Third Sunday after Epiphany Mark 1:14-20 January 25, 2009

Some things just go together: peanut butter & jelly; salsa & chips; Margaret & the organ; Susan & the Choir; Margaret/Art & the piano; baseball & the Dodgers (Giants, A’s).  Good couplings are endless, but they wouldn’t include parades on a rainy day; or in my mind, my mom’s favorite sandwich: peanut butter, mayonnaise and onions. But odd combinations do exist – like the verse: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came preaching good news.”  Odd bed fellows: “arrested and good news” in the same sentence. But it’s consistent with the Gospel’s message that John’s arrest signals the beginning of Jesus' ministry.  Participating in the good news costs something.

For two years, the bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada planned for a January 2009 trip to the Holy Land.  The purpose was to be a witness to God’s will for a just peace for all people.  The desire was to put flesh on our accompaniment with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and the ministries of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).

As you know, however, violence broke out in Gaza, just as the trip was to get underway.  The violence raised concerns about safety and about whether or not they’d be able to make the visits they had planned.  After prayerful consideration about half of the bishops and their spouses decided to still go.  Our Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson and the National Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Canada wrote a powerful reflection on their just now completed journey.

A few words from their reflections: “Traveling in the season of Epiphany, we looked for the light, the manifestations of Jesus Christ in the land of his birth, death, and resurrection and listened to stories of suffering. God’s Word comes alive in a powerful way in the Holy Land and it shaped our days and our learning.  Our presence was heard as well as seen.  In Lutheran four-part harmony, “Dona Nobis Pacem” was often raised, binding our spirits in prayers for peace.”

Their reflections go on, “We see the calling to advocate for justice and peace as central in our Christian discipleship, so we sought to gain knowledge for that in relation to this setting. There was darkness: the strangulation of occupation, the diminishing Christian population, remembrance of the Holocaust, fear of war.

But we also saw light: the contagious joy of Palestinian children at the School of Hope, the shared witness of an Israeli and a Palestinian who both lost loved ones and now work together to end the cycle of revenge, sharing worship in synagogues where congregations prayed for peace in both Hebrew and Arabic, the healing ministry of Augusta Victoria Hospital, the determined presence in Bethlehem and Jerusalem of Lutheran ministries that keep hope alive. We tried to plant hope—with our presence, with new olive trees, with words of encouragement.

During our travels, we heard many variations on: "You came at just the right time to uphold our spirits," and we were glad we came. In this kairos time, we began to understand more fully the cruel effect of the occupation of Palestine.  We also saw partnerships among Christians, Jews, and Muslims that offered hope that our shared Abrahamic tradition can lead to a shared land.

The deepening of relationships among Christians, Jews, and Muslims, beginning at local levels and continuing into a global context is crucial for standing against that which destroys peace. Our brothers and sisters in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land pleaded, "Please do not get tired of us."  As we continue in this season of Epiphany, welcoming the Light that overcomes every darkness, we invite many more people to "come and see.”” Signed Bishop Hanson of the ELCA and Bishop Johnson of the Lutheran Church of Canada.

As today’s Gospel reminds us, the "good news" of Jesus in announced in the context of strife. This is what God does – enters the darkness bringing light.  God’s reign is breaking in among us and God will work through all who will engage that vision with their lives.

Our Sierra Pacific Synod Bishop Mark has just returned from his own life transforming journey – to Rwanda.  (Bishop Mark’s photographs of the trip can be viewed at our Synod website www.sierrapacificsynod.org ) He too wrote by email. He writes: “They have mockingbirds in Rwanda, or at least what sounds like one.  I discovered this at 5:30 a.m. when one decided to serenade me outside my window in my hotel room in Kigali not long after I had finally arrived there after countless hours on airplanes. My new best friend, the mockingbird, continued to sing loud and long enough where staying in bed was no longer an option.  So I'm out of bed, looking every bit the accidental tourist in cargo shorts and a Mt. Cross t-shirt.  I think I'll wander over to where breakfast will be served and see if they might have a pot of grace and mercy (coffee). Praise the Lord!  There is coffee, breads and fruit and a beautiful 70 degree sunny morning. 

On day two of his Rwanda email Bishop Mark tells of the ordination he attended. 

The five hour ordination actually ended up being closer to six.” [And we get fidgidy if we go over one hour! What if we start adopting Rwandan time!] The Bishop goes on, “The voices of the children's and adult choirs were magical. That the ordination service was for the son of Bishop Kaliisa was only part of the reason for the joy of the day -- the Lutheran Church of Rwanda (LCR) is a young church, formed within the last fifteen years, and any sign of growth in their ministry is an occasion for great joy. Many pastors from the Lutheran Church of Tanzania (from which the LCR had its founding after the genocide) had ridden for hours by bus to attend and were on hand with support and blessing for the new pastor The Rev. Prince Mukase Kaliisa.  

Then Bishop Mark gets personal:  “To be honest and not overly dramatic, I am a little fearful for what these days will bring, because I believe it's possible my life will be changed (or should be) -- that somehow, my life and faith will be different from this point on. I have seen it in the lives of the people who have been here before me. And if after some distance from these days have passed, and those with whom I share life and ministry can see the memory of these days having less and less effect on the choices I make and the words I use -- you have my permission to give me a good slap, or at least a gentle nudge, and offer one word - "remember."  

He closes: “And oh, I found out there's something worse than a mockingbird outside your window at 5:30 a.m. -- I don't know what it is, but it sounds for all the world like a cross between screeching brakes and a turkey being tortured.  At least it came closer to sunrise!” 

Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “the kingdom of God has come near.” The "kingdom of God" isn’t so much a place as it is the presence of God.  Perhaps the kingdom of God is like that mockingbird, rousing us from sleep – calling us to participate in God’s in-breaking of justice and peace – even if at an inopportune time.  Jesus came announcing God’s presence is with us here; a presence that sometimes interrupts our plans and agendas – calling us to be part of something larger than ourselves requiring a good bit of change on all of our parts.

We do well to ask what God’s desired future is calling us to as a congregation. Bishop Mark Hanson calls us to advocate for peace in the Holy Land.  Bishop Mark Holmerud calls us to not forget our brothers and sisters in Rwanda. 

The Torres Shelter and Jesus Center ask for the continued support of the churches and we are partnering with them with your hands and hearts.  The next Celebration of Abraham event is planned for March 10th here in Chico.  I hope you will join me in attending. Sunday Morning Live seeks to be a place of incorporation of children and youth into our community and it needs your ongoing support and investment. Scripture transforms lives if we take it to heart.  A Book of Faith retreat is planned for Saturday, February 28. Please put it on your calendars.  

There is much we can do to be a part of God’s in-breaking. How good it is that the kind of fishing spoken of in the Bible isn’t line fishing! There are no hooks.  They fish with nets – perhaps assuring us grace will "catch" us in the wide nets of God’s mercy.  Even now, God is kindly smiling, calling our names. To say yes will cost us something, but it’s our loving Savior who looks into our eyes.  What cost isn’t worth that prize!   

Amen

   +Pastor Peg Schultz-Akerson, to the glory of God
Faith Lutheran Church, Chico, CA