our self-indulgences that divide us and work to destroy us. 

Yet, Paul reminds us, and WE KNOW, that we, as the People of God have been set free. We have been set free in the same way that God is free, and as we consider God's freedom, we see that God is also very indulgent, and indulgent over us. God is so indulgent, that God created this whole world, so full of good things, so full of fruit, (so full of sap! but also maple syrup.) so full of things for us to enjoy.  Indeed, our indulgent God has created an abundance of fruit, both metaphorical and literal, for us to share, to dine on, and to live on. 

God is certainly free to create this world for us, and God is free to send us the Son of God. This is a God who would freely live among us, who would be a part of us.

 This morning, we hear Paul warn us, "Be careful, of biting and devouring one another, that you don't consume one another." While we are intent, because of our own self-indulgences, our own sin, of doing just that, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has freely come to us, whom by our sin, we bite, devour and consume. Yet, Jesus, freely acts in giving us his life, and transforming us by his Holy Spirit, setting us free from our sin and making us the People of God. Truly, as God's people we have been set free to live like our God of freedom, to serve like our God of freedom, and to be indulgent over each other and over God, and the world that God has made. By the work of Jesus Christ, we have been freed to love, even though our own self-indulgences seem to never go away. 

We are called to KNOW of our freedom as the People of God, and we are called to GROW in this freedom, not by doing everything right but rather by consuming the fruit that God so abundantly gives. We are called to GROW by coming together, and dining on the life, the fruit of our God; to dine on the Word of God, to hear it, to let it enrich us,love us, forgive us, and free us. We are called to GROW by consuming the Fruit of the Spirit that God gives, so that we may GROW in becoming the fruit that springs forth from the seeds of the fruit that we consume. We consume this fruit that God gives so that we may GROW by the work of the Spirit LOVING us, giving us JOY, bringing us together in PEACE, filling us with PATIENCE and KINDNESS, making us more GENEROUS, by being FAITHFUL and GENTLE to us, and by joining us through God's own SELF CONTROL; the kind of self control that Jesus Christ showed in freely giving his own life, for each of our own indulgences. 

May the Spirit continue to call us together to dine on this fruit and GROW in the freedom that we KNOW we have been given. By the work of the Holy Spirit, may we continue to taste and see that the Lord is good, and as a result, be that fruit for all of creation. 

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Amen. 

Galatians, we KNOW:

That the Gospel message is given to us by Jesus Christ, is about Jesus Christ, and it reveals Jesus Christ.

That Jesus Christ came to do something, to give himself for our sin and free us from this evil age. 

That Jesus Christ comes not to the healthy, but to sinners; sinners like Paul and sinners like us, to transform us and give us new life, to give us his life. 

That we are justified not by works of the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

God didn't make us the People of God to put us into a prison of rules and regulations. We have been made the People of God so that we can love God, love each other, and KNOW how much we are loved. 

It is by the grace and peace given to us by Jesus Christ, that has made and formed us as that People of God, and that it is through the waters of baptism where we are clothed in Christ.

We have been made the People of God to live a life of freedom. This freedom is not self-indulgence, but a freedom to be indulgent over God, others, and all that God has made.

and we GROW:

By considering the question that Paul asks about who we serve, and whose approval we are seeking. Is it the approval of God, or is it humans? 

By learning to trust in grace, and not our own human abilities and ways of doing things. We wrestle with the words of this quote from H. William Gregory. "Trust, and not rigidity is what defines the will of one converted by Grace." 

By opening ourselves to the presence of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, in our lives, and allowing him to live in, with, and through us.

By realizing that our pain and suffering, our shame and guilt, that our shortcomings, our sin, is an affliction that we all share.

By coming out to God's grace, and remembering that it is not how we act that makes us a People of God, but how we are loved.

By coming together to consume the Fruit of the Spirit, through dining on the Lord’s Supper, and feasting on the Word of God which is full of love, joy, forgiveness; ETERNAL LIFE.

Sermon for May 29, 2016: To KNOW and TO GROW

The following sermon was preached by Rev. Mark T. Peterson, on May 29, 2016, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Holliston, MA. It is the first sermon in a 6 week series on Galatians, entitled TO KNOW, and TO GROW. I will be making references to a document I produced, of the same name, and that is pictured within this post. 

Galatians 1:1-12

¹Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—²and all the members of God’s family who are with me,
  To the churches of Galatia:
  ³Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

  ⁶I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—⁷not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! ⁹As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!
  ¹⁰Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

  ¹¹For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; ¹²for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

I have a new intro today, not really mine I guess, but one I copied, or plagiarized from Paul...but being as he hasn't been around for 2000 years, I think I'm ok. Paul wrote this, as the greeting to Galatians, and he writes similar things in his other letters in the Bible.

Today, we read from Galatians and we will continue reading from it over the course of the next six weeks. For a little background, Paul wrote this letter to the churches of Galatia thousands of years ago. These churches were ones that he had played a role in starting quite a few years before with his message of the Gospel. A message about Jesus Christ and a message that the Bible tells us Paul himself received directly from Jesus. As the story goes, Jesus, who has been raised from the dead and is living encounters Saul with a blinding light, knocks him off of his horse, and tells him to change his name to Paul. Jesus also gives Paul the good news, the saving news about himself, and Paul, an apostle, shared that news with others, like the Galatians.

It had been some years since the Holy Spirit, through the work of Paul, had formed the church in Galatia, and now Paul felt the need to write to them. It seems that Paul's Gospel message, the message of Jesus Christ himself, had gotten a little twisted. So Paul, writes the Galatians a letter, and he writes to them about what they are "TO KNOW" and how they are "TO GROW". 

Paul's themes; TO KNOW and TO GROW, also fits nicely with my own document, my pastoral vision that I call, "TO KNOW and TO GROW", which you all have a copy of. 

Paul wanted the people of Galatia TO KNOW, that they were the Holy People of God, and TO KNOW how they got that way....

Paul also wanted the people of Galatia TO GROW in what it meant to have that holy identity, as the People of God. 

Today, in a different time and place, we are no more or no less the People of God as the Galatians were, and therefore Paul's letter speaks to us as well. We are called TO KNOW and TO GROW.

The first thing that Paul emphasizes, the first thing TO KNOW, is that this Gospel of Jesus Christ didn't come to him from human hands, or human councils, it came to him directly from Christ, and most importantly, this message is not about Paul, but all about Jesus Christ. The message is about God, not about Paul. Paul goes to great lengths to emphasize this. 

This is what we are TO KNOW, even today, that Paul's message, that has been passed on for over 2000 years does not come to us by the power of humans, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a message, a Gospel, about Jesus Christ, that has continued to reveal his presence to humans, right up to, and including today. Though Paul writes the letter, it is the work and Word of God. 

TO KNOW: The Gospel comes to us from Jesus Christ, is about Jesus Christ, and reveals to us Jesus Christ.

The second thing that we are called TO KNOW, is that Jesus Christ came to Paul, he came to this world, he comes to us in this Gospel message for a reason! Paul writes "Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age." Jesus is here with us, because he is doing something for us. He is saving us from our sin and freeing us from this evil age. 

We might not like to talk about sin, thinking that this type of language is a thing of the past, or that if we just ignore sin it will go away. But, our whole reason for needing salvation (from Jesus) is the fact of sin in our lives and world. I like to say that, "The Good News about the Church is that we have a savior. The bad news about the Church is that we really need one."  Jesus Christ is here doing something, and doing something about sin.

The sin that Jesus is doing something about, affects us all, no matter if it is our own sin or the sin of someone else. Sin's effects are apparent through all times and places, and we are confronted with its devastating results as we are about to observe Memorial Day. In our observance, we are marked by the markers of those who have lost their lives in service to our country, as a result of being put into violent situations. As we mark generations of those men and women who have died, we see the continual consequences of war; death, destruction; pain, and loss. Setting aside the issue of being right or wrong, in these losses, no matter who we are, or what times and places we have lived in, WE KNOW that war touches us. WE KNOW that this violence, this sin, leaves its mark, and darkens the lives of us all. Worst of all, WE KNOW that we will join with the mass of humanity that has gone before us, and continue to pass our sin on to the coming generations.

In our memorials, we remember. We remember the role of sin in our lives, whether we choose to acknowledge or not. Truly, sin is at work in our lives, and we don't have to dig hard to see that. Recently, there were bomb threats made towards schools in this area. These threats, thankfully, were unsubstantiated, but that didn't stop them from having an effect on teachers, staff, parents, and even young students; causing fear, stress, and anxiety. This sinful act causes us to wonder; what would happen if the threats were true? and what type of person would do something like that? When these thoughts enter into our lives, they become a part of our very being, causing us to be more afraid of others. These thoughts can cause us to turn inward, looking more and more upon ourselves, and our own protection, security, needs, and desires, and captivating us in fear, so that we forget about our neighbor. Sin, works its way into our lives, and then holds us captive to our own selfishness, however that manifests itself. 

The GOOD NEWS, what God, through people like Paul, so wants us...

TO KNOW: The Gospel comes to us from Jesus Christ, is about Jesus Christ, and reveals to us Jesus Christ.

TO KNOW: Jesus Christ has come to us to give himself for our sins, and to free us from this evil age. 

In my document, "TO KNOW and TO GROW" there is a focus on my calling to preside at worship, because it is in our worship, in our gathering, where God speaks to us the Gospel message that God wants us TO KNOW. As we read Galatians together today, we remember that 2000 years ago the people of Galatia didn't read this alone, in their homes. Rather, they gathered together to hear it, and to be formed by it. The Holy Spirit continues to call us together, into worship, so that we, like the Galatians, KNOW that Jesus Christ has come to give himself for our sins, and KNOW that Jesus does this work in grace and peace. 

The Holy Spirit calls us together in worship so that we can hear God speak to us about the grace of Christ in ways that go beyond words. God speaks to us in water that is splashed upon us, so that we KNOW that we have been made Children of God, so that we KNOW that God has claimed us as his beloved. God speaks to us in the bread and wine that we take and eat the body and blood of Jesus Christ, given for us, for the forgiveness of our sin, for the forgiveness of the sin of the world, so that we KNOW that nothing we do can separate us from the love and life of God.

The Holy Spirit gathers us in worship TO KNOW this promise of God, to experience this promise together, and then....the Holy Spirit empowers us TO GROW in being people of this promise. When we KNOW of God's love, it transforms us, so that we may GROW in our own love for God, and love of all whom God has made.

The Holy Spirit gathers us in worship to be formed, TO GROW, in our holy identity, and the Holy Spirit gives to us many spiritual gifts and practices to help us grow, and for today, our growth comes from focusing on a question Paul posed to the Galatians, "Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people?"

KNOWING the Gospel of Jesus Christ. KNOWING the grace it gives to us and KNOWING that it is ours forever, we are given the freedom to ask this question of ourselves, "Are we seeking human approval or God's approval?", and simply in our self-examination, we begin TO GROW in our trust for God, our love for God, and our life together in God. 

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen

TO KNOW: The Gospel comes to us from Jesus Christ, is about Jesus Christ, and reveals to us Jesus Christ.

TO KNOW: Jesus Christ has come to us to give himself for our sins, and to free us from this evil age. 

TO GROW: "Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people?"

Sermon for March 6, 2016 Lent 4: Accepting that you are found.

^{This sermon was preached by Rev. Mark T. Peterson, on March 6, 2016 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Holliston, MA.} 

^{Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32}

¹Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to [Jesus.] ²And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
  ³So he told them this parable: ^11b“There was a man who had two sons. ¹²The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. ¹³A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. ¹⁴When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. ¹⁶He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. ¹⁷But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ‘ ²⁰So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. ²¹Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²²But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; ²⁴for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
  ²⁵“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. ²⁷He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ ²⁸Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. ²⁹But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. ³⁰But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ ³¹Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³²But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’ ”

Ask the Pastor: What is worship? To Know and to Grow.

Ask the Pastor. I recently created a vision of what my pastoral role at Christ the King is. You can see this vision To Know and To Grow below, and that my primary role as pastor is to preside at worship. I was asked to clarify and expand on what I mean by worship, and worship life, and so I have done this, immediately below this vision statement. I look to expand on this more in the future. 

What is worship?

In short, worship is God's gift to our sinful world, so that we, as people in bondage to sin, can see, receive, and PARTICIPATE in the world as God intended it to be at creation. Our worship connects us to our, "Immortal, invisible, God only wise" and proclaims the truth of that eternal God to all people. This truth is perhaps most evident in the Hebrew slaves, who would show the ultimate sign of God's providence, through their worship on Mt. Sinai. Exodus 3:12, The Lord said, 'I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt you shall worship God on this mountain. 

The worship of this God, was a contrast to Pharaoh, who was the Egyptian God, and the term "The Lord" is in contrast again to Pharaoh who was ultimately the Lord of the Hebrews. Thus the worship of God, gave the Hebrews, who were in a brutal, hopeless, despairing situation, the hope that Pharaoh didn't have the last word. In more modern times, slaves in North America were often banned from worshiping (lest they here something about their worth) and held secret worship. Sometimes, this would include singing praises under water, so that they would not be heard and punished. For those in slavery, worship of a being greater than the slavemaster was a necessary source of hope and life as they were kept and brutalized from generation to generation. 

The truth though, is that it wasn't only the slaves who were in bondage, but all humans, by sin. The worship of a God more powerful than us, and who frees us from our sin, is indeed life-giving good news. Unfortunately, sin deceives and we humans don't desire or perceive that we need this life-giving hope, as by and large, our situation, at least for many of us in our country, is much better than that of the slaves. Regardless, the worship of God, gives us the hopeful vision of how God intended the world, and now, through Christ, is redeeming the world.

Worship Life

From my Letter of Call: 

We call you to exercise among us the ministry of Word and Sacrament which God has established and which the Holy Spirit empowers: 

- to preach and teach the Word of God in accordance with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions; to administer Holy Baptism and Holy Communion; to lead us in worship; to proclaim the forgiveness of sins; to provide Pastoral Care

There are other duties as well, but I think these give the essence of what my role in the worship life of the congregation is in terms of actual services. But, going further, the "worship life" that I preside over isn't just these services, but lies in instilling a "worshipful life" throughout all the activities of the congregation. For example, how we use our money as a congregation is not influenced by getting the most bang for our buck, it's in using it in a manner that is faithful to the God that is revealed to us in worship. The ultimate goal of our "worship life" is that it will reflect our God, and our obedience, as God's people, to the will of God, and our continued dependence, as God's people, upon God's grace. 

You tell that fox! Sermon for February 21, 2016 Lent 2

This sermon was preached by Pastor Mark T. Peterson at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Holliston, MA on the 2nd Sunday in Lent, February 21, 2016. 

Luke 13:31-35
31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to [Jesus,] “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

Ask the Pastor: what is the reason we should be intentional in our multicultural efforts, especially towards African Americans? (a question from Rev. Dr. Julius Carrol)

The question below was presented for response in a Multicultural Ministry seminary class I took,taught by Rev. Dr. Julius Carrol
“Pastor, please give us a rationale as to why you believe this congregation, has been call to reach out to the African-Descent community.” 

As a Congregation that is overwhelmingly white, in a denomination that according to 2008 figures is 97% white, any attempt to be in community with those who look different then us will cause an intentional reaching out to that intended community.  This is because in ELCA congregations, we have become accustomed to doing things that speak in a unique manner to only those who have been raised in a European, mainline Protestant context.  Thus, in order to speak a new language we must learn a new language, and in order to learn a new language, we must be intentional in our study, practice, and development in that language.  Our rationale for undertaking this venture is to engage with our fellow members of the body of Christ as a community, so that we can live together as the One, crucified, body of our Lord and be that Body as a light in the world. 

It is indisputable that we as Christians belong as full-members to the Body of Christ regardless of race, class, ethnicity, or sexuality.  Though this may seem elementary, it is important to break down once and for all any conceptual walls that one may have about who belongs to this body and how much they belong. It is important to stress and teach about the unity we share in Christ, as Paul writes to the Galatians, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, no longer male or female, no longer slave or free; for all of you are one in Christ.” (3:28)  Despite this unity in Christ, Paul also writes that we have all been given different spiritual gifts, saying “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function.” (Romans 12:4)  When we start as Christians with the understanding that we are One, though not the same, as the Body of Christ, we then can move into a discussion of how to better function as that Body for the world. 

Though unity in Christ is what we’ve been given, we have grown as a Body where the hand and the foot do not know each other; a body where the mouth consumes food which damages the stomach.  In order to work together, we must first get to know each other and so that we can better care for the Body. 

This process of getting to know each other means that we go and meet people where they are at, and do not wait for them to meet us, whether this is a literal meeting or an intentional listening.  Holy Scripture is filled with examples of people going, Phillip was sent by the Holy Spirit to go to the Eunuch’s chariot, Jonah was sent to Nineveh, and Mary was called to sit and listen to the words of her Lord. 
As this Body, we do not get to know each other to become exactly the same.  Rather, we meet each other to find the ways in which our different worlds connect.  Paul’s letter to the Galatians exhorts them to be Christians as they are, and not by adopting Jewish rituals.  A powerful example is Jesus meeting the woman from Samaria at the well in the Gospel of John.  In this story, Jesus does not convert the woman and in fact, breaks tradition by asking for water from this enemy of Judaism.  It is around this practice of drawing water that Jesus tells this woman who he is and also that he knows her.  The woman then tells her community, and many Samaritans see Jesus and believed.  Jesus met this woman and broke into her life and community with his light, not around shared rituals, but around the necessary practice of drawing and sharing water from a well.  We too, are called to become one, proclaiming with both Samaritan and Jewish voices that our Messiah has come.

A modern-day example of someone that has gotten to “know” people in the name of Christ is Jean Vanier.  Mr. Vanier has done work amongst the developmentally disabled, and through this work has opened up the doors of communication and relationship between these people and other members of the Body of Christ.  When Mr. Vanier began his work in the 1960’s and moved people from an institutional life to one of authentic community, there situation was improved. 

The real testimony does not lie in this move from institution to community of individuals, rather it lies in the new ways that Christians across the world have heard of and shared in Christ with people who are different in many ways, but who are all made whole in Christ.  As Douglas John Hall mentions in his book, The Cross in our Context, Vanier has been a leader for Christians who engage the world, rather then create a haven apart from the world. (53)  In Vanier’s context, these havens were the sanitary institutions where we put those who would be disruptive to our safe lives.  This engagement is what we are called to as the body that proclaims Christ crucified.

Within The Cross in Our Context, Hall references the legend of Quo Vadis.  In this legend, Peter the Rock is fleeing Rome for a safe haven when he encounters the resurrected Jesus on the road, who is going back to Rome.  When Peter asks where he is going, Jesus says to Rome, to be crucified again.  The above example using Vanier is simply one of many who go into the dangerous places not to save the world, but to be crucified by it. 

As we discuss our relationship with those of African-Descent in our country, (and especially focused on African-Americans) we must ask ourselves what does it look like for us to go back to Rome, and are we going there to put out the fire or to be crucified because of it.

The answer, or an example to these questions is not found within ourselves as the ELCA.  We as a denomination, have, by and large, already fled the fire of race relationships for the safety of suburbs and gated communities.  Instead, we would do well to look to the obvious people to guide us, the courageous leaders and people of the Black church.  It is people like Martin Luther King Jr. that have brought the knowledge that Rome is burning to us through their own persecution and crucifixion as icons through which we can see the Crucified Christ.  It is because of the bravery of the Civil Rights leaders to challenge the status quo that we as a could see the light and love of God through them and not through an apathetic view that hierarchal security is the way of God’s love.  When the world saw dogs and fire-hoses turned upon children because of the color of their skin, they were shown the sin that exists in humanity.  Yet, because they were able to see this sin, people were also able to see the love of God for all humans and to better understand the gift of humanity we have been given.  The gift that is so precious, that God lived with us and died as one of us for it. 

Though there was great progress in recognizing the gift of a basic, common humanity given to us by God in the middle part of the 20th century, a great deal of pain continues to exist among the African-American community.  Clear evidence for this continued pain unique to the African-American community is provided by simply looking at demographics which show greatly disproportionate rates between races in regards to poverty, high school drop-outs, imprisonment, and life-expectancy (to just skim the surface).  We as Christians believe the promises of God to us and because of these promises we know the crucified and suffering Christ is present in the African-American community.  Unless we simply describe these differences away using racism, we must acknowledge that these circumstances are the result of an unjust society.  In acknowledging this injustice, we as Christians, especially European-American Christians must acknowledge the sin that exists in this society.  As we make these acknowledgements, we begin to see Christ, with all of his horrible wounds, crucified in the unique wounds of this community, suffering with the humanity that he loves. 

As stated before, because of Christ, all are made one into the Body of Christ.  Thus, when our sisters and brothers in Christ suffer, we suffer as well.  This is the case even when we cause the suffering of our own body, just as we as humans caused the suffering of our own God.  Because we are united, yet broken, we share as one the stories which God has given to us through our lives.  Through these stories of God’s interaction in our lives, we see more and more the creative power breaking into the world in new ways.  As these stories of humanity weave themselves around the oneness we share in the Crucified Christ, God weaves hope and promise through the people of God for the world. 

When we remain tied to our own way of doing things, for fear of others in the world; or worse yet for fear of seeing the result of our sin on the lives of others, we lose the richness of the mystery which God comes to us in.  The stories of God’s work in the lives of the African-Descent community are screaming to us to hear them and to discover the grace of God in these stories.  These stories cry out to us through spirituals and rhythms which give the story of the Hebrew people a literal context.  These stories cry out to us through the warnings of the Prophets when they yell that there are two America’s, and that God condemns this country we have created in our own image.  God is calling us to hear these stories and to experience Christ in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who we hardly know. 

The work of Christ on this Earth is the ideal function of compassion, or with-suffering.  As Hall writes about the German word for compassion mitleid and its action is to be “thrust into a solidarity of spirit with the other – to experience, in one’s own person the highest possible degree of identity with the other” (22)  This is what Christ has done with humanity, he has become one with us, ultimately in his death on the Cross.  This unity is why we are called to be multi-cultural, not out of pity, but out of a grace-filled calling to be unified with each other and with our God.  We are called to be unified in this suffering, so that we can be Christ’s crucified people so that all may see through us, God’s compassion for the world. 

Sermon for July 12, 2015: A Powerful Proclamation

This sermon was preached by Rev. Mark Peterson at Christ the King Lutheran church on Sunday, July 12, 2015

Gospel: Mark 6:14–29

¹⁴King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him."  ¹⁵But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old."  ¹⁶But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."

             ¹⁷For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her.  ¹⁸For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."  ¹⁹And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not,  ²⁰for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.  ²¹But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee.  ²²When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it."  ²³And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom."  ²⁴She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer."  ²⁵Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."  ²⁶The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her.  ²⁷Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison,  ²⁸brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.  ²⁹When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ,

What do Winnie the Pooh and John the Baptist have in common? The same middle name.

We are a people "Chosen to Proclaim".

The message that we are chosen to proclaim, is a very powerful message. It is the message of Jesus Christ. It is the message of life and new creation. It is a message that has been given to us by the grace of God, through our shared faith. And this message comes with great, great power. 

Power though, is a tricky thing. Jimi Hendrix once summed up power's fickle ways very well. Of course, this wasn't from a conversation I had with him, but it is a message on a bumper sticker that I've often seen. Jimi said, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." 

So, why don't we know peace in the world today? Why don't we know peace, necessarily, in our own lives? Where is this peace? Why can't Jimi Hendrix's words ring true? More appropriately, why can't the Word of God, seem to to be what rules us, and give us peace? 

The reason, when it all comes down to it, is that we are afraid. What we're afraid of, is that God's powerful word, will do exactly what God says it will. We're afraid of the transformation and change that God's word will bring, even though God promises that the result will be good things, like peace and also justice, and love for all people. 

Like us, John the Baptist was chosen to proclaim God's very powerful word, and chosen to proclaim it to all people, including the powerful king, King Herod. And he did so. As we think about it, John the Baptist shouldn't have posed much threat to the king. He didn't have anything, except for some camel hair clothing, he ate locusts and wild honey, and lived out in the wilderness. What he did have, what he was chosen to proclaim, was God's Word. God's life giving and loving Word. God's Word of truth. 

When, John went to King Herod and told the king that he shouldn't take his brother, Philip's wife, and marry her; when God through John, tried to restore peace to the world, King Herod and his wife didn't respond real well. The King had John arrested. 

Yet, King Herod kept John around because he liked listening to him. Even though he was perplexed and troubled by John's words. Even though he was convicted by John's words of truth, he liked having him around. But Herod's wife didn't, because she knew that John's words, were really powerful. So, of course, she responds, through her daughter, and because the powerful King Herod really had no power to say no, John's life was ended. 

King Herod was afraid. He was afraid of losing the power he had. He was afraid of losing all of the stuff in his life that really wasn't that valuable when you think about it. He was afraid, that maybe he would become like John the Baptist, stripped of so much, yet knowing peace. This human reaction, can be what happens, in the presence of God's power. 

This Word of God, which John proclaimed, and which we are still Chosen to Proclaim, continues to speak to us today, but unfortunately, we respond to it a lot like Herod. We're afraid of losing what we have. We're afraid of the transformation that God's Word will bring into our lives. The Word that will tear down the walls that divide us, even while giving us a false sense of security and safety. Even though these dividing walls may trap us in misery, or in a bad relationship, and in a world that is broken, at least we know that these walls are there. At least we know that these walls of separation, and all the brokenness, and bitterness that they entail, will keep us surrounded by "the known". We are indeed afraid of God's Word, because it will do what God says it will. 

As we read in our Gospel story, we hear about a King who has power. Now we might not relate to this type of kingly power, but really, this story is about the power of relationships. Herod doesn't seem to have much power, except for the so called, "power', that others give to him, so that he may do what they want. But in our own lives, unlike Herod, we do have a lot of power.

For instance, this past week, I was watching Charlie at his swimming lessons, and I watched as a little four-year-old boy had the power to disrupt the whole class. This little boy, was able to stop the whole class from doing what they were supposed to be doing, in order to get him to do the right thing. A four-year-old really had great power.

Or, think about a baby. They sure seem powerless, don't they? But, and trust me on this one, a little baby exercises great power over our lives. In fact, once a baby comes, they pretty much have the power to run your life. 

We don't have to be a king, or a baby to have great power, and power over others, in our relationships and in our world. Yet, we often choose to be powerless. How often do we feel called to say something to someone, or speak-up on behalf of ourselves or someone else, or to help the poor, to become better stewards, or even to go out and exercise, and instead of using our power, we say, "I can't". But still, no matter what, we always have a choice. 

John the Baptist, didn't have to go on to his horrible death. He could have very easily renounced all that he said and lived to see another day, or a lot of days. John the Baptist though, was given the Word of truth, the Word of life, and he could do nothing but proclaim that truth and life that he'd been given. We are called to do the same as John the Baptist did, and God has given each of us the freedom and power to do so. 

Still, sin remains, and fear has great power over us, and so we continue to close ourselves off. No matter who we are; no matter how long we've been a Christian, or a pastor, or a member of Christ the King, we close ourselves off to the powerful Word, and the transforming peace it brings; because we are afraid. We're afraid of losing the control that we seemingly have. We're afraid of losing all the types of things that only last a short time. We're afraid, and so we cling to these "worldly things", and don't grasp on to the eternal things; the things that John the Baptist had a firm grip on. The eternal things that are made human in the person of Jesus Christ. 

In our story today, we see the power of God's Word as spoken through John the Baptist. We see this power not only in his death, but also in the aftermath of his beheading. You see, after this horrible death, the Word of God still convicts King Herod. I'm sure that he knows that John the Baptist wasn't really raised from the dead, but still his words still speak to the King. Furthermore, we know that the One who John the Baptist pointed to, Jesus Christ, who came and brought the Word of God to this world through not only his message, but his life, was raised from a horrible death. We know that this same, powerful Word of God which he carried, was raised to new life, and through him, all of creation was raised as well. We know that this life, this Word of God, has been given to us. 

So, we know, that even as we close ourselves off; even as we fear the unknown; even as we hear wise sayings about the power of love giving us peace and don't take any action; even as we remain sinful, God comes to us. God comes to us with his powerful Word, which has been raised to new life, and it has been given to us. And it will be given to us again, as we hear God say, "take and eat, this is my body, given for you. this is my blood, shed for you." This Word, this life is given to us, so that we can proclaim to our broken world, even as we go on in the grips of our self-preserving fear, the love of God, and the life that has been given to us in Christ. 

We've been chosen, just like John the Baptist. May we continue to hear God's calling, and proclaim his life, grace, mercy, abundance, and love, which has been given to us, and to all of creation. 

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 

Amen

Sermon for June 28, 2015: Repent, the Room's Only Half-Painted

This sermon was preached by Rev. Mark Peterson at Christ the King Lutheran church on Sunday, June 28, 2015. Our service was one of Repentance and Mourning, in the wake of the killing of 9 people at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC on June 17, 2015.

Matthew 5:1-10

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ²Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
³"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
⁶"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
⁷"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
⁸"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ,
I opened by reading this a letter from ELCA Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, found here.

Rev. Elizabeth Eaton,
 Presiding Bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

On Wednesday of this week, I received this email...a mass email, the Presiding Bishop doesn't just email me personally. It was an email talking about this day of Repentance and Mourning, with the above letter attached, and I opened the email, and sighed, as I thought about how we had just had a theme like that to our services at Christ the King last Sunday. A day when I shared some of my own personal connection to this tragedy, as I knew and was a friend to Rev. Clementa Pinckney in seminary. It seemed like we'd already done this, and I was thinking about being outside for the first time and joining together as One, I really didn't want to do this today.

But, we are a people Chosen to Proclaim, and part of our proclam
ation is being in unity with something greater than ourselves. Of course we are in unity with God, but a reflection of that is our unity with our fellow ELCA congregations in our synod, and across the nation. Our Presiding Bishop is our leader, and so as an expression of our unity, it is good for us to join together in this day of Repentance and Mourning, just as we'll join with the ELCA in September for God's Work, Our Hands Sunday.

In an act of civil disobedience, Bree Newsome
 takes down the Confederate Flag
that flew at the South Carolina State Capitol

And so, I was sort of over the hump of hesitancy about doing this Service of Repentance and Mourning, and then something else hit me. I was kind of shocked, by my own fearfulness and callousness, my own desire to so quickly move on, from even a tragedy that affects me, on a personal level. I thought about how, in the celebrations of these lives that were lost, as the people have really come together, especially in South Carolina where I lived for almost five years, as it looks as if a great symbol of hatred, the Confederate Flag, is finally going to be taken down. A symbol that I would see frequently, as the state capitol, was not far from the seminary. As the people came together this past week, it seemed as if the work around racism was going to be finally accomplished. But throughout this great coming together, there has been a constant drumbeat that the work is not over, our problems aren't solved, and that coming together over this tragedy and a renewed focus to ridding ourselves of racism and racist symbols is wonderful, but this work needs to continue. 

So, I was a little shocked, when I heard those messages of the work needing to continue and agreeing with them, and then found myself thinking, "well, we don't really need to do that here in Holliston. Here at Christ the King." I was shocked by my own response, and it really speaks for itself. It speaks to our need to continue to remember, to continue to do the hard work of self-examination, about where we are in error in this country, and our own contributions to that error. Also, to examine just how in our day to day lives and goings-on, we contribute to a system that has not been founded on equality. The work needs to continue.

In thinking about this issue of race, I thought about what happened just a little before my time. It seems to me, that we as a society in general feel as if we've settled these issues over race, with things like the passage of the Civil Rights act, the marches that took place, and the movement as a whole. We feel that racial discrimination is a thing of the past because we've outlawed it in this country. The work though, is not complete.

The way we've dealt with race issues in this nation, is as if we were re-painting a room. While, it seems like the majority of the work is basically over, because we've gotten the main walls painted, and the room does look a lot different, there's more to do. There's now taking care of touching up some of the little areas, doing the trim work, and cleaning-up. The parts of painting that are real tedious, and take much longer than we think, or maybe that's just me, as I never seem to give enough time to complete any task. It seems like these things are just small potatoes, in the large body of work, and no one is real eager to start on them, like perhaps they were to take care of the bigger parts, that someone notices first. Yet, until this secondary work is done, the work is not complete, and the room while looking different, still remains a mess. 

This is what our work with racial inequality is in this country. It needs to be continued, and moved forward. It hasn't been completed, and the party responsible for leading the way on the work that remains is the Church. We are called to lead this work not because it makes us feel good, or even because it's the "right thing to do". We are called to lead this work, because the completed result of this work is the vision of the Kingdom of God. A vision of a people and creation living together in peace, justice, and in love. A place, a kingdom, where no one lives in fear. Rather, a place where each person lives with an abundance, and with dignity. 

God is at this work, and God is calling us to join in this work. God is calling us to repent. To be clear,

Top row: Cynthia Hurd, Rev. Clementa Pinckney, Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton 

middle row: Daniel Simmons, Rev. Depayne Middleton Doctor, Tywanza Sanders

Bottom row: Myra Thompson, Ethel Lee Lance, Susie Jackson

the repentance that God calls us to, is not necessarily to feel ashamed, or sorry; or to not be proud of who we are and how we've gotten there. The repentance God is calling us to, is to turn and look at the world and admit to ourselves that the work is not yet done, and that God is calling us to join in the work that remains.

We are called to a repentance to turn and see that our sisters and brother, who don't look like many of us, experience this world and this country in a unique way, and often, that experience is not on equal terms as us. 
We are being called to repent and join our sisters and brothers, to be peacemakers and bridge the chasm that exists between us. We are being called to bridge this chasm not by saying "come and join us", but by joining others, in their walks, in their lives, and in their perspectives; by joining others in their sorrow and grief. 

Why do we need to repent?
Not too long ago, I was given a subscription to Ancestry.com, and in doing family research, there is a good possibility that one, (that I know of anyway) of my lines was a slave owner. While this discovery wasn't a real big issue for me in this time and place, I don't even really know if it's true, and doesn't seem to have any effect on me, I then thought about something else. My reflections turned to my Great-Great-Great Grandfather, Truman Payne, who had three different wives and four different marriages. My Great-Great-Great Grandmother was Truman's second wife, and yet in Truman's obituary, she's never even mentioned. I've previously wondered how this brokenness affected the lives of my Great-Great, my Great, and even my Grandmother, and consequently, how this family history has played into my own life. 

We are much bigger than ourselves, and while much of the past that makes us up is good, there are parts that can be tough to reckon with. Yet, looking at our past helps us to better understand who we are as we examine the roll it plays in making us the people we are in the present. 
When we examine our country's past, and think and show some empathy; we empathize with those whose ancestors were bought and sold, whose grandparents knew their place in society, whose parents were told where exactly it was that they could buy a house. These are the people today, who are told to be proud of their history and culture, and yet even today, often suffer if they are too proud, if they openly display their own "blackness" too much. 

We are a part of this society, and it is time for us to repent, and continue the hard work of self-examination, and to walk with those who view society with a different lens than the one we've been given. It is time to join our sisters and brothers of color in their walks, because Jesus is walking with them. It is time to join with our sisters and brothers in their walks, because Jesus is walking with us in order that we may join in the blessing of those who are the subjects of the Beattitudes.

One final piece that I would like to share. When I was in Columbia, SC, my friend Scott and I went to one of the little neighborhood, storefront type churches that were around the seminary. We did this to complete a class assignment of going to a worship service at a congregation in another denomination. The church we went to, like many in our neighborhood, was a black church. The service was about three hours long, and we were the only people in the service who were white, and yet, I've never felt more welcomed in a house of worship, than I was that day. 

We weren't only greeted by friendly people, but by people who actually cared that we were there. People who showed us where we were in the service, helped us to understand what was going on in the service, and spoke to us after the service in a way that made us feel as if we were guests, leaving the house of friends. The welcome we received was one of true friendship, and it was and is very humbling. 

Emanuel AME Church, Charleston, SC.

So, as we as a society, as a church, as even a pastor, are in danger of moving on from such tragic events, we remember that moving on isn't the way of the Kingdom of God. Instead, it is through repentance, and transformation, and a fuller reliance on the love that has been given to us, and will continue to be given to us, that will bring about this Kingdom. 

On this day of repentance, we join in mourning over the violence and loss of life in Charleston. We join in the mourning of a broken society, and our broken communities. And in our mourning, in our dark night, we wait with hope, because we know that as the Psalm says, "Joy comes in the morning." 
We give thanks today for the witness of all, the victims, the families, and so many others involved, who have shared God's love. We ask that their witness and grace may fill our lives, so that we too may witness to the One who is Lord of all, Jesus Christ.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 

Amen