Tag Archives: Service

We go forward to serve others not to earn G*d’s love but because G*d loves us through Jesus

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on June 12, 2015
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Who’s Serve is it? — Rev. David J. Schreffler

June 12, 2015

Jesus entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

“Master,” she said, “don’t you care that my sister leaves me to do all of this alone? Tell her to help me. I know she won’t leave you unless you tell her to, so entrancing are your words. But the dinner must be made ready and one pair of hands is not enough.” Then the Lord, who was delighted with the devotion of both women, did not chide the attachment of Mary, nor did he blame the complaint of Martha, though he leaned to Mary. “Martha…Don’t be so worried about getting the dinner and all worked up about many things. Mary has chosen….to forget the things of the body and to be concerned for the things of the soul.” Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)
Erasmus of Christendom translated by Roland Bainton “For All The Saints” volume IV (p. 69)

When we look at this encounter between Mary, Martha and Jesus, we should be conflicted about who we praise — Mary or Martha. In this particular instance, I think half of us would think we should be showing impeccable hospitality — while the other half believe that, when we are in the presence of our Lord, we should sit and listen to everything he has to say. Good hospitality was critical in the time of Jesus – especially good hospitality shown by the women — not that good hospitality is not important today. But when we view this text from 2000 years out, it seems “obvious” to us that Mary should have been helping her sister. How dare she sit and do nothing. And yet she dared. And Jesus praises her for sitting, while Jesus does not condemn Martha for serving. Thus both are praised and lifted up for us as models of faithful living. Sometimes we are called to sit and listen — other times we are called to show good hospitality and be good servants. We need to find that good balance in our lives where we are doing enough of both.

How can we show better hospitality in the church? How can you be a better servant for Christ’s sake?

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on June 5, 2015
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You Can’t Lose Your Ticket — Rev. David J. Schreffler

June 5, 2015

“A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for all is now ready.” But they all alike began to make excuses. So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant “Go out quickly to the streets and to the lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame… For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.” Luke 14:16-18, 21, 24

Why is it that the Kingdom of G*d is described as a banquet and a party that no one wants to come to? Several times Jesus uses this description about the kingdom of G*d, and so an explanation is needed. I would say that the Kingdom of G*d is a great party – this is a description that we have about the Kingdom of G*d several times in the New Testament. And, of course, Jesus is inviting everyone to come to the party. So what is Jesus saying through this parable?

Well, first Jesus is telling this story to a group of Pharisees and their friends, and he was commenting on how they decided to sit at a party. He asked them if it wasn’t better to humble oneself rather than look to puff up one’s ego and take a seat of honor. And then Jesus wants to make another point – still about their sense of entitlement and egocentrism. So he tells another story, and in this story people make excuses why they can’t come to the party — “I have to go see some property I bought”, and “I have bought some cows that I need to see.” Notice the excuses are mostly about stuff they have purchased — material things that keep them from the party. They have more important things to do then to show hospitality and proper protocol.

Now of course, we know that a lot of people make excuses why they cannot come to church, why they do not like organized religion, and why they prefer to sleep in on Sunday morning and not come to church. They think living the Christ-like life is possible spending Sunday morning in bed, or on the golf course. And so by telling the parable Jesus is attempting to show how difficult it is to live the Christ-like life. Yes, heaven is a party — but the ticket to get into the party requires three things: faith, grace and love. To believe, to trust in the promises of Christ gets you the ticket: it comes wrapped in the grace of G*d and Jesus Christ. But to activate the ticket or to get the “full value” requires love — loving G*d and loving your neighbor.

Now, there are a lot of people who will disagree with me, and say I am not a good Lutheran Pastor, because what I just said sounds like works — not Grace. So let me clarify. Jesus said very clearly there are only two things we have TO DO, that we are commanded TO DO: love G*d and love our neighbor. Trusting in the promises of G*d gets us the ticket — Grace “insures” its full value — and love activates it — both the love of Christ, and our love of Christ. Grace is the insurance policy on the value — knowing that we don’t always value this wonderful invitation to the heavenly party — and knowing we often fail, like those in the parable. You decide if I have spoken the truth, or crossed the line into works.

Pastor Dave