May 6, 2007
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The Norwegian
Lutheran Memorial Church I am with you only a little longer, Jesus says to his disciples here. It happens as they are gathered with him in the communion hall on Maundy Thursday. Later, the same night he touches on the same, going a bit deeper: A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me. (John 16:16) Only afterwards, they understood these words, predicting that Jesus was going to die, but later rise again, and appear before them. Several times and at different locations, the Risen One appeared before individuals and before groups of disciples in the period we now are in, the 40 days between Easter day and Ascension. I notice that the churches here in the US do the same as in Norway, picking sermon texts in this period from the 4th gospel. So, in the middle of this Church Year with Sunday texts from Luke, we now in this time, and through Pentecost, we have a ”break” from Luke. In the Church Services we listen to a series of texts from John. No less this Sunday, the distinctive stamp of John is clearly expressed. I am particularly thinking of his conveying the stories about Jesus, doing this as the ”Apostle of Love.” Some of us might remember that John didn’t deny himself a couple of Sundays back either, as we heard him naming himself the disciple whom Jesus loved. Reflect for a little while on that expression. Imagine that one of Jesus’ disciples used such words about himself, the disciple whom Jesus loved. So obviously John was walking around meaning and thinking that Jesus had a special love for him! What should we say about that? It appears to be nearly conceited. Or even impudent. But let us just turn it upside down. Obviously it must have been a marvelous feeling about life for the young apostle to experience such a great love. And it appears that this experience did not fade during the next years. Imagine what a long life with such a basic mood has to say for a human being: Jesus loves me in a special way! Then we have to ask, what might be the reason why the young fisherman from Galilee had that feeling? For John was not more worthy of love than the others, this ”Thunder Son”, as he also was called. Perhaps he was a bit hot-headed, - that he easily lost his temper, since he was given such a nick name. John didn’t hear a different message from Jesus than the others. For there is no other gospel on this earth than the one that is expressed in ”The Little Bible”. That God loved the world. He so loved human beings that he gave his Son to save us from our sins and give us eternal life. The apostle John didn’t hear any other gospel than this. But why had John that experience of being loved in a special way by Jesus? The answer is, in fact I think that several persons around Jesus felt it in the same way. Jesus let each of them have a feeling of being special in his eyes. Yes, I must admit that I myself now and then have thought, does God love me especially? As I think about all the good that I have experienced. I feel very privileged. Not only did I grow up in a very good and beautiful country, in a safe family, and good conditions and a development materially that very few have experienced. But even more I think about this: I was baptized as a baby, I was taught about Jesus and the kingdom of God as I grew up. I have always experienced the safety of being a child of God. At the age of confirmation I decided to follow Jesus, as I later have done. Why has God given me so much good? A family, an exciting life, a meaningful work. A health that makes it possible to work. Now, I am allowed to be in this city, and serve some years in this nice congregation. I really have reasons to be grateful. Does God love me in a special way? It should not surprise me, dear congregation, if more of you have thought the same as I have done for myself, Does God love me especially? I should wish that you have had that good feeling, God loves you in a special way! Last Sunday, we heard about the Good Shepherd. He knows those that belong to him, and he calls their name. They know his voice. He has taken care of us till this day, nourished our faith and protected us from the Evil one. He wants you to come so near to him that this becomes your impression: Jesus loves me in a special way! Because the truth is, Jesus does love you especially! In the daily life together with him, this becomes obvious. And this brings good consequences, as it then becomes natural for us to love one another. The new commandment Jesus gives his disciples today, to love one another, what is new here? Has not the commandment been there the whole time back to Moses? The commandment to love God first and above all, and one’s neighbor as oneself? Yes, that is not new. The new thing is just as I have loved you. The key is to discover Jesus’ love. The self giving love. He gave everything to save us from the consequenses of our sin and our hatred. From eternal death. Of course we can not repeat his death of atonement. It isn’t needed, either, as he has done all that is needed for our salvation. But he can be our model of love. And as his love is being implanted in our heart by the Holy Spirit, this has its effect. On my bookshelf back home in Norway I have a little book with the title Revolutionary Love. Written by the African bishop Festo Kivengere. There are given some examples of what can happen among people as God’s love comes in and replaces hatred. At a Christian Meeting in the civil war ravaged country Burundi, something special happened in the heart of a young theology student. He was soon ready for pastoral ministry. During the meeting, he suddenly got up, went across the floor, weeping, towards another young man. He put his arm over his shoulder. Now the other man was weeping, also. He stood up, and they embraced each other. Then they started to ask each other for forgiveness, talking at the same time. They had studied together for two years, and were soon to be ordained. But they had felt aversion towards one another, just because they belonged to rivaling tribes, the one hutu, the other tutzi. Then Festo Kivengere tells that it was as if an electric power was being released in the room after this. Many persons that felt aversion towards others, got rid of their hatred that day. God’s love. This is what happens when it comes into function. Recon-ciliation and peace replace the hatred. This is needed, not only among Christian brothers and sisters in Africa. But also here. We human beings are being influenced by persons that we spend much time together with. If we stay close to the Good Shepherd, as we spend time together with him who offered his life for us, then we get influenced by him, more and more. The new commandment to love one another is not about ”please; like everyone!” We can not do that. No, this is about turning to Jesus and opening up to his love. About taking in the awareness that John adopted, that God loves you in a special way! He, the triune, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one true God from eternity to eternity. Amen |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |