January 28, 2007
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Epiphany 4th, Jan 28th 2007 Luke 4,21-30 The weather suddenly changed Last Sunday, I had my first weekend off since I came to Mindekirken. In a way it was a bit strange not to be here! I honestly must say that I missed you. But on the other hand it was very ok to relax. We attended a church in Duluth, a Covenant Church. They had a different lectionary from ours. So we didn’t get the chance to hear the first part of this story, when Jesus is reading the prophecy about himself, and preaching in the synagogue of his home town, Nazareth. Today we have heard the second half part of the same story. And it is shocking to hear how quickly the weather changes from the most wonderful sunshine to a terrible blizzard! Imagine people being amazed and praising his fantastic speech the one moment, and a few minutes later they throw Jesus out of their synagogue, and are so furious that they nearly kill him. Why this sudden change in the weather? And what attitude is hidden behind the questions from some of the listeners in the pews: "Is not this Joseph’s son?" Isn’t he just one of us? A quite usual carpenter’s son. Who does he think that he is? In Norway "Janteloven" is very well known: "Du må ikke tro at du er noe!" Don’t have too high thoughts about yourself! But the citizens of Nazareth obviously knew the same law. "We know you, Jesus, your parents, your siblings, don’t pretend to be more than you are!" I want to make clear that to the question "Is not this Joseph’s son?" the answer is NO. This is the son of Mary, but not of Joseph, genetically spoken. And this is one side of the conflict between Jesus and his fellow citizens; it was hard for them to recognize him as the Son of God, their Messiah. One of the gospel writers reflects on that as he says that Jesus didn’t perform many miracles in Nazareth, because people there lacked faith. I think there are two reasons why Jesus’ fellow citizens got furious. The most obvious one is that Jesus reminded them that God cares for all human beings, the gentiles too, not only the Jews. He mentions two examples here: the starving widow at Zarephath in Sidon that the prophet Elija was sent to, and then Elisha cleansing the leper Naaman in Syria, although there were enough lepers and there also was starvation in Israel. It is obvious in this story that the Jews didn’t like to share God’s care with other peoples. The other reason why the weather changed so quickly has to do with expectations. That after such a wonderful sermon, they expect more. Like a miracle. They want Jesus to show his power. I think this is a quite common thing: When it comes to religion, we human beings tend to be too focused on the extraordinary. People do not look for God in their daily life, but expect, and claim to see miracles. God, prove that you exist, do something extraordinary! In our time, there has come an even stronger focus on action and spectacular events. The entertainment industry and the mass media impact people to expect more and more effect, more and more action. At Jesus’ time, people expected a Messiah that should free them from the Roman occupation. They wanted a new king like David, to bring victory. Because Jesus had no army, no wealth, no obvious glory, because he chose twelve ordinary fishermen and tax collectors to follow him, they began to doubt whether he could be the Messiah that God had sent. Wasn’t this too ordinary to be God’s work? We easily forget that God works in and through the daily and ordinary. Of course God also can work through miracles and spectacular events. But usually he uses usual people and does his deeds in our common, ordinary life. God doesn’t need a great show. Why? Because God in himself is great and powerful. He is mighty; he has the truth for living. So all God needs is common people using common words. Also he uses common things like water, wine and bread, to bring salvation to us. The words we speak about God, the lessons that we read, this sermon that is being preached are brought to you by a common, ordinary person, with common, ordinary words. It isn’t our words, and it isn’t the person who says these words that gives them authority. It is God himself. I am just a simple tool. It is God’s spirit that brings the authority of these words so they have the power to change people’s lives, and assure them of the grace of God. Pastors aren’t different from you, we make mistakes, we are insufficient. Pastors are simple tools, delivery systems in the hands of God. But we pastors know that somehow God has called us to use our words, our ministry as a way to deliver his message of salvation to people. It is God’s promise that he is here today, and through his word and the hymns and the liturgy he does what he wants to do in our congregation. I have said in my annual report that Mindekirken is a miracle! I really mean it. I don’t think primarily of the building, the beautiful sanctuary that we are the lucky ones to worship in. But I think of you, the fellowship of "living stones". Having read the 2006 reports for all our church activities, I feel very thankful, both to God and to all of you. I see that God is working among us, and he uses many tools here. You are all called, through your baptism to be his children, to be his tools on earth. You are called through your work and your words, to bring God’s message of love to persons you meet, and especially the ones that you live together with every day, in your family, at work, and in your leisure time. As we heard in the first Bible reading, the tongues and the prophecies and the faith even to move mountains, all these spectacular things are nothing, compared to love. In all it’s simplicity. Love never ends. Love is the greatest. God is using all of us. In our own unique ways, with our own unique talents and gifts, to bring his message of love and salvation to this world. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit now and forever. |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |