First Lesson: 2 Samuel 23: 1-7
Responsive Reading: Psalm 132: 1-12, (13-18)
Second Lesson: Revelation 1: 4-8
​Gospel Lesson: John 18: 33-37

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
When I was growing up my friends and me for our major social outings would go to the movies.  Most of the time, we would go to Forest Lake which had a theater about fifteen miles away from home.  When trying to find movies that we wanted to see, we would often find the silliest comedy that our parents would let us see.  Well, shortly after I started high school, I was going to the movies with my friends.  The movie was I believe Billy Madison which told the story of a spoiled thirty-year-old rich kid, who had to redo Kindergarten to High School in two weeks to inherit his father’s business empire. 

Well on that day, walking into the theater, sitting in the row right behind us, with his wife and daughter was the Governor of Minnesota Arne Carlson.  He had a residence in Forest Lake.  Here’s what was so interesting about this.  No one flocked to him, once the lights went out he was no different than any other theatergoer.  The most powerful man in Minnesota had become a mere mortal before my very eyes.

Today’s Gospel lesson tells a similar story.  Pontius Pilate was the Roman Governor of Judea. Pilate served under the most powerful ruler in the world.   Pilate had been given the authority to be the most powerful official in the part of the world where Jesus would soon breath his last breaths.  Our lesson tells the following tale[1].
Now Jesus was being brought to Pontius Pilate’s presence with an accusation of claiming to be “King of the Jews.” As soon as Pontius Pilate saw Jesus appear before him, he probably grew annoyed at Jesus’ presence.  Pilate’s first image of Jesus is hands behind his back, a busted lip[2], and a puffed-up check from where he had just been whacked by an official of the high priest[3]. 

Jesus looked like a guy who had just badly lost a fight, not any serious threat to Pontius Pilate.  All this explains why Pontius Pilate was probably so confused by this whole ordeal as Jesus was not surrounded by soldiers, he looked like he lived in poverty, and his followers seemed to be about as serious a threat to the Roman Empire as a junior high football team would be to the New England Patriots[4]. 

Pontius Pilate would have been extremely busy during Passover week when our lesson takes place; he was probably confused why anyone would care enough to want to put such a seemingly looking pathetic figure to death with his blessing. 

When the religious authorities accused Jesus of claiming to be a “King.” Pontius Pilate knew the most powerful man in the world; he thought he understood how a King should look.   How a King should behave.  He knew that Jesus wasn’t it. 

In the year 1643, King Louis XIV was coronated upon the French throne[5].  King Louis was four years old at the time, being placed in charge of one of the world’s most powerful nations.  King Louis was the epitome of selfish within his rule.  King Louis XIV was nicknamed the “sun-king” for thinking the whole world revolved around him[6]. 

Among the excesses of King Louis’s rule were that he would invite French aristocrats to visit his palace, where they would be asked to engage in competitions to determine who would get the honor to watch King Louis wake up, eat, and prepare for bed.[7] 

King Louis’ greatest claim to fame was desiring to get away from the commoners in Paris.  King Louis ordered the construction of an elaborate palace at Versailles.  The palace was so elaborate that it would have cost upwards of two billion dollars to construct in modern currency[8]. The palace would employ 200 servants to meet King Louis’ needs.  The inside of the palace contained 700 rooms, 60 staircases, 5000 pieces of furniture and 1200 fireplaces[9].  The walls were decorated with 6000 paintings.  Versailles had 30,000 acres of garden with over 400 sculptures, plus 1,400 fountains[10]. 

Perhaps Versailles most dramatic feature is an 8,000 square foot hall of mirrors surrounded by works of art highlighting the achievements of King Louis XIV’s life. Louis’ goal was to make this room the center of Palace social life.  

King Louis’ XIV’ last act as King was to engage in a thirteen-year war with Spain, so that his grandson may become Spain’s king.  Between Versailles and this war, France racked up severe debt[11].  Public opinion turned against the Crown.  King Louis helped chart a course where within a century, the excess of the French monarchy would create one of world history’s most violent revolutions marked by the use of the guillotine against France’s royalty.    

King Louis XIV represents the great excesses of history.  A reminder that however powerful a Kingdom may appear at any given moment it is merely temporary.   

The following great contrast over what it truly means to be “The King” is on display in the visit between Pontius Pilate and Jesus.

Pilate uses his power for his ends as Governor[12].  Pilate thinks nothing of destroying people who might possess the tiniest of threats to his reign like this beaten, bloodied man.  Jesus uses his power for the sake of others; he even washes their feet. Jesus is willing to give his life even for the sake of others.
Pontius Pilate’s reign will give people terror in the midst of calm days.  Jesus’ reign will give people calm in the midst of their terrors[13].

Pilate’s soldiers use violence to conquer others.  Jesus encourages his followers to put away their sword and to look on the horizon to the day when Christ unites all people: rich, poor, strong, weak, Jew, Gentile as inheritors of his gift of salvation[14]. 

Pontius Pilate’s authority is granted by Caeser Tiberius and is subject to the whims of a mortal man. Jesus’ power comes from the one who grants eternal authority[15].  

So Jesus is indeed a King, his kingdom is the only one that Pontius Pilate cannot ultimately put to death. 
 
Jesus and Pontius Pilate these men would suffer two very different fates upon the end of their lives. According to tradition, upon a new emperor in Caligula coming to Rome, Pontius Pilate was removed as Governor, and he would take his own life a short time later[16]. 

How did Jesus’ story end? A small group of his followers started as a group called the “Way”; they came to be called Christians for believing that Jesus had triumphed over the previously insurmountable object of his own grave[17].  This group started after being rejected by their own people and saw their leader put to death in mocking tones by Pontius Pilate and others as “King of the Jews.” Within a few hundred years, the Christians would overwhelm the very empire that Pontius Pilate serves. Today, Christians proclaim the living faith of our Gospel in every corner of the globe, whereas Pontius Pilate’s Roman Empire is merely pages within our history books. 

Our lesson reminds us of the true nature of Christ’s Kingdom.  The type of King that Jesus was going to be was one that could reverse any situation of power and prestige like this for all eternity. Jesus as King was not about securing his power.  Jesus’ kingdom was about the depths to which he would go for every single inhabit of his Kingdom that believed in its power. 

How will Jesus’ kingdom ultimately look?  Let me close with one final story.

King Christian X of Denmark assumed the Danish throne in 1912[18].  What type of King that he would be would not be revealed for nearly thirty years with the Advent of the Second World War.  In 1940, Adolf Hitler’s Germany would quickly overwhelm Danish forces.  Denmark is a flat, open country leaving little geographic advantage for the sake of defense.  The Germans would occupy Denmark for the next five years[19]. 

King Christian X though unlike other European rulers, did not go into hiding.  King Christian even made it a point to ride his horse daily without any guard,  as a visible sign of resistance to the Nazi occupation[20]. 

Eventually, the order came that all Jews within Denmark were to identify themselves by wearing yellow armbands marked by the Star of David[21].  King Christian was a Lutheran.  King Christian also believed that if one Danish person would be forced to wear such a marker then all Danes would.  King Christian would be the first to put the armband on his arms.  He let be known that he expected all Danes to do the same.  So within Copenhagen, nearly every Dane which is a majority Lutheran nation wore the yellow armbands showing the Star of David[22].  Ninety percent of Denmark’s Jews survived the Second World War thanks to King Christian’s actions including arranging transport to neutral Sweden[23].

 The Jews of Denmark came to see what type of King they had in the presence of the most powerful man in the world.  They had a King who would even stare down death to ultimately save his people.

The whole point of the showdown between Jesus and Pontius Pilate is to show what type of King that Christ would be.   A King who just like Governor Carlson when the movie theater lights went out didn’t stand out from his subjects in any way.  Only when the lights came on back Easter Sunday, Our King would indeed stand out from all subjects who came before him bringing forth the power of Resurrection.  Jesus was the type of king who like King Christian cared for his subjects so much; he soon would journey to his death before bringing forgiveness and salvation to all the nations of the Earth.  The following is the story of Christ the King.  Amen
 


[1] John 18:33-37. 
[2] John 18:22.
[3] Hoezee, Scott. “John 18:33-37.” Center for Excellence in Preaching. Calvin Seminary. Grand Rapids, MI. 16.Nov.2015. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[4] Hoezee, Scott. “John 18:33-37.” Center for Excellence in Preaching.
[5] History Channel. “King Louis XIV.” Web.Nov.3.2018.
[6] Zingale, Tim. “The Real King.” Sermon Central. 18.Nov.2003. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[7] History Channel. “King Louis XIV.”
[8] James. “Palace of Versailles.” Primary Facts. 2.July.2018. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[9] James. “Palace of Versailles.” Primary Facts.
[10] James. “Palace of Versailles.” Primary Facts.
[11] History Channel. “King Louis XIV.”
[12] Clark-Soles, Jaime. “Commentary on John 18:33-37.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. Saint Paul.  25.Nov.2012. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[13] Clark-Soles, Jaime. “Commentary on John 18:33-37.” Working Preacher.
[14] Clark-Soles, Jaime. “Commentary on John 18:33-37.” Working Preacher.
[15] Clark-Soles, Jaime. “Commentary on John 18:33-37.” Working Preacher.
[16] “Pontius Pilate.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 19. Oct.2018. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[17] Stanley, Andy. Irrestible:Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World.  Zondervan. 2018. Pg.19. 
[18] “Christian X of Denmark.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 3.Nov.2018. Web. Nov.3.2018.
[19] Christian X of Denmark.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[20] Christian X of Denmark.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation
[21] Anders, Mickey. “Royalty Stoops.” Sermon Writer. 2001. Web. Nov.3.2018. 
[22] Anders, Mickey. “Royalty Stoops.” Sermon Writer
[23] Christian X of Denmark.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation

First Lesson: 1 Samuel 1: 4-20
Responsive Reading: 1 Samuel 2: 1-10
Second Lesson: Hebrews 10: 11-14, (15-18), 19-25
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 13: 1-8

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“I Thessalonians 5:16-18  —  Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

The Year was 1973. The place was Florida[1].  An old man, slightly bent over, struggling with every step, seemingly not long for this world, walks along an old, nearly abandoned pier alongside the Atlantic carrying a large bucket of shrimp.  The man was named Eddie Rickenbacker.

Rickenbacker was a remarkable American; he was America’s greatest fighter pilot during World War I with twenty-six aerial victories and was awarded the Medal of Honor in recognition[2].  Rickenbacker used his fame between the wars to eventually purchase the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with his greatest personal success coming as one of the pioneers in American aviation as the owner of Eastern Airlines. 

Despite Rickenbacker’s great personal success, he joined the World War II in an advisory capacity under Secretary of War Henry Stimson.   In 1942, Rickenbacker was tasked with the mission of personally delivering a message from President Roosevelt to General Douglas MacArthur in New Guinea aboard a B-17 Bomber[3].  While flying over the South Pacific, the plane veered off-course, due to a technical mishap.  Nearly running out of gas, the crew was forced to land in the middle of the Pacific.  Rickenbacker and nine other men were forced into life rafts[4].  Their food supply ran out in three days with no hope of rescue.  Five days later the situation was growing increasingly desperate when the Bomber’s captain led an impromptu church service of prayer and thanksgiving[5].  A short time after, Captain Rickenbacker felt something land on his head, what landed on his head was a ‘sea-gull”.  The men for the first time in nearly a week had hope.  The gull managed to fly hundreds of miles from land somehow to serve as not only a meal but also bait for further meals.  Rickenbacker and his men lived twenty-three days on this raft before their eventual rescue thanks to this one-sea gull. 

Eddie Rickenbacker never forgot what happened to him.  So every Friday evening until his death, one of Florida’s wealthiest men traveled to an isolated pier to give a feast to birds out of his own Thanksgiving for what had been given in days past[6].  Eddie Rickenbacker had experienced God providing manna from heaven while wandering in the greatest wilderness of his life and for this blessing, he would be forever thankful. 

I want to tell you Today a similar story of sorts that comes from our scriptures[7].  It’s about a woman who lived years of her life in a different type of wilderness only to find eventual Thanksgiving.
Hannah is married to a man named Elkanah.  Elkanah (el-kan-a) was a good man.  He came from a prominent family and was a man of many means.  Elkanah loved Hannah very much.  Hannah had been unable to bear any children for Elkanah.  Elkanah didn’t care though as he had many children from another wife[8]. 

Hannah though was forced to confront a cultural reality that something seemingly had to be wrong with her because God had shut her womb.

Now Hannah’s issues were going to be magnified during the upcoming days, as her family was going to be journeying to Shiloh to perform their annual religious sacrifice where they gave thanks for all of God’s blessings during the prior year.  Like Thanksgiving this week, this was the equivalent of a major Holiday in Pre-Temple Israel.  While others would be celebrating, Hannah would see the presence of many children and be reminded of what exactly she didn’t have.  While this was supposed to be a time of great joy, Hannah was forced to confront her greatest pain. 

 Hannah saw her future as frightening because, in her society, it was the sons that took care of their mothers upon the deaths of their husbands as they were unable to inherit property[9].  Hannah lived in a world that would mock and scorn a woman who was unable to have children[10].  All these things would be made especially clear to Hannah in the upcoming holiday week.  Elkanah could have been the most fabulous husband in the world, but Hannah could not escape the realities of her barrenness[11].

So what does Hannah do in the midst of the Holiday celebration? She storms off in sadness.  Hannah was hurting and goes to the only place that she can think of was her people’s sanctuary[12]. The text describes Hannah as “deeply distressed” and “weeping bitterly” upon entering the sanctuary[13].  Now leaving a Holiday celebration to go pray was going to be noticed.   The priest Eli did notice Hannah; only he thought her to be “drunk[14].” He tells her “Put away your wine[15].”

Hannah then begins to explain her situation to Eli.  Hannah describes her great “anxiety” and “pain” over being unable to bear children[16].  

Hannah in the midst of all this was able to see something about the nature of God’s thanksgiving.  Despite her great pain, Hannah’s life was filled with many good things.  It would be God’s will whether she eventually conceived a child, but God had not indeed forgotten about her[17].  Hannah’s life had indeed been blessed with a devout husband, much Earthly blessing, and a God who was the source of her salvation.

Eli in the midst of Hannah’s grief gives her a blessing.  Hannah travels home the next morning with Elkanah[18].  Hannah soon indeed becomes pregnant. She names her child Samuel meaning “She (I) asked the Lord for him[19].” Samuel would grow into Eli the Priest’s assistant.  Samuel would eventually rally the whole nation of Israel against the mighty Philistines. Samuel would eventually anoint Israel’s first king in Saul and greatest king in David.  It was through David’s house that God would point the way to an even greater promise of a blessing than the one given by Eli to Hannah. Eventually, a King would come to the land of Israel would who establish a throne upon the Earth forever[20].  This king would be a descendant of David’s who they would call Jesus and his kingdom would be greater than all the other Kingdoms of the world put together.  The whole story is a remarkable tale of Hannah’s Thanksgiving in the most trying of times helping to bring about the salvation of her people. 

 Hannah is noteworthy because she saw God working within her life when the whole world was seemingly telling her something else.  Hannah’s story reminds us of something this week as we celebrate our own Thanksgiving holiday. How it is often through the unlikely and unexpected that we receive our greatest blessings. 

Squanto was born into the Patuxet (Pa- Tox-Et) tribe in 1585 in modern day New-England[21].  In 1608, Squanto was captured by English traders and sold into Spanish slavery.  Squanto gets purchased by a Spanish monk. The monk proceeds to teach Squanto the Christian faith.  Squanto eventually makes his way to England where he ends up in the care of a man named John Slaney who teaches him the English language.  Squanto expressed his desire to return home[22].  Squanto eventually gets onboard a ship bound for America, only to discover upon his return that an illness had wiped out nearly his entire village.  Squanto much like Hannah probably couldn’t make sense of God’s plan or purposes at this point in his life[23].

One year later, though the land formally occupied by Squanto’s tribe gets settled by a group of English settlers aboard the Mayflower naming the area Plymouth Rock.  The first winter for settlers in the New World was tough losing over half their traveling party to disease and death[24].  The colony probably though would not survived if not for Squanto greeting the pilgrims in their native English.  Squanto then proceeded to teach the Englishmen how to plant corn in the soil[25].  The following fall, during the Harvest in thanks for God’s abundance, the settlers and ninety native friends gathered for a three-day feast of birds to give thanks for God’s abundance.   This holiday would come to be known as Thanksgiving[26]. 

Squanto would contract disease and die a short time later.  Plymouth Governor William Bradford would describe Squanto as a “special instrument sent of God for [our] good.” Squanto upon his death would give all his possessions to the Pilgrims as a “remembrances of his love[27].”

Squanto’s story and the First Thanksgiving is one of the true nature of God’s blessing.  Squanto like Joseph[28] was an instrument that God used for the greatest of good[29] even as his circumstances like Hannah’s seemed to be nothing but the harshest of curses. 

As we celebrate Thanksgiving later this week, it’s really easy to see all the things that God hasn’t given us. Hannah could undoubtedly see all these things as she struggled with being childless.  Hannah could also see God’s tremendous blessing in relationship, possession, and most of all her salvation.  As we celebrate Thanksgiving later this week, consider like the settlers at Plymouth Rock or Eddie Rickenbacker all the blessings both unusual and usual that God has given brought into our lives.  See the blessings that God gives us on this day: bread, wine, and the forgiveness of our sins.  See God’s continual promises of our eventual redemption given in the midst of our greatest despairs.  So if you eat turkey later this week, don’t forget about seagulls also. Amen


[1] Aurandt, Paul. “"The Old Man and the Gulls" quoted in Heaven Bound Living, Knofel Stanton, Standard, 1989, p. 79-80. The analogy was originally given by Paul Harvey in 1977. The following illustration was found in Sermon Illustrations.com under Thanksgiving. 
[2] “Eddie Rickenbacker.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 23.Oct.2018. Web. Nov.1.2018. 
[3] Eddie Rickenbacker.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[4] Eddie Rickenbacker.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[5] Aurandt, Paul. “"The Old Man and the Gulls" quoted in Heaven Bound Living, Knofel Stanton, Standard, 1989, p. 79-80.
[6] Aurandt, Paul. “"The Old Man and the Gulls" quoted in Heaven Bound Living, Knofel Stanton, Standard, 1989, p. 79-80.
[7] 1 Samuel 1: 4:20, 1 Samuel 2:1-10. 
[8] 1 Samuel 1:5
[9] Suomala, Karla. “Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:4-20.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 18.Nov.2012. Web. Nov.1.2018. 
[10] 1 Samuel 1:6
[11] 1 Samuel 1:8
[12] Butler, Amy. “Filled with Good Things.” Sermon Writer. 2006. Web. Nov.1.2018. 
[13] 1 Samuel 1:10
[14] 1 Samuel 1:13
[15] 1 Samuel 1:14
[16] 1Samuel 1:16
[17] 1 Samuel 1:18-19
[18] 1 Samuel 1:19
[19] 1 Samuel 1:20
[20] Schifferdecker, Kathryn. M. Commentary on 1 Samuel 1:4-20.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 18.Nov.2018. Web. Nov.1.2018. 
[21] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations. 21.Nov.2016. Web. Nov.1.2018. Taken from Charles Colson at breakpoint.org
[22] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations.
[23] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations.
[24] Stier, Leon. “Pilgrim Thanksgiving.” Email Mediatations. 28.Nov.2013. Web. Nov.1.2018. 
[25] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations.
[26] Stier, Leon. “Pilgrim Thanksgiving.” Email Mediatations
[27] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations.
[28] Genesis 50:20. 
[29] Stier, Leon. “Squanto and the Pilgrims.” Email Mediatations.

First Lesson: Ruth 3: 1-5; 4: 13-17
Responsive Reading: Psalm 127
Second Lesson: Hebrews 9: 24-28
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 12: 38-44

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“I look forward to Tax Day every year because it shows that I have something to give.” –Sychar member Bob Eckstrom

Let me begin by telling a story about Grandma.  I was in high school; I had let Grandma know that I thought I might be called to go into the ministry. Grandma wanted to give me encouragement in this venture, so on a Thursday night during the school year, Grandma calls me up.  Grandma told me that she needed to drop off her “tithe.”

Grandma was never a real regular Church attender when I was growing up, as she tended to enjoy making phone calls to California during middle of the night, so getting to a 9 or 10:30 service at Trinity Lutheran could be a challenge.  While most people would wait until Sunday morning to try to handle their offering for Grandma patience has never really been a strength. So Grandma told me that she was picking me up at 8:30 and we were driving out to the preacher’s house to give him her offering.  My parents must not have been around to veto such an idea.  So Grandma and I driveway past the church to the other end of town, Grandma rings the doorbell (I would be surprised if she thought of calling), the preacher and his wife come to the door wearing pajamas.   Grandma proceeds to try starting a casual conversation; Pastor Tom lets her know he needs to go to “bed,” Grandma hands her “tithe” to him and drives me home with her lesson on the nature of ministry. 

Now Today’s Gospel lesson tells the tale of a woman who like my Grandma had her own noteworthy approach to giving[1].

The scene for Today’s lesson is Holy Week. Passover week would cause Religious pilgrims from all over to travel to Jerusalem where they would give their yearly offering.  Jesus and his Disciples are sitting within the Temple as it’s packed with people watching the whole scene unfold.  You had rich and poor alike gathering to deliver their offering at the same time. 

A couple of years ago, I went to an event on non-profit fundraising for North Shore Area Partners down in Duluth. I got paired up with a partner; my partner was the head of a large foundation down in Duluth.  We were comparing fundraising within our organizations; I described how we make due with a lot of small gifts $5, $10, $20, 50, 100, gifts larger than this would be noteworthy.  The woman describes to me how for her job, she would occasionally host small informal coffee parties of maybe 6-8 people for fundraising.  When I asked how much money these brought in? She proceeded to tell me $75,000 for a typical gathering.  My jaw was on the floor.  She had all sorts of connections within Duluth’s medical industry that could give like that without a second thought.  There were plenty of people like this within Jesus’ day.  The type of people when they walked into the Temple, everyone knew that large amounts of money we're going to be placed in the offering boxes.   Among the rich, they would try to out dress and out display each other.  Giving one’s offering for many was the social event of the year at the Temple. 

Now standing in one of the lines on this day was a lady that probably didn’t stand out in any way[2].  She certainly wouldn’t have stood out in such a busy and noisy crowd.  She is described as a widow.  Just like the wealthy temple goers, she approaches the offering boxes where she dropped in two small copper coins called “mites[3],” almost like dropping pennies into piles of gold and silver.  Jesus though noticed this woman right away.  Jesus might have been the only one in the room to notice this woman.

Jesus proceeds to point out: “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on[4].”

Jesus noticed that this woman was making her next meal more difficult, yet she believed that she was giving to a cause with even more significant meaning. 

It was this woman that Jesus wanted to point out to his Disciples as a real model of generosity.  

Jesus wanted to remind the Disciples that there was much more going on in this story than all they could see on this day.

Later in Mark’s Gospel, a woman with a bad reputation approaches Jesus, she washed his feet with her tears and cheap perfume[5].  Everyone around objected that Jesus didn’t shoe her from his presence.  What they were saying is “Don’t you know of her sin?”  whereas when Jesus looked at this woman he didn’t see her sin, he saw in her forgiveness and new life[6]. 

It was people like this questionable woman and widow who truly understood the impact of believing that the love of God was without boundaries[7]. 

Once upon a time, there was an IRS Agent[8].  The guy was checking out tax returns when one gentleman’s caught his eye.  The guy claimed an income of under $10,000, yet he claimed to be giving over $1200 to his church.  The agent decided that he was going to investigate.  The agent shows up unannounced at the gentleman’s home the next day.  He was struck by how the gentleman like nearly every person who he encountered wasn’t nervous to be questioned by an IRS agent. 

The agent asked for a giving receipt from the church.  The gentleman calmly goes upstairs to retrieve it.   The agent reviews the receipts for ten seconds realizes this guy is on the level.  The agent apologizes for the bother[9]. 

As the agent is leaving, the gentleman proceeds to invite him to his church.  The agent is struck by the request, “Thanks, but I belong to a church myself[10].”

The gentleman is embarrassed as he declares “Excuse me, that possibility never occurred to me[11].”

The agent couldn’t shake the gentleman’s words, why didn’t he think that he attended a church.  The agent was well-off as we think of it, he went to church nearly every Sunday, yet he would never dream of giving like this gentleman that had so little.

The gentleman just like the widow had unbelievable trust that whatever his circumstances that the Lord would ultimately provide.  One man saw as an act of financial recklessness, the other man saw as an act of faith.  The difference towards life was noticeable. 

The whole point of our lesson seems to be how exactly, we think about being rich and poor is generally wrong.  Let me close with one final story:

Once upon a time, there was a father that wished to give his son a “life lesson” on wealth[12].   The father had done quite well for himself, and the boy was never in need of anything growing up.  The father wished to teach the boy what it was like to be poor, so they traveled to a farm in a foreign country where they spent a few days.  They spent the night at the farm of what they considered to be a low-income family.

So father and son return from the trip, when Dad asks if he enjoyed the trip.  Son replies “It was great[13].”
            Father asked: “Did you see how poor people can be?”
            Son answers: “Oh yeah.”
            Father asks: “What did you learn?” Hoping his life lesson to be effective.
The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four.  We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end.  We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night.  Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon[14].”

“We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight.  We have servants who serve us, but they serve others[15].”

“We buy our food, but they grow theirs.  We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.” “It showed me just how poor we are[16].”

The Father’s jaw had dropped to the ground at such an answer.  The little boy was just like Jesus within the Temple; he understood something about the real difference between poverty and abundance regardless of what every other onlooker might see. 

My Grandma was a widow as a relatively young woman.  She was never one to stay in a job for very long.  She never had much to give when living on her own! She would never be the first target of any church’s stewardship campaign.  When Grandma did give, she was undoubtedly way more dramatic than the widow within our lesson.  Grandma though taught me something value about the nature of generosity.
The greatest givers are not always though with the most to give.  She gave not out of fear, force, or to get praise from others; she gave because she believed that God had not abandoned her through all quirks. Amen

 
             
[1] Mark 12:38-44. 
[2] Markquardt, Ed. “Hannah and 2%, the Widow’s Mite.” Sermons from Seattle. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[3] “Lesson of the widow’s mite.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 16.Feb. 2018. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[4] Mark 12:43-44. 
[5] Mark 14:3-9
[6] Stier, Leon. “Seeing Others as Jesus Sees Them (part one).” Email Mediatations. 2.June.2015. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[7] Stier, Leon. “Seeing Others as Jesus Sees Them (part one).” Email Mediatations.
[8] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central. 3.Nov.2003. Web. Oct.25.2018. 
[9] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central.
[10] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central.
[11] Zingale, Tim. “Sacrifical Lifestyle.” Sermon Central.
[12] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations. 22. Aug.2018. Web. Oct.25.2018.  Taken from a Facebook page by Dan Dan Asmussen. 
[13] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.
[14] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.
[15] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.
[16] Stier, Leon. “What is Rich? What is Poor?” Email Mediatations.

First Lesson: Isaiah 25: 6-9
Responsive Reading: Psalm 24
Second Lesson: Revelation 21: 1-6
​Gospel Lesson: John 11: 32-44

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Later this afternoon, I will go home to watch my beloved Minnesota Vikings play.  The game is guaranteed to have plenty of commercials.  A lot of the commercials will be dealing with Tuesday’s upcoming election.  Many of these commercials will be dealing with the election of a new congressman from our area between Pete Stauber and Joe Radinovich .  The majority of ads will be negative trying to portray serious scandals within both candidates’ respective pasts.  It will be reported that Mr. Stauber used his Saint Louis County email for partisan political purposes.  Mr. Radinovich’s repeated traffic violations and possession of drug paraphernalia upon graduating high school will also come upon our T.V. screens[1].  After these commercials air, voters will be asked to go to the polls on Tuesday to determine which candidates past sins are more disqualifying.  As I hear this debate take place, I wonder if an even bigger debate is taking place regarding human nature itself.

Huey Long was elected Governor of Louisiana in 1928.  Long was remarkable for a southern politician at the time as he avoided using race as a tool to try to win votes[2].  Long was an early proponent of old age pensions such as Social Security.  Long was so charismatic and such a gifted orator that he was the first American politician to become a radio star.  Long was quite popular as Governor for denouncing the wealthy elites and banks holding the commoner down.  Long’s popularity was such in Louisiana that[3] his brother got elected Governor; his wife got elected Senator, his son served in the Senate for forty years.  Multiple cousins got elected to Congress.  After serving as Governor, Huey got elected to the United States Senate.  Mr. Long was thought to be a possible candidate for the Presidency in 1936, as arguably, the second most popular and well-known politician in the country after Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Long’s political career ended prematurely upon being assassinated in 1935.

So how is Huey Long viewed eighty-some plus years after his death?  Depends on to whom you talk?  The Louisiana House of Representatives tried to impeach Long for taking bribes, carrying concealed weapons, and rumors were widespread that he hired thugs to kill political enemies[4].   These charges say nothing about Long’s open womanizing and frequent vulgar behavior.  They report that if Long had gotten elected President that America would have descended into a cult of personality dictatorship.  To many of his constituents, he remains a hero decades after his death for serving as a voice for the voiceless. 

So how should we as Christian people interpret Huey Long, Pete Stauber, and Joe Radinovich as we go into the week ahead?

Today we gather for All Saints Sunday, we remember and honor those that have left Sychar’s Communion of the Saints within the past year.  Now when we hear the word “Saint” a certain image inevitability pops up into our mind[5]: Saint Peter, Saint John (Men who risked their life preaching and spreading the Gospel within the Early Church), Saint Patrick, Saint Olaf (Men who brought the Christian faith to previous unbelieving nations), Saint Mary (The Mother of Jesus).  Saints are thought of as Super-Heroes of the Christian faith.  Even Huey Long’s greatest supporter would admit that he doesn’t fit in with such a crowd as this.

Here’s the thing about the term: Saint as we often think about it fits none of us perfectly, even the greatest superheroes of the Christian faith.  The reality of Sainthood is that a “Saint” regardless of how colorful their past has been being one not without sin, but rather one who has been granted forgiveness.  Sainthood is an individual Christian’s belief that the Cross of Christ changed everything for them.

Today’s Gospel lesson comes to us from the story of Lazarus[6].  Lazarus grew ill.  Jesus wasn’t around.  Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha confront Jesus about this.  Jesus weeps!  Jesus goes to visit Lazarus’ tomb.  Jesus calls “Lazarus, come out.”  Jaws drop as Mary and Martha witness a reunion with their loved one on the other side of his grave.  What made Lazarus worthy of such an honor?  The scriptures give no evidence other than a belief that the Jesus whom he knew would not abandon even at his own grave. 

So as we gather on this day at Sychar, we remember those whose loss we have mourned in the past year, those who tombs that Jesus declares will not be permanently occupied!

On this day, we remember the Saints of Sychar who have left our presence within the past year:

Wayne Johnson[7]: Wayne was instrumental in the founding of this congregation in 1953 when it began meeting at the “Green Door.”  Wayne would help approach Reserve President William Kelley to choose a lot for this church on the corner of Edison and Banks where we meet today.  Wayne’s legacy though goes beyond his role in Sychar’s founding.  Wayne served his country in World War II in China within General Claire Lee Chennault’s famed Flying Tigers-14th Air Force.  Wayne’s love of flying eventually saw the Silver Bay Airport bear his name.  Wayne upon leaving the service then moved into the legal profession.  Wayne would spend the next fifty plus years serving as city attorney within both Silver Bay and Beaver Bay, the longest tenure within this nation’s history.  When Wayne died, the Duluth News Tribune described him as a “North Shore” legend influenced by his role in the famous trial of this town’s history Reserve Mining vs. the United States.  

Gordy Marquardt: I remember my visits with Gordy in the last few years at home, then Chris Jensen in Duluth and finally the Veterans Home in Silver Bay.  We bonded over our shared passions of the Minnesota Twins and to a greater degree the Minnesota Vikings.  I’ll remember Gordy for his gracious and tremendous appreciation of every visit that I made to him.  I’ll remember Gordy in these days for continual joy that he would have at his wife of 33 years, Julie’s presence.  Gordy worked as a welder.  His passion was being outdoors.  Gordy was not a man of many words; Gordy was a hard worker that sought to be decent to others.  I’ve had residents of the Marks Apartments point out to me on more than one occasion how Gordy was the most devoted caretaker the building there ever had. 

Evelyn Buetow: We remember Evelyn for her love of canoeing as she met her late husband Harry at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan near Ely.  They began lifelong canoe trips to BWCAW and Quetico Park.  We will also remember Evelyn’s love of music.  She sang in the Sychar choir and with the Singing Moms.  She worked for a time as Sychar’s organist, taught piano lessons, and played handbells. Evelyn loved attending the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra.  MPR was her constant companion in her final days. 

Ida Koehler: When I was planning Ida’s funeral with her daughters what they remarked and it was something that stood out from my own time with Ida both at her house on Edison and at Carefree Living was her sense of contentedness. Regardless of her circumstances, Ida wouldn’t complain. Ida certainly had her share of tough days being widowed as a young woman.  Ida didn’t complain even, nor did she speak ill of those around her.  Ida will be remembered for being accepting of others and her graciousness. Even when living down at Carefree Living, one could never remove the smile from Ida’s face. The only conflict when she moved into Carefree Living is that the lunch hour dared to interfere with her viewing of the Young and the Restless.

Kathryn Samuel: Kathryn grew up in Harrisburg, PA.  As a young woman she worked in the Pennsylvania state legislature.  Afterwards taking a job at the Harrisburg Airport where she would met Arthur Samuel.  A short time later, Art and Kathryn moved to Silver Bay when Art took a job for Reserve Mining.  They were among the first seventy-five families to settle into this community.  Art’s career would eventually see him become the plant’s manager of Research and Development.  Kathryn at first really struggled with the move according to her daughter Marcia, she cried for nearly two years privately out of her own loneliness. Kathryn though eventually adjusted to life up here.  Art and her were active in this congregation with Art serving on the Building Committee.  Kathryn studied to be an instructor for the Bethel Bible Series.  Kathryn stood out for her sense of fashion; she described it as an “LL Bean” habit.  Kathryn’s memory loss would in the last few years of her life see her move away to Michigan to be closer to her daughter Marcia who did special music when we remembered her this summer. Kathryn’s legacy remains strong in this community as her son David moved back here to become quite active in building up the Mariner Alumni Association.

Al Thorngren: Al’s life could not be separated from the North Shore from where he spent all of it.  Al grew up here as his father Frank worked as a commercial fisherman.  Al would begin his working life doing sounding down at the Harbor.  Al’s career would transition as a Taconite processing plant would be built in the town that came to be known as “Silver Bay.” Al participated in the plant’s construction.  Al would spend his working career like so many others of his town’s fellow residents working shifts for Reserve Mining until his retirement.   Upon Reserve closing, as a way of trying to keep the town’s economy afloat a Veterans Home was built in Silver Bay.  Al would become not only a frequent visitor for his wife Margaret and best friend Warren but also a resident.  Al above all loved the North Shore for not only its water but its woods, where Al managed to get “stuck” but would never get “lost.” 

Bob Hanson: Bob was a man of deep faith. Bob sang in our church choir.  Bob served on the building committee of this church for the sanctuary that we currently sit in. Bob served as a Luther League advisor where he did the seemingly thankless task of traveling with groups of teens across the country. Bob served as this congregation’s president nearly fifty years ago. Bob in his advancing age hoped that he would be able to move back to Silver Bay and become a resident down at the Veterans Home.  Bob looked forward to reuniting with friends from this community, yet our Gospel lesson declares even greater reunions await for those who believe. 

Gwen Ronhovde: Gwen was adored by those closest to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, foster children, her neighbors (Ward the Barber and Vicki Danielson), and her friends especially those within the Knit and Sit group.  They will forever remember Gwen for living to serve as a caregiver to others.  Within the Lutheran tradition, we do not believe that there are any higher callings to serve than one’s family. 

Gary Olson:  Gary was a great lover of the Guitar and music in general. As we remember Gary on this day, I read what was wrote about him by his mother Esther: “Gary was a wonderful son! It was always so good when he came home to see me!” Esther loved cooking for Gary because it brought him joy! They would call each other daily both always worried about each other.  Gary worried about a 99-year-old mother living alone and Esther worrying about Gary through his various ailments.  Esther’s life will never be the same after Gary’s passing. In Gary’s passing, I saw first-hand what a wonderful calling that friendship is within this world.  From Gavin Leblanc’s constant checking in on Esther to Lorraine Nelson and Betty Josephson’s friendship.  The following serves as a reminder to be grateful for the unexpected Saints that make up our community. 

Shirley Moschet: We remember Shirley as a “matriarch” within our congregation. Shirley was active within SLCW for many years.   We’ll forever remember her gift of music on display within the Sychar choir.  Shirley lived for her family.  When her cancer began advancing, I remember her declaring her wish to be able to attend her Granddaughter Jamie’s wedding.  She was able to make it.  Then when her husband of sixty-seven years, Frank began approaching his 100th Birthday, Shirley perversed and made it.  Shirley was even able to see her beloved Minnesota Twins advance to the playoffs one final time before she died.  Her faith played a huge part of her existence.  She would occasionally get on me for when my Scroll articles would get off task of proclaiming it.  Shirley believed the great truth that we celebrate Today that we have hope even in the presence of death, because we have a Savior who conquered sin and the grave, so one day we may inherit not only Sainthood but the gift of Eternal Life. 

What does this all mean for our week ahead?

Tuesday you will be invited to go “vote” for a host of candidates.  None of the candidates will be without sin in their life; none of them will permanently remove sin from our nation. Thankfully, we have a savior whose promises are more certain that any politician we may know.  This savior promises that the tears our eyes have shed in the last year will soon be permanently removed from our eyes forever just like at the grave of Lazarus.  All this doesn’t mean that ordinary men and women can’t serve as Saints in the world around them as mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, grandpas, grandmas, neighbors, friends, and even politicians.   Remember the Cross assures that the world will soon be filled with all sorts of unlikely Saints.  Amen  


[1] Koff, Stephen. “Fact check: Joe Radinovich, running from the law?” Duluth News Tribune. 18.Sept.2018. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[2] “Huey Long.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 21.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[3] “Long Family”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 13.Oct.2018. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[4] Latson, Jennifer. “The Strange Career of Assassinated Louisiana Politician Huey Long.” Time Magazine. 8. Sept.2015. Web. Oct.22.2018.
[5] Stier, Leon. “Believing in the Communion of Saints (a)” Email Meditations. 20.Sept.2015. Web. Oct.22.2018. 
[6] John 11:32-44. 
[7] The following comes from Wayne’s self-written obituary and the Sychar Remembers 60th Anniversary book edited by Joan Claire Graham in 2013.