The Poor Ones

Posted on March 14, 2013 by David Nuottila

When the poor ones who have nothing are still giving;
When the thirsty pass the cup, water to share;
When the wounded offer others strength and healing;
We see God, here by our side, walking our way.
(Evangelical Lutheran Worship – 725)

Today’s exercise: define what it means to be poor.

I know a woman who does not have much to live on. Actually, that is an understatement, but she would be offended if I said she was poor. Eleanor does not consider herself to be one of the poor ones. Sure, she has to decide which bill gets paid this month and which one can “slide.” She rarely has choice cuts of meat to prepare for her family at supper time. The family car is not necessarily in good running order, but in Eleanor’s words, “it beats walkin’ for sure.” Yet, according to Eleanor, she is by no means poor.

According to the U.S. government, Eleanor is poor. Her family relies on food stamps, reduced cost school lunches, and they live in government subsidized housing. I’m not really sure about her husband’s income, but I know she is out of work; has been for some time. To be honest, I’m pretty sure Eleanor is disabled; her back is a source of constant pain. She is too proud; however, to admit that she cannot function in the workplace, but even house work puts her down. Yeah, by government standards, Eleanor and her family are poor. But don’t tell her that. Eleanor considers herself to be rich.

In the tenth chapter of Mark’s gospel, Jesus teaches us about the difficulties concerning earthly wealth. “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” According to the text, camels stand a better chance of passing through the eye of a needle. The rich person in this story had a difficult time accepting the fact that his worldly wealth could not serve him in matters of salvation. It is better to sell everything, give the money to Eleanor, then follow Christ than to rely on one’s wealth for security. Our treasure is best stored in heaven, and we are better to consider the needs of others first, before we consider our own. For in heaven, the least will become greatest of all.

Eleanor believes this, and what’s better, she lives it. This humble woman is always the one who always helps the children cross the street as they head off to school. She volunteers her time visiting those who would otherwise be left alone, and she is sure to contribute more than what she can afford when it comes to collecting money or other goods for a family in need. Why does she do this? How is she able? Well, because it’s like she says, Eleanor is rich.

Living out the gospel message of Christ, to love God and her neighbor, Eleanor redefines what it means to be rich or poor; for me at least. No, she is not wealthy and she is grateful for any assistance she receives. She might enjoy an easier life filled with a few more conveniences, but then she would simply use those conveniences for the benefit of others. I believe as Eleanor does, that God has blessed her beyond measure, giving her a life of abundance where she can dwell in the love of God in Christ Jesus. Living according to such richness, she is happy to give of herself for the sake of the poor. Amen Eleanor.

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Paradise

Posted on March 13, 2013 by David Nuottila

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And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43

The book of Genesis describes God’s creation as a beautiful Garden filled with every kind of fruit and flower. It was a perfect place in full harmony with God the creator. Never has there been a place that matched its beauty. In a word, God’s garden is paradise.

In his epic poem Paradise Lost, 17th century poet John Milton vividly and creatively describes the battle of good versus evil. Though it does not claim to be scripturally accurate, the poem does span the entirety of the traditional story of humanity’s fall from grace: the encounter and temptation of Eve by the serpent, Adam’s willingness to eat of the forbidden fruit, their realization that they were naked and the shame they felt as God came looking for them in the garden. Finally, humanity was expelled from God’s garden.

Because sin entered the world, Paradise has been lost; humanity no longer lived in that perfect communion with God and there is nothing that humanity can do in order to redeem that which was lost. Instead people live throughout history struggling with the prospect of doing the good desired for us by God. Instead of doing God’s will for us, we continue to fail at the task of nurturing relationships, loving our neighbor, tilling and keeping God’s garden. Only God can reconcile humanity with the paradise which was lost to sin.

The journey through Lent begs God’s people to reflect upon our fallen humanity. The reality of this struggle between good and evil is played out at Golgatha, the place of the skull. Humanity is so corrupted by sin that we no longer recognize God in our midst. Instead of reaching out to our savior for healing and redemption, we hang him, he who is king, on a cross to bear the weight of our sin.

Yet it is still Jesus who reconciles. Jesus loves all the wrong people. He heals those who seemed to be forsaken by God, shares a table with the unclean, loves those who are outside the community. Jesus has turned the tables on sin and restores to us the definition of what it means to live a life in communion with God. Through his miracles, teaching and out pouring of unconditional love, Jesus helps us to see what it means to be truly human.

Finally, as our Lord and Savior hangs on the cross clinging to life, we recognize what we have done. We realize that it is because of our short sightedness and rebellion against God that Christ our King is suffering the death we so richly deserve. In the words of the thief at Jesus’ right hand, we too come to the cross and beg for forgiveness. We plead for forgiveness and ask for reconciliation; “Jesus remember me; remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

After ages upon ages of living in a state of sin with death being humanity’s only guarantee, Jesus brings the word of life. As we stand at the foot of the cross, Jesus speaks the word we have longed to hear; “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

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Living in Peace

Posted on March 12, 2013 by David Nuottila

IMG_1433[Jesus said] “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

During the season of Lent, the Church often visits the upper room where Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples. Certainly, the disciples had to have known something was up. Jesus was talking of leaving them, going away to a place they could not go, yet he shall return to them. Bewildered, curious, puzzled and mystified are all good words that might describe the feelings of the twelve. Then as Judas Iscariot abruptly left the room, other words might be used to describe hearts and minds of the remaining eleven. The words Jesus uses are troubled and afraid.

As Jesus prepares the disciples for a time when they are alone, he addresses their troubles and fears. Jesus gives them assurance that they are to be guarded by God. He lets them know the Father will send another advocate, the Holy Spirit to guide them. The Father will even grant unto them whatever they see they need as they ask it in Jesus’ name. Simply put, Jesus sets their hearts and minds at peace, a peace only he can give.

The peace of Christ is a gift like no other. As God’s beloved children, Christians the world over receive this same peace from Jesus as did the faithful disciples. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” Jesus knows the world will pull and tug at God’s people. It will challenge their faith, cause them to doubt, bringing worry into their lives while the evil one tries to lead them astray. He knows the hardships Christians will endure as they strive to love God and neighbor, care for the needy and proclaim the Good News of God’s salvation. The world will reject them, revile them, and persecute them for following the way of the Lord. But Christ also knows that the powers that defy God cannot overshadow the peace and promise of God’s love.

Today, Christians face the same obstacles to faith. The world still challenges us with empty promises of wealth and glory; promises that eventually lead to emptiness and death. Yet, God’s children walk by faith in this same promise of peace. The peace of Christ is the assurance that God’s people are not abandoned, we are not left on our own to face a world of sin and hurt. Living in the peace of Christ is no guarantee that God’s people will not face hardship. It is no promise that Christians will not struggle against our age old foe. The way to the peace of Christ is through the cross of Christ. And the way of the cross is the way of God’s victory over sin and the powers of the devil.

Jesus says, “My peace I leave with you…” In this peace, our Lord Jesus invites us to live as redeemed children of God, understanding the gifts of God’s peace and love are eternally given. As you continue to walk by faith, remember always to live in the peace of Christ. Live with the assurance that Jesus gives as the world cannot. The things of this world will one day fade away, but the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding, guards our hearts and minds forever.

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Come Thirsty

Posted on March 8, 2013 by David Nuottila

drink

Before you settle in to read this post, I would invite you to do something first.  Go to your shelf or table and pick up your Bible.  Then go to the kitchen and pour yourself a glass of water.  Now set the glass filled with water beside your Bible on the table nearest you and begin reading.

There is a book on my shelf that I enjoy reading from time to time which is written by Max Lucado.  It bears the title Come Thirsty.  Actually, this book no longer resides on my shelf as I have given it to someone searching for God’s activity in his life.  It is a very good resource for those who may feel distant from God and also for those who would enjoy a “spiritual pick me up” if you will.  I do love reading this book (I’ll have to get another copy when I’m done writing this) and hearing the invitation of our Loving God to come to Him as a child comes to his/her father.

We are in the midst of our annual Lenten pilgrimage toward Easter and it is appropriate that we too ponder how it is we approach our Father in heaven.  It is a time to earnestly study God’s Word and to pray for heightened awareness of God’s presence in our daily lives.  It is a time to look deep inside our lives in order that we may see ourselves for who we are as sinners, yet also to see ourselves for whose we are, God’s beloved children redeemed by the blood of Christ.  Lent is a time when Christians all the world over take time to reflect upon God’s call to follow the example of Christ Jesus, loving God with all our heart, loving our neighbor and ministering to the needs of those whom God places within our midst.  The more we ponder these things, the more Christians realize their thirst for God’s amazing grace, His forgiveness, love and kindness.

As God’s people, during Lent we are metaphorically traveling the Jerusalem road toward the cross of Good Friday.  The cross is where the powers sin and evil meet the powers of God’s righteousness and mercy.  The events of the cross are the focal point of Lent, so powerful their message of God’s salvation through the sacrifice of His Son.  Yet, weighed down by the burdens of everyday life, all too often we focus on worldly things and fail to realize the full impact of what Jesus has done for God’s beloved people.  Pulled in several directions at a time, we all too often stray from the Lenten journey’s path.  Life becomes a blur of one day following the next and before you know it, we have lost touch with our Lord and Savior.

In order that you may fully realize God’s awesome power and love in your life, I invite you to “come thirsty.”  Come thirsty to worship where all may join hearts and voices in praise and thanksgiving for all that God has done and continues to do.  Come thirsty to hear the message of God’s deliverance of His chosen people so long ago at the time of the Exodus.  Come hear the promise of God as He gives Moses the Ten Commandments, calling the children of Israel to live a godly life according to the Law.  I invite you to come thirsty for God’s love; to hear His gospel proclaimed, His Word preached and to realize the abundance of His mercy and grace.

As you come to worship I also invite you to come to Sunday school where you will learn even more of the goodness of our Lord and Savior.  Come thirsty for the fellowship we share as God’s gathered people, united with Christ through the waters of our baptism.  Come thirsty to learn how you too are called as a disciple of Jesus Christ, empowered and equipped for ministry and sent into the world for the sake of those who are neediest among us.

Finally, I invite you ponder the Bible and the glass of water before you.  God’s written Word proclaiming His grace made available through His Word made flesh.  As you open the pages of Holy Scripture you will be reminded that God made water to be a sign of His unfailing love and His promise to deliver His people.  Through water and the Word, God washes us in the flood of our baptism, pouring out the gifts of faith and the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of sins and the promise of everlasting life.

As God’s people, we are on a journey.  We are on a journey to the cross of Good Friday where we may cast our sin and brokenness at Jesus’ feet, the place where the powers of sin and evil meet the powers of God’s righteousness and mercy.  Come thirsty for the good things of God and be refreshed through the water and the Word.  Then at journey’s end, we will all meet once again at the empty tomb of Easter, where the defeated power of death meets the awesome power of God’s eternal life in Christ Jesus.  Come thirsty to God’s house, and be refreshed with the water that gives life forever and ever.

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Food for Thought

Posted on March 7, 2013 by David Nuottila

This morning in my devotional reading I was enjoying a trip through the eleventh chapter of First Corinthians and the Didache (The Teaching of Christ to the Apostles). I was especially focused on the examples of table fellowship among the early Christians as they gathered on the Lord’s Day. Although Paul was specifically addressing the needed corrections of the Church at Corinth as they gathered to share the Lord’s Supper, there is much to be gleaned from his teaching regarding the ways the Church gathers for fellowship meals as well.

As in Corinth, divisions and conflicts are ever present within congregations. At the very least, one can point to a minor issue between church members on any given day. Assuredly, most are not church dividing. Still, these do exist and it is always good for church leaders to address them in a faithful manner lest they bubble up into something more troublesome.

As I reflect on my reading this morning, and the events in my own congregation, I have come to realize something very comforting. Even as minor conflicts arise and there are differences in opinion, food on the table almost always brings about a truce among those in conflict. Sharing delicious recipes, hot dishes and desserts becomes the balm that heals. Watching others enjoy the food you have prepared brings with it simple joy. Who can deny the inner warmth while digging into a tasty casserole? What person holds back a smile brought by the sweetness of a luscious dessert or the soothing sensation of that Lutheran staple, green Jello? Good food provided by your sister/brother in Christ and shared in community is one of the simple pleasures shared among God’s people. Their fellowship is most certainly a holy time.

A word of note, this post is not brought to bear due to an issue or conflict, but rather through the simple joy of watching members of my flock enjoy an evening meal before worship. The smiles, laughter and conversation shared in Christian fellowship is a wonderful thing. For in the sharing of a meal we find that we truly do love one another. And as we gather for worship, specifically around the table of the Lord, we find in the Holy Communion our Lord and Savior who truly loves us, so much so that he would feed us the Bread from heaven and the Cup of blessing that is His own body and blood.

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed! Amen!

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