2 Epiphany A January 19, 2014 Luther Memorial Church Seattle, WA
The Rev. Julie Guengerich Hutson
Baptism of Lily Tiglao
Isaiah 49: 1-7 Psalm 40: 1-11 1 Corinthians 1: 1-9
John 1: 29-42
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
There’s exciting news to report today….a long lost manuscript from the Apostle Paul has recently been found, according to reports that only a few select people have access to. Well, ok, that only I have access to. The Apostle Paul was well known for his epistles, which is a very ancient word for letters; letters he wrote to churches. He wrote to the Church at Rome to tell them that he was going to come for a visit and a little fund raising trip. And then he threw in some of his finest theological material.
When he wrote to the church at Galatia, he started off by chewing them out for turning away from the Paul’s teaching to them about Jesus.
And when he wrote to the church at Corinth he was writing to a church that was deeply divided. And we’ll get to read his riot act, so to speak, to the Church at Corinth, as our Epistle reading, or reading from the letters, next Sunday.
Today, though, we get the beginning of that same letter to the church at Corinth. It is Paul’s very cordial greeting to this church whom he so loved. First he identifies himself and who is with him – Sosthenes- although we aren’t sure who Sosthenes actually is. And then he identifies his audience, the recipient of his letter. “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.” Then Paul goes on to give an official greeting: “Grace to you and peace….” Followed by an official thanksgiving: “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus…”
So, here’s what’s happened….just this week, somewhere deep in the recesses and files of my office at Luther Memorial, we found a long lost epistle of Paul’s: The Letter of Paul to Luther Memorial.
Here’s what “Paul” writes:
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by God, and our sister Pastor Julie, To the church of God that is in Seattle, at the corner of Greenwood Ave. N and 132nd; to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Well, I wonder if it’s really fair at all for me to go in this direction with the sermon. Because going down this road allows me to put my thoughts into Paul’s imagined pen and that allows me some privilege. So I wonder if you will help me with this letter.
If we consider that Paul was likely to include specific things for which he is thankful, what might Paul be thankful about in the life of Luther Memorial? Can you just call some things out? (It’s the interactive portion of the sermon)
[Improvise here, and include the LUNCH BAG program, the children, our worship, and generous use of the building by the community]
Well, in fact, we do have much for which we are grateful – for the mission and ministry of this congregation. For the way we do God’s work with Our Hands.
You know, the thing about Paul is that, much like a parent or a supervisor at a job review, he almost always also pointed out “room for improvement.” Or as they call them in seminary “growing edges.” Where do we, as a congregation, have challenges ahead? Where is our room for improvement? Are we missing the mark in some way that needs to be addressed with a letter from the local apostle?
So, this is harder, but I want you to consider what some of the challenges facing us might be. What are some of the things Paul might have said to us as corrective or cautionary? Can you share some of those as well?
Here’s what I can imagine. I can imagine something like what Paul actually said to the church at Corinth in our epistle reading today. This is what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, but I wonder if we can hear it as if it is directed to us?
In every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind – just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you – so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful…”
I wonder if we can hear these words and let them ring in our ears and rest in our hearts? You are not lacking in any spiritual gift. God is faithful.
When we as a congregation consider the challenges ahead of us – the secularization of our culture, our congregation’s budget challenges, the lack of volunteers – can we draw upon those words: You are not lacking in any spiritual gift. God is faithful.
When we hear the stories of school shootings and human trafficking and an economy that cripples our brightest people with massive student loan debt – can we lean into those words: You are not lacking in any spiritual gift. God is faithful.
When we, as individuals, face trials in our lives. Broken relationships, unexpected diagnoses, difficult transitions – can we trust that these words are true? You are not lacking in any spiritual gift. God is faithful.
These words that Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and to us don’t let us off the hook and they don’t offer easy answers. Some days and some seasons will be incredibly tough. They will. But we are not lacking in any spiritual gift. This is true.
We know this is true because we can taste, and touch, and see the Kingdom. The Body of Christ is all around us. It is present here this morning with Lily as her parents and sponsors and grandparents and aunts and uncles all come with her to the waters. We hear the promises splash over her. We see the promises in the water and we smell them in the oil that anoints her head.
We will taste the sweet truth of these promises in bread and wine – the body and blood of Christ.
And as the people of God who are Luther Memorial Church and as the people of God who love and surround Lily, we will cling to the promises of the stories and songs and Sacraments. You are not lacking in any spiritual gift. God is faithful.
Thanks be to God. Amen.