Jeremiah's Confirmation
Today
is a significant day in our lives, especially for each
of you that is being confirmed. For we are saying again
that we understand what it means to have a relationship
with one who is awesomely powerful. God.
For we know that this God that
we cannot see or touch as we see and touch our mothers,
fathers, brothers, sisters, boyfriends, girlfriends,
husbands, wives is there, and there, and whose presence
is felt everywhere. . . fills this room. Yet, do we
claim that fact for our very own?
I mean, maybe coming to church
has been a habit since childhood. Or maybe, attending
confirmation was simply obeying our parents' wishes, at
least at first. And, some may have figured we were
covering all the bases, just in case. But now, here you
are joining your voices with all the rest in this room -
declaring that this faith means something important to
you.
All of us have spent time as you
have learning the basics of our beliefs. Learning
scripture, memorizing the ten commandments, Luther's
small catechism. Some at your age, some as adults. But
all of us spending time in the Bible trying to make
sense of what we know about Bible times and the writers
and the events- figuring out what it all has to do with
me now in my situation, knowing the kind of activities
I'm involved in. Trying to make the pieces of an old
puzzle work in a seemingly new puzzle. Afterall, the
world doesn't seem much better or worse for the efforts
of hundreds of thousands of confirmands through the
centuries.
We have heard pastor offering
connections in sermons and lessons through the years
while some whispered and giggled, Others stared blankly
at the floor with quick thoughts of dates, soccer games,
jumps on the skateboard passing across our
consciousness.
But there's a whole lot more
than just information that forms a relationship. We know
from our own friendships that the depth is not dependent
on knowing where they were born, where they live, what
they like for lunch, or what they do in their free time.
But a sense of who they are, what they stand for, how
they react when times get tough, are they reliable,
steadfast, honest? Do they truly listen with their
hearts when we talk to each other?
Jeremiah understood this when he
talked about the day when the law for the Jews would no
longer be taught to them, but it would be written in
their hearts. Learning a list of rules and agreeing to
obey them as best we can is okay for good order and
discovering how one should behave. But it doesn't help
us discover much about the author. When the law becomes
written on the heart, its another way of saying that we
understand the "why" of the law. What is the underlying
purpose, how is it effective, and what could be the
outcome of following it? Soon, we begin to see the
bigger picture that God sees and we become partners with
Jesus. We no longer listen with our ears but with
something more meaningful.
The vision Jeremiah had was
during a time when the Israelites had been dispossessed
of their land and carried off into captivity. Jeremiah
could see the time when the Israelites would once again
return home. But this time, because of the trials of
exile, they would have a different relationship with the
Lord. He saw the partnership that would be possible
because the Israelites would now know the Lord. Their
experiences in life had given them a new perspective and
they had found God in places they had not expected.
Suddenly the law rose from within them as part of their
being.
Now you have that same
challenge. To find Jesus in places you don't expect. You
have been equipped with knowledge of the faith, and the
tools to understand the Bible. Can you turn it into a
deep relationship? One that nourishes you in this life?
One that finds you face-to-face or side-by-side with
Jesus in all you do? One that turns everyone elses
understanding of life upside down because of your
radical faith? For this faith is not one of just hearing
and obeying, but adopting and being. What has your heart
heard?
The Gospel tells us we will know
the truth and the truth will set us free. Many of us
might say as Jesus' companions did, "But we're
Americans, is this not already the land of the free?"
Technically, yes. But in reality we all have role
expectations that we fulfill. Some have 40-60 hour a
week jobs. Some spend hours doing homework and studying
for tests. We buy certain products because the radio and
TV and acquaintances urge us to. We problem solve in the
way our teachers have taught us. We aren't always
willing to think outside of the box, because we don't
want to make mistakes and be humiliated. And the list of
self-imposed limitations to our freedom could grow and
grow.
But the Gospel sets us truly
free to soar above human boundaries because we see as
God sees, we can think as Jesus would think. And, how we
act within our limitations is what truly sets us free.
At this moment, we stand at the threshhold of new life,
totally free to have a relationship with this awesome
God of ours and to walk with Jesus Christ in all we do.
So, throw open the doors to your hearts and allow Christ
to gift you with grace and mercy. Remember, as you step
forward today that you are challenged to live
responsible lives. If you take the time to listen and
truly discover Jesus, your life will be a blessing for
everyone you meet. May you continue to grow in your
faith and relationship with God. Amen
Amen.
Read other
sermons by Pastor Joan
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