April 25, 2022 by achristoffels

Into the Unknown

Readings for the day (2^nd Sunday of Easter – Sunday, April 24, 2022):

Dear friends in Christ, grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen.

It is almost fishing opener, which means…those amazing, sometimes unbelievable fishing stories will soon be told once again. Or should I call them tales – you know, those stories that seem to get better and better each time they’re told, and you’re never quite sure if you should believe it to be true or not.

Well, today we have a story that sounds kind of like a fishing tale. Something that seems rather unbelievable. The disciples hear a report that Jesus has risen from the dead. Yeah. Right. And I just caught a 30-inch walleye. Today, on this second Sunday of Easter, we have the story of the risen Jesus appearing before His disciples. This story is often referred to as “Doubting Thomas.” Now before we jump too quickly to characterizing Thomas as a doubter, let’s first consider a few things.

In John’s Gospel, it is Mary Magdalene who first has an encounter with the risen Jesus in a garden, by the empty tomb. She races back to tell the disciples about this Good News that Jesus is indeed alive. That this news isn’t some tall tale, but it’s real. It actually happened. But yet, that evening, the evening of that first Easter, the disciples are not out celebrating this news. No, they’re hiding. They’ve locked themselves in a room. They are fearful of the people who crucified Jesus. They fear that these people will seek to crucify them next. Now remember, according to John, no one except Mary has physically seen Jesus since His dead body was placed in the tomb. And it is now evening. They’ve heard the news that Jesus is alive. And what do they do with this news? They risk nothing and instead lock themselves in a room. They hide. Afraid to take any sort of risk.

Now Thomas, was not in the room with the rest of the disciples. We don’t know why he wasn’t in the room. Maybe they were all hungry and Thomas drew the short straw to go get food for everyone. No one wanted to leave, but someone needs to leave to go get some food. So maybe, Thomas was picked to do just that. But truthfully, we don’t really know why Thomas wasn’t there. But even with Thomas gone, Jesus appears in the room, and all of the other disciples have a similar encounter with the risen Jesus to what Mary had earlier that day. When Thomas returns, Jesus is gone, and there’s a buzz around the room.

Now, does Thomas doubt this news? Does Thomas think their story of Jesus actually appearing in this locked room to be similar to some of the fishing stories that are told? That this is just some tall tale or made-up story. Or, is Thomas jealous of this news? Is he jealous of the encounter that everyone else got, but him? Mary got to encounter the risen Jesus. Peter, James, John, and the others got to encounter the risen Jesus. But not Thomas. Thomas wants what his fellow disciples got. Thomas wants what Mary got.

And isn’t this what we want too? We want to see Jesus. We want to encounter the risen Jesus. We want to have life, in Jesus’ name. But we’re not going to get real far, if we’re locked in a room. The disciples locked themselves in a room out of fear. They were immobilized by fear. They were taking no risk. They had this good news, but they were fearful of sharing it – with anyone. The disciples, driven by fear, are taking no risks, because they don’t trust anyone. However, the more we trust, the more risk we’re willing to take.

Are we afraid to take a risk because of past experiences? Are we afraid to take a risk because we’re fearful of failure or fearful of getting something wrong? When we’re fearful. When we have limited trust, or when trust has been broken, it becomes difficult for us to take a risk. To step out of the locked room. To go where no one’s gone before. And yet, this is exactly what Jesus is calling His disciples to do. This is exactly what Jesus is calling us to do. To step into the unknown.

In the movie Frozen 2, Elsa hears a sound that no one else can hear. She feels that this sound is a call to leave the protection of the kingdom walls, in order to find her true purpose. But she says, “I’m afraid of what I’m risking if I follow you into the unknown.”[1] And isn’t that what God’s call feels like – being called into the unknown. Jesus appears before His disciples, who are huddled behind locked doors, immobilized by fear. And yet, Jesus says, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”[2] Jesus appears before them to get them out the door. To get them to leave the room and share this wonderful news. Jesus calls them to take a risk. And we too, are called to not hide ourselves behind the walls of the church. Jesus calls us to take a risk. To try something new. To try something different. Even if there is a risk of failure or getting something wrong. Because the mission of Jesus does not exist without some level of risk.

But we don’t do this work alone. And the disciples didn’t do this work alone. As Jesus was sending them out of the locked room, “he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”[3] We have everything that we need to do this work that God has called us to do. The disciples were not sent without the Holy Spirit. We are not sent without the Holy Spirit. We need not fear the risks. We need not fear the failures. All we need is trust. Trust in God’s Word. Trust that we too get an encounter with our risen Lord. We get to experience what the disciples got. We get what Mary got. We get what Thomas finally got. For we have the Word and the Sacraments. It is here, in this place, where we hear and see the Word of God. We get to touch, taste, and smell Jesus when we come to the Lord’s Table to receive this Holy Sacrament. This is our opportunity to encounter Jesus. For those of you receiving the Sacrament for the first time today, welcome to the Lord’s Table – where you get to encounter the risen Jesus.

And it is here, at the Lord’s Table where we not only encounter Jesus, but we are given life in Jesus’ name. And this life frees us from the fear of risk and failure. We are free to take a risk and try something new for the sake of Jesus’ mission. We are free to step into the unknown. And this isn’t no tall tale. For Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia! Amen.

[1] Songwriters: Robert Lopez / Kristen Anderson-lopez Into the Unknown lyrics © Wonderland Music Co. Inc., Wonderland Music Company Inc., Wonderland Music Company Inc

[2] John 20:21, NRSV

[3] John 20:22, NRSV

April 17, 2022 by achristoffels

How, not What

Readings for the day (Resurrection of Our Lord – Sunday, April 17, 2022):

Isaiah 65:17-25

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Luke 24:1-12

Dear friends in Christ, grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen.

I often tell people that there is never a dull moment in our house. There’s always something going on. And there’s lots and lots of energy. And then among all the chaos, I hear from the other room, “Dad, come see this.” Now, history tells me to proceed with caution. This “thing” that my children want to show me, could be really cool. It also could be anxiety inducing, and I might freak out a little. But regardless, they are so excited about it, that they have this need to not only tell me about it, but show me.

Each year, we hear a slightly different version of this Easter story. Each one of the Gospel writers remembers different details of this important story. John tells of one woman who goes to the tomb alone and has an encounter with the risen Jesus. Matthew tells of two women that went to the tomb and they experienced an earthquake while witnessing the stone being rolled back from the tomb. Mark tells of three women who, upon seeing the empty tomb, flee and say nothing to anyone. And in Luke’s Gospel, we don’t know how many women went to the tomb that first Easter morning. But there were at least five. And upon hearing that Jesus was alive, they race to the disciples with excitement. With joy in their step, they go to share this good news with the disciples. They have so much excitement and energy, that they needed to tell someone about this. Except, they didn’t have this excitement until they remembered what Jesus told them about His Passion – how He would be crucified and die, but then rise from the dead three days later. But they didn’t remember any of this, until these surprisingly, dazzling men standing at the empty tomb, told them so.

They had forgotten all about it. Jesus told His followers multiple times about what was going to be happening when they reached Jerusalem. And yet, they still forgot. Oh, but we never forget anything that is spoken to us, do we? We always, always remember what we hear. That’s a lie! We do forget. We forget all the time. And because we know that we will forget what we heard, we write it down. And then we forget where we placed the piece of paper that we wrote on.

Thankfully, for us forgetful people, there’s a very important detail in Luke’s version of this story that cannot be overlooked. When these two men in dazzling clothes stand beside the women at the tomb, they say to the women, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how [Jesus] told you…”[1] Not, remember what Jesus told you, but, remember how Jesus told you. Specifically, how Jesus fed thousands of people – nourishing us both physically and spiritually with His Word and His Body. How Jesus calmed a storm with one simple phrase, “Peace, be still.” – putting order to the chaos of our lives. How Jesus healed people and restored them in society – giving us comfort that Jesus intercedes for us when we call on Him for healing and restoration. How Jesus freed people from the grip of death by raising them to new life – and giving us hope that one day we too will experience that sweet taste of resurrection and new life, just as Jesus did. And oh, by the way, this all began when the Word of God became flesh and lived among us. It all began when the Word of God Himself was placed in a manger, a cattle trough of all places.

You see, it wasn’t just what Jesus told His followers; it was how He told them about His upcoming Passion. Jesus doesn’t just tell us about God, He shows us who God is. Jesus doesn’t just tell us how much God cares about us, He shows us how much God cares about us. Jesus doesn’t just say that our sins are forgiven, He shows us how He has forgiven our sins.

Even when we forget what we’ve heard, Jesus continues to show us that with God, expect the unexpected. Because just when you think you have life figured out. Just when you think that you have God figured, another surprise shows up. People thought they had God figured out, but then He took on human flesh and entered the world through the unexpected place of a barn. And people thought that they had Jesus all figured out, this miraculous healing man, but then He turned out to be executed on a tree.

Expect the unexpected. With God, you just never know what’s going to happen next. That’s what those women experienced on that first Easter morning. They expected to visit a dead body, and instead they found an empty tomb. Instead of finding a body without life in it, they found a tomb without a body in it. With God, anything is possible.

This God that we worship. This God that we profess our faith in, is not dead in a tomb something, but He is alive. And He’s alive for one particular purpose. For you! Jesus is alive again, for you! Everything that Jesus did, from the manger to the healings and miracles, to the cross, to the tomb and to new life. Jesus did it all, for you! And even if you forget the words that He said, you can’t forget what He has done for you – dying, and rising again to new life, for you! Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed. Alleluia! Amen!

[1] Luke 24:6, NRSV

April 15, 2022 by achristoffels

Overcome Betrayal With…

Readings for the day (Maundy Thursday – Thursday, April 14, 2022):

Exodus 12:1-14

Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Dear friends in Christ, grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen.

On Maundy Thursday, we often think about this final meal that Jesus had with His disciples. How Jesus instituted (or began) this practice and tradition of the Lord’s Supper. How Jesus knelt down to wash the feet of His disciples. But before we get that far, something else has already been brewing. Something else has already been set in motion – Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.

And we know betrayals, right? We remember how Hans in Frozen didn’t turn out to be the prince charming we thought he was. We remember how Harvey Dent becomes Two-Face in the Dark Knight trilogy. And if you’re a Star Wars fan, you can think of a variety of betrayals. Most notably with Lando offering a safe resting spot for his friends, only to turn them in a moment later.

Have you ever felt betrayed by someone? You give years of dedicated service to a company, but they won’t do a thing for you. Or you trust someone so much to tell them a deep, dark secret of yours, only for them to turn their back on you and share that news with what seems to be everyone in town. Or when someone who you thought was a friend, is nowhere to be found when you need them the most.

When we feel betrayed by someone, we get angry. We get upset. We feel hurt and taken advantage of. You thought that you could trust this person. But it turns out, you can’t. You see your so-called friendship just falling apart. And question what sort of friendship was this anyway. Feelings of betrayal can, and do, effect our entire lives. It destroys our attitude, and it effects the effort that we put towards school and work. No one enjoys being on the receiving end of a betrayal.

Now imagine for a moment, that you possess the knowledge that someone is going to betray you. That you have the inside scoop before this betrayal ever happens. Coming into His final meal with His disciples, Jesus knows “that His hour has come to depart from this world.”[1] He knows that among His closest friends, one of them will betray Him that night. Before the meal even begins, Jesus knows that it is Judas who will betray Him. Judas, one of His closest friends, who has spent the last three years following Him, listening to His teachings, seeing the countless miracles that Jesus has done. And yet, Judas is going to betray his teacher, his master, his friend, for a mere 30 pieces of silver. Jesus also knows that as the events unfold, Peter will deny knowing Him. And not just once, but three times.

Jesus knows all of this. He knows that His closest friends will deny Him. He knows that one of His closest friends will betray Him. If you possessed this information, how would you act? How would you respond? If you knew that a friend wasn’t going to be able to keep a secret, you wouldn’t share your private information with them. If you knew that your employer was going to be eliminating your position, you might just quit before they have the opportunity. If you knew that your so-called friend wouldn’t be there for you when your life gets thrown into chaos, you probably wouldn’t have spent your one free weekend helping them out with a project at their house.

You see, if we knew that we were about to be betrayed, we’d find some way to protect ourselves. Some way of preventing the betrayal from ever happening. All so that we don’t get hurt.

Jesus knows that Judas is going to betray Him. But Jesus doesn’t get upset. He doesn’t get mad. He doesn’t even try to convince Judas to reconsider or to lock him out of the meal. Instead, Jesus allows him to stay for the meal. And after the meal, Jesus gets up, knowing full well what Judas is going to do, knowing full well what Peter is going to do, and He takes off His outer robe and ties a towel around Himself. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around Him.[2] Why would you do that? You know that one of your friends is going to deny knowing you. You know that another one of your friends is going to betray you and hand you over to be executed. You know that all of your friends are going to desert you when you need them the most. Why would you still humbly kneel before them and do something kind for them? They certainly aren’t going to be kind to you. Why? Why would you do that?

It doesn’t make any sense to us, but it’s because of love. This is the kind of love that Jesus has for His disciples. This is the kind of love that God has for you. Even though you sin. Even though you fail. Even though you betray God. He still loves you. He still loves you this much that He willingly laid down His life for you.

Jesus’ command tonight is that you do the same and love one another. He told His disciples, “Just as I have loved you…”[3] Meaning, just as I knelt before you and humbly washed the feet of those who will deny knowing me when I need you the most and I washed the feet of the one who will betray me, “you also ought to love one another.”[4] Jesus has set the example for us. He has set the example of what love for each other looks like. This love is humbly caring for each other. This love is being there for your friends when they need you the most. This love is reaching out your hand to help someone in need. This love is humble service to each other. Rather than betraying one another or gossiping about others, love each other. For it is through this love that everyone will know that we are Jesus’ disciples. We love each other as Jesus loved us, by humbly serving one another and welcoming each other into our community.

There is no logical reason for Jesus to go to the cross for us, betraying sinners. The only way to explain His actions is through love. Just as Jesus cared deeply about His disciples that He knelt before them to wash their feet, Jesus willingly submits to the authorities to be crucified out of deep love for you, His beloved disciples. Amen.

[1] John 13:1, NRSV

[2] John 13:4-5, NRSV

[3] John 13:34, NRSV

[4] John 13:34, NRSV

April 11, 2022 by achristoffels

An Unusual Symbol of Love

Readings for the day (Palm-Passion Sunday – Sunday, April 10, 2022):

Dear friends in Christ, grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Palm Sunday, also referred to as Passion Sunday, is a roller coaster of a service. We began with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, but it quickly turns in the opposite direction. At one moment people are praising God with shouts of Hosanna in the highest. But those shouts rapidly change to shouts for our Lord to be crucified. The disciples faithfully walk by Jesus during this parade as He enters Jerusalem on a donkey, but they are nowhere to be found when Jesus stands trial. Faith turns to doubt, strength becomes weakness, and those who were once dependable are now unreliable. When we are not solid in our convictions and beliefs, it becomes very easy to be swayed in another direction. Plants and trees easily move and even break in the wind when there isn’t a solid root base to keep them grounded and provide strength.

Just as we are reminded how quickly the crowds and even the disciples (especially Peter) turned against our Lord, we too, can easily be swayed without a strong, solid foundation of faith. Without our faith in God, we are lost and helpless individuals.

At His crucifixion, according to Luke’s Gospel, Jesus was left alone, as He hung on the cross. The Roman centurion was near and had something to say. The crowd that cried out for His crucifixion was also near and had something to say. But all of Jesus’ acquaintances stood some distance away, quietly watching. Today we will hear the entire account of our Lord’s Passion as told by the Apostle Luke. The story really speaks for itself. So there will be no message afterwards. We are simply going to watch from a distance and listen.

This story of our Lord’s crucifixion:

is sad because Jesus died.

is graphic because of how He died.

is remorseful because of the sins that we have committed.

is humbling because His death was for you.

is grace because even though you certainly don’t deserve this kind of gift, God still willingly gave up His Son…for you!

This story of our Lord’s crucifixion is a very real, physical sign of God’s love for you. Sit back, listen, and hear the story told of just how great God’s love is for you. You can try to be like Peter and deny Him or even avoid Him. You can try to be like the two-faced crowd who praises Him one moment and cries out for His death the next. But no matter how hard you try, Jesus still went to the cross and died for your sins. Jesus hanging on the cross is not seen as a failure, but rather a victory. The cross, what was a sign of torture and death, has become a symbol of love. Listen, as the story of our Lord’s Passion is told, showing just how much God truly loves you. Amen.

**For those reading online, you are encouraged to read St. Luke’s account of our Lord’s Passion. A link to the reading can be found at the top of the page.

April 3, 2022 by achristoffels

A Smell Worse than Manure…

Readings for the day (5^th Sunday in Lent – Sunday, April 3, 2022):

Dear friends in Christ, grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Sometimes people have an intuition, or a sixth sense, about something. I remember visiting someone who was receiving hospice care. It was cold and snowy. I had my home communion kit ready as I entered her home. I thought I was ready and prepared for this visit. What I wasn’t prepared for though, is what happened next. When I entered the home, her children informed her of my arrival. And then she instantly began listing off everything that she wanted for her funeral – from the hymns to sing and scripture readings to be read. She was even particular about which brand of pickles were to be served at her funeral lunch. The problem though, was that I wasn’t prepared to take notes. I didn’t even have a chance to take my coat off. But she had an intuition. She just knew that she was soon going to meet Jesus. And she, in fact did, a couple days later.

A few weeks ago, we talked about the sweet, sweet smell of manure. Well, this week’s Gospel reading has another smell in it, and it is even worse than manure. The text calls it perfume, but it really is, the smell of death.

With Holy Week only a week away, our text for today has Jesus just outside of Jerusalem. The Passover is near, and it was customary for everyone to gather in Jerusalem for this holy day. Before entering this great city, however, Jesus returns to Bethany, to visit His friends – Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Lazarus, being the one whom He raised just days earlier. These three siblings live in Bethany, a town just outside of the city walls of Jerusalem. Raising Lazarus from the dead really upset the religious leaders and they feared what may happen if Jesus continues to raise people from the dead. So, after raising Lazarus, Jesus leaves town for His own safety and well-being. And yet, days later, He returns to Bethany. To stop and visit with His friends prior to the Holy week events that will soon unfold.

As they near Jerusalem, the disciples still don’t get it. Even though Jesus has given them countless explanations of His mission. They still don’t get it. But Mary and Martha, both get it. Martha got it when Jesus came to raise her brother, Lazarus, after he became ill and died. On that visit, Jesus arrives four days after Lazarus had died. And the tomb reeks of death. And yet, when Jesus arrives, it is Martha who says to Jesus, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”[1] Martha knew Jesus’ purpose.

And then when Jesus returns and shares a meal with His friends. Mary gets it. She’s so confident in her belief of who Jesus is, that she anoints God’s anointed One – by pouring burial oil on His feet, and wipes them with her hair. She fills the house with the smell of this perfume, but for all who are present, this really is the smell of death. Mary knew Jesus’ purpose.

And I think it is because Mary had an intuition of what was to come. She knew something was up. It’s like this cat that wondered the halls of the third-floor nursing home that I was at one summer – serving as chaplain to the residents. This cat would just wander in and out of rooms, always looking for someone to pet it. But when someone on the floor was nearing the end of their earthly life, this cat would not leave their room. It would stay there for hours on end; knowing that something was about to happen.

And Mary too, knew that something was about to happen to Jesus. You know, when Jesus would pay a visit to His friends. Those visits were unexpected. They didn’t have phones or email or texting to inform a vistor that He would be stopping by and what time to expect Him. So, this isn’t like Jesus had one of His disciples call ahead and upon receiving said call, Mary goes out to the store and purchases this costly perfume. No, she already had it in the house. She purchased it earlier, for anointing Lazarus’ body for burial.

Mary gets it. She knows that something is about to happen. And therefore, she is generous. This was a costly perfume that Mary and Martha had intended to use to anoint their brother for burial. And now, since Lazarus is alive again because of Jesus, Mary in turn uses the perfume, intended for her brother, to anoint Jesus. Out of gratitude, Mary is generous.

Now Judas estimates that the perfume could have been sold for three hundred denarii. And one denarii was worth about “a day’s wage.” So, this perfume was worth about three hundred days of work. Almost a whole year’s worth of work. So, here’s Judas, greedy and selfish. He’d rather sell the perfume and keep the money for himself. I know he says that he wants to sell it in order to give the money to the poor. But, as we learn later in the story, Judas sells his Lord for thirty pieces of silver. The poor is not Judas’ motive. Money is what motivates Judas.

Now this perfume alerts everyone in the room about death. But through Martha’s confession and Mary’s generous act, we need not fear death. Instead of being afraid or seeking to change Jesus’ mind about his crucifixion – like how Peter tries to do, these women embrace what lies ahead and Mary anoints Jesus for His upcoming burial.

Which makes me wonder, why are we generous? What’s the point of being generous? Paul says, “I press on to make [the resurrection of the dead] my own because Christ Jesus has made me His own.”[2] We are generous not because we’re going to get something out of it. We’re not generous and do nice things for a reward. Why does Mary use costly perfume to anoint Jesus? Because not only did she sense what was to come, but out of extreme gratitude for the second chance that Jesus gave to her brother, Lazarus.

Today’s text smells of death, and death is all around us. We can’t get away from it. But we press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God. We press on for that forgiveness. We press on for the promised Resurrection to come. We press on for that eternal love of God. So, even if we smell or sense death, we need not fear it. For God has been generous to you. And Jesus has striven to make you His own. Today. Tomorrow. And always. Amen.

[1] John 11:27, NRSV

[2] Philippians 3:12, NRSV

The Rest for The Weary

Sermons & Thoughts from Pastor Anthony Christoffels

Month: April 2022

Into the Unknown

How, not What

Overcome Betrayal With…

An Unusual Symbol of Love

A Smell Worse than Manure…

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