Monthly Archives: February 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:35 am on February 17, 2015  

The Weak and the Poor – Rev. David J. Schreffler

February 17, 2015

“Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarius and given to the poor?” Jesus said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” John 12:3, 8

“I would not hesitate to give the name of “the fifth gospel” to the musical interpretation of the story of redemption, which reaches its highest point in Johann Sebastian Bach. Very deeply do the Passion According to St. Matthew and the Mass in B Minor enter into the mystery of suffering and redemption. These are not the musings of an amateur musician. They are set forth here in order to assert that Bach, and other musicians in their degree before and after him, are thinkers and in the true sense theologians; that is to say, they have knowledge of G*d and his redemptive work, and express it in music. The marvel of this music is power made perfect in weakness. The last and highest tones are those of the eternal triumph.”

“Pastoral Letter on J. S. Bach’s Music” in The Death and Resurrection of Christ by Nathan Soderblom.

The “weak” and the “poor” – two words that have nothing to do with success – at least according to our 21st century understanding. But these are two words used in the readings above to talk about the work of Jesus – in ways we might not expect. Jesus says we will always have the poor with us, an interesting statement since he was always concerned with the plight of the disabled and the poor. And the power of Bach’s music is not divinely rendered, but instead comes from the weakness of the human condition. Both are connected to the redemptive work of Jesus. How?

Well, Jesus says we will always have the poor and so working with the poor will be a constant ministry that will never end. That seems depressing when we think about it, and yet we have seen this reality played out over the millenia. So, we are challenged to ministry by Jesus in two ways: first we need to be in the presence of Jesus to learn his ways, to feel his love, and to be filled with his presence. And second, we need to go into the world being the hands and feet of Christ to help the poor and those in need. Because the world is dependant on humans to distribute all the resources of the world, there will never be an equal distribution of those resources. Why? Because we are sinful, selfish, greedy people by nature, innately worried only about our own needs and desires, and so it will always be a challenge to share what we have.

And then we have “weakness. In the Passion Story of Jesus, we see how Jesus uses the weakness of the human condition to redeem all of humanity. G*d came to earth in the Incarnation, in the form of Jesus, and so became weak so that we can be strong in the Lord. And so, we continually see how people, who are divinely inspired, continue to produce writings, and music, and art, etc. to express to us the passion and the inspiration of the Passion story. Through the means of music, Bach is able to lift us up to the heights of heaven and connect us to the “All-Powerful”. It truly is a gift from G*d – the music of Bach, and others.

We do not lift up the gifts of “weakness” and “being poor” in society as things to achieve, but in these conditions we can be connected to Jesus in powerful ways.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 5:14 am on February 16, 2015  

Renewed Strength – Rev. David J. Schreffler

February 16, 2015

“Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

I have always wanted to ride on a hang glider. There is something about the experience of seeing the earth from the vantage of an eagle that intrigues me. It would be exhilarating to be able to soar, and swoop, and to glide upon the wind that pulls me toward such an experience. However, I am also not a fan of flying – my priorities lately are to keep my feet on the ground – so I doubt I will never get the opportunity to fly via the hang glider. But there is something else that can give me the same exhilaration – the same sense of soaring – and that is my relationship with G*d.

Isaiah is telling us that those who wait on the Lord shall have their strength renewed. The Greek word used for wait is to be rendered as “expectant waiting” – waiting with trust and hope. The same is true for those who are weak, feeble, guilty and helpless – and who put their trust in the Lord – they too shall be strengthened. Waiting for the Lord includes expecting that the Lord will renew, will respond, will restore. But, waiting does not mean sitting around and doing nothing. Waiting for the Lord includes using the means which the Lord has appointed for giving us the Lord’s blessing. For example, the farmer who waits upon the Lord should not expect that G*d will plow and sow his fields. To wait in this manner is to be disappointed – and to put the Lord to the test.

And those who wait shall have their strength renewed. What strength will be renewed? Will we all become body builders with enormous physical strength? No. What will be renewed will be what has been sapped – and what becomes weak so often is our faith. For Isaiah, the people would have been waiting in captivity – in Babylon. Their faith would have taken such a hit having lost their place of worship, their land, and their way of life. But in waiting with expectation that G*d will reverse their situation, and trusting that G*d will win the day, would give them renewed strength – renewed faith in the Lord. And then, they shall mount up with wings like eagles. The intent of this phrase is they shall “put forth fresh feathers like the mounting eagle.” In the commentary I read on this passage it stated that “it was a common and popular opinion of the ancients that the eagle lived to an old age, and molts in his old age, and renews his feathers, and with them his youth”. Whatever the source, the image still gives us hope – that those who wait upon the Lord are born aloft on wings of faith and hope.

So what do we take away today that gives us fresh strength to face the day? Well, what are you waiting upon the Lord for this week? I know there is something you have been waiting for, hoping for, praying upon. Remember, the Lord hears every prayer. Our relationship with G*d is built upon the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Our waiting includes “patient expectation” – patiently expecting that the Lord will respond – the Lord will act – the Lord will give us strength to face everything that comes our way. When we have the patience and the faith to wait in hope and trust, all formed through prayer and G*d’s word, then each day our faith will be restored, and we will have the strength to soar, over, through and within whatever comes our way.

Pastor Dave