Tag Archives: John

Jesus is the Son of G*d

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 6:52 am on April 13, 2015
Tags: , John   

Room — Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 13, 2015

“Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in G*d, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:iff

“When He referred to the many mansions (rooms) in His Father’s house, He may have been intending rooms–places where those who had been associated together on earth may be gathered together; but He may be rather intending stations–stages in that long ascent of life that shall extend through the ages of ages. It is at once a contradiction and an explanation, for it combines the ideas of rest and advance–a life of achievement, where the tent is pitched, a life of possibilities, where it is being for ever lifted.” John Watson (1850 – 1907) A Sermon
“Continuity of Life” in The Mind of the Master “For All The Saints” volume III (P. 1080)

It is the ongoing conversation and the impetus for many questions for members of the congregation – “What will heaven be like?” The text from John 14:1 and following is one of the texts we often use in funerals, for it helps us form some idea of what heaven “might” be like. What better image could Jesus give us than a place of many rooms – since we all have rooms in our lives that have given us some comfort and peace.

When I was a kid, I used to have those emotional days where one thing or another would bother me, so I would do like a lot of kids do, I would retreat into my room. There was something really comforting about sitting in my room, having some time alone, where I could collect my thoughts, listen to some music, escape from my siblings, etc. In John’s Gospel, we are told that Jesus is preparing a room for us – but it will not be a room of solitude – it will be a room of presence – where we will be surrounded by the presence and the love of G*d. As I often say in a funeral homily, G*d is preparing a room for us like the expectant parents lovingly prepare a room for the newborn child. It is a room prepared for life – and the presence of love.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on April 7, 2015
Tags: John,   

Living in Relationships – Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 7, 2015

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments…He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.” John 14:15, 21

“We cannot love G*d unless we love each other, and to love we must know each other. We know Him in the breaking of bread, and we know each other in the breaking of bread, and we are not alone anymore. Heaven is a banquet and life is a banquet, too, even with a crust, where there is companionship. We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community. It all happened while we sat there talking, and it is still going on.” Dorothy Day (1897 – 1980) The Long Loneliness: An Autobiography

Jesus was taking the time, during his last supper with his disciples, to give them some lessons about life in community. Love is the overarching lesson that is necessary for a community to thrive – not just survive but to thrive. Jesus tells us to love one another – and our love for G*d begins with our love of each other. Just as our love of G*d begins and is strengthened within relationship, our love for each other requires that we do the same. Dorothy Day is stating that exact point in her comment, “It all happened while we sat there talking…” Relationship begins with talking to one another. Talking with one another begins with respecting each other enough to listen to one another – which means we allow the other to speak.

One of the ways that we can be in community with one another is to break bread frequently. When my wife and I were first married, we were members of a large Lutheran Church. When you are a member of a large church, it is hard to develop relationships with other members – because there are so many people – it becomes overwhelming. It is easy to slip into worship un-noticed – and to slip away after services un-noticed. So, the church must work hard in developing opportunities for members to get to know one another. At this church, we were placed into a group that would get together once a month, in one of the member’s homes (which rotated every month) to have a meal and time to talk. The groups were developed by age, marital status, and life activities. For example, we were put together with other young couples who either had no children, or were just having children. This gave our group some common ground for our discussions – and allowed our relationships, and our love for each other to grow. As Dorothy Day said, “…to love we must know each other.”

But all relationships take work. If you are willing to work on your relationships in church, strengthened by your relationship with G*d, then all of your relationships will benefit. You can live life alone — but your life will be lonely. But if you take the time to allow the love of G*d to fill your life, your relationship with G*d will grow, and your relationships with others will also grow.

Pastor Dave