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2nd
Sunday after the Epiphany
20 January 2008
The readings: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9/ John 1:29-42a
Dear brothers
and sisters in Christ; a recent meeting of our congregation's
Council suggested that you need to see our congregation's Mission
Statement in print from time to time-that it should be included
in the bulletin at regular intervals. So it appears today for
the first time in a quite a while. "Called by the Holy Spirit,
Prince of Peace exists to celebrate and share the love of God
with ourselves and others through the Word, prayer, deeds and
sacraments." It was adopted in 1990, eighteen years ago,
to help us drive the mission and work of our congregation.
Having set
our mission statement aside, as we did, have we inadvertently
become self absorbed, self centered and less evangelical? Whether
it has to do with the Mission Statement or not is anybody's guess.
But the observation is right on. As a congregation we have hunkered
down and unofficially adopted a survival mentality. I have to
tell you, such a posture is unhealthy.
NJ District
President Klettke sadly reported that on December 30th Our Savior
Lutheran, in North Bergen assembled for the last time. Eighty-six
years of congregation life came to end as its last twelve members
tearfully hugged one another farewell and departed to join other
congregations. I have no doubt that they loved each other. But
I had to wonder; at what point did they stop being in mission;
at what point did they stop "being about the Father's business;"
at what point did they stop sharing the love of God with their
neighbors in North Bergen? I'm sure there's a lot of wondering
going on.
Today's Bible
readings suggest to us that our mission statement is on target.
In the gospel John the Baptist heralds Jesus as "the Lamb
of God who takes away the sin of the world" twice. The first
instance seems be a general announcement for anybody and everybody,
they are "the others" who have ears to hear. But the
second time, the announcement seems to be for John's own personal
disciples, "Behold," he shouts, "Behold,"
meaning, look, take notice, see, understand and comprehend my
meaning! "Behold, the Lamb of God."
This is not
your lamb of sacrifice. It's not one that you or I bought and
paid for. It's not a lamb some 4-H kid raised as his project.
This is the Lamb of God. Mary raised him, but he is God's gift
to you and for you from beginning to end. A gift for undeserving
sinners like you and me. Unknowingly, Abraham prophesied to his
son, his only son Isaac about such a lamb: "God will provide
for himself the lamb"
of sacrifice he said (Genesis 22). And there he comes, Jesus,
the Lamb long foretold, the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for
sin and every personal trespass. He's God's lamb, offered for
you and me, and for countless nameless "others"-others
who have the potential of becoming our brothers and sisters in
Christ.
In the gospel
reading John the Baptist takes the lead in pointing to Jesus.
In just about every classic painting you can spot John. It's not
because he is so unusually dressed, or because he's standing next
to a pool of water. John's classic pose shows him pointing to
Jesus. Andrew, a disciple of John, heeds his master's instruction
and follows Jesus. He listens to Jesus and then the first thing
he does is find his brother to say, "we have found the messiah."
Andrew is excited. It's not a secret, but an honor bestowed upon
him, unexpectedly. It's an act of grace. Andrew is the first disciple
of Jesus. He is the first to lead someone else to Jesus.
Paul does
much the same thing in the introductory sentences of 1st Corinthians.
Paul points to Jesus at every opportunity: the "grace of
God that was given you in Christ Jesus." You have to be pretty
dense not to see it. Again, "in every way you were enriched
in him," still again "you wait for the revealing of
our Lord Jesus Christ..," and once more, "God is faithful,
by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus."
Paul is always pushing, leading, guiding us to grace in Jesus
Christ. Andrew and Paul are our examples this morning.
Our mission statement states what should be second nature to all
Christians. Our calling, leading people to Jesus. Sharing the
gospel should be as natural as eating with a fork. It should be
obvious that the Holy Spirit has gathered our congregation for
the expressed purpose of celebrating and sharing God's love, "among
ourselves and with others."
It is surely
nice to be among our old friends, familiar faces, with their stories
about family members we know. It's comfortable. It feels good.
An old camp song I've heard children sing, echoes this sentiment;
"make new friends and keep the old; one is silver and the
other gold." Funny, even the world knows you have to make
room in your life for new people. How grand it is to make new
friends, new brothers and sisters in Christ. I have to say how
good it makes me feel to see you bringing people to Jesus, people
eager to receive a welcome in the name of Jesus-eager as Andrew
to share the good news.
So what moves you to share the love God? Is it the sad news about
another congregation gone? Or, is it our mission statement, words
which define our
existence and that we've agreed upon? Or, is the encouragement
and example of Paul, John the Baptist, and Andrew? Let's rephrase
that. Which should be our motivation-your motivation? The right
answer; the Word of the Lord.
From what
the Bible tells us it may have taken the magi a year or more to
arrive at the home where they eventually found the Christ Child.
But when they did, they rejoiced and offered him their gifts.
What did they know about him? What could they? Faith has a certain
risk to it. And at the risk of displeasing Herod they went home
by another route, silent.
On the other
hand it only took Andrew a day of being in Jesus' presence to
realize that he had found the messiah and he had to tell his brother.
How long will it take us to tell someone, anyone? What will you
risk for faith?
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Hamburg, NJ 07419
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