August 8, 2004

Mindekirken, Aug 8, 2004
Pastor Jens Arne Dale

This week we’ve again heard about high terror alert. The intelligence community warns against possible attacks against America. Security has been intensified at New York’s finance districts and other possible terror targets. We can all envision the two planes which flew into the World Trade Center, and the moment when the skyscrapers collapsed in an inferno of smoke and fire. Many people can feel the fear of a new attack like a claw in their stomach. Uncertainty that the worst could happen at any particular time and place colors our perception of the future.

Today’s text is a warning about something which is about to come at an unexpected hour. But it’s not about a terror alert. It’s just the opposite. What suddenly may appear would be joyful. Do not be afraid, little flock, Jesus says.

In a lot of places in the Bible we find this message: Don’t be afraid. Do not worry. Don’t look around anxiously. Do not let your hearts be troubled. These are obviously not words that waive the terror threat. The work on homeland security continues. The effort for peace and understanding among the peoples of the world must not decrease. The fight for justice never ends. But our overall perspective on life should not be fear for the worst, but anticipation of the best.

Do not be afraid, little flock. Why? For it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. The kingdom of God is coming, I would say in person. Jesus is the one who brings the kingdom of God near. This is Christmas Eve in the middle of August. The angels sang about peace on earth when Jesus was born. That is the peace which surpasses all understanding. It’s the peace that the world can’t give.

This is more than history. It’s present time. Jesus is present here when we worship him during the service. The words of forgiveness and salvation are yours. They were, so to speak, poured over your head in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. They were placed in your mouth by the communion bread and wine.

This weekend we celebrate The Twin Cities Festival at the State Capitol ground in St.Paul. Mindekirken is among the 850 churches that have invited Luis Palau. There’s entertainment and food, music and speech. And through the entire festival it’s conveyed in a strong way that Jesus Christ is near. The simple Christian message is believed by the people of 2004.

Jesus Christ comes into people’s hearts in a renewing way. There’s no special measure to which extent this should be felt. The kingdom of God belongs to the one who receives it, even if all our problems are not solved. Today we’ll pray that the Twin Cities Festival will be a place where many, many people will have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. These are words about the future. But it will materialize at an unexpected hour. Be therefore prepared.

We know something about how terror alerts look. At the airport there is a big display saying: If you see something suspicious, call 911. Today Jesus calls us to another kind of alert. It’s the joyful anticipation of his return. What does that mean?

The answer might sound like a surprise. The high alert regarding the return of Jesus is about our relationship to our money and our relationship to poor people. Jesus preaches a radical rejection of all kinds of greed. It’s as if he tells us that love of money is the thing that could paste us to this world.

Of course we have to do our daily work and earn our money. Honest business, hard work and good attitudes are Christian virtues. But life is more than work. Money shouldn’t be all our concern. Money is the means, not the goal. If one has little or much doesn’t matter in this connection.

Greed, envy and materialism shouldn’t take over our lives. Jesus knows that that may easily happen. That’s why he is so radical. Sell your possessions. It’s hardly literally meant. But we are strongly encouraged. See beyond the goods of this world. See the poor people. Don’t forget caring about them.

See the poor people! Caring for the poor was on Jesus’ heart. Is that the case with us, too? Is it mirrored in the church budgets and programs? Does the concern for poor people count when the president is to be elected this fall?

Let’s be honest when it comes to this. In the politics of distribution, contributions from churches and humanitarian organizations are like drops in the ocean compared with public budgets. God wants not only mercy, but also justice. Justice includes care and possibilities for development and a decent life for poor people at our own street corners as well as in the third world. You speak -or do not speak – the case of the poor people by the way you vote. I’m saying this without wishing to give political guidance.

To be alert regarding the return of Christ is also about being faithful servants. Jesus told a parable about a master who went to a wedding. Servants of the orient could be responsible for the whole management of their master’s household. We are stewards of the earth. We have been given the responsibility for the whole creation. We are our brother’s keeper. We are servants of the gospel through church and mission.

In the parable the master came home surprisingly like a thief in the night. God, help us to be ready when Jesus returns. Help us faithfully to keep our obligations in this world. Help us to be a living church when Jesus comes.

The parable took a surprising turn. When the master came home, he was the one who took the role of the servant. He invited the servants to sit at the table and served them himself. Jesus comes as our Lord. But he is also the one who serves us. He took the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, Phil 2.7 says. He died as the suffering servant of the Lord on the cross. In the kingdom of God, he will serve us with perfect grace and love. To be alert is to allow Jesus to serve oneself here and now. And to be alert is to serve others with the love which one has received.

Glory be to God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever, amen.

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