We have been out in our community this past month. When I say “we,” I mean your lowly vicar and several of our congregation’s faithful servants. It has given us some insights into our own need for a Savior as well as the larger community’s need for Him as well.
First, we attended a symposium about homelessness. The “take aways” were the networking and some innovative ideas on both large scale and small scale approaches to addressing the homeless problem. But more than that, I was confronted by the parallels in my life to the parable of the Good Samaritan. Unfortunately, I was playing the parts of the Priest and the Levite, not the Samaritan. How often do I look away from the creatures that hover on the street corners, under bridges, in parks and next to buildings? How often do I NOT look them in the eye or greet them as the fellow human beings that they are? How often am I too busy, too afraid, or too calloused to see and feel the misery of the less fortunate among us? How can I fall at the feet of my Lord and Savior to ask for forgiveness, and accept that forgiveness freely given to me, a sinner…while at the same time walk away from my fellow man that is living in such a desperate condition? “As you did to the least of these,” Jesus said, “so also you did unto me!” Lord have mercy on me a sinner!
The second reflection was on the interaction I had with members of a group working toward social justice, improving society, and helping our neighbors. These are excellent goals. But one of the refrains I heard was how we must have faith. How this is essential for people to achieve their potential. The problem is that faith in something fallible is of no use whatsoever. Faith in oneself falls into that category of uselessness. Do you think that the Olympic athlete that doesn’t win a medal lacked faith in themselves? They probably lived, breathed, and practiced with all their might…yet lost anyway. Only faith in the infallible is useful. And that infallible entity is the only God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The truth is that man was created good and capable of his full potential and CHOSE to give it up. And since then, in man’s separation from his God, he is separated from his destiny, his potential and his fulfillment. It does no good to have faith, unless that faith is in Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith. In Him we find our meaning. In Him we find our potential. In Him we find our salvation! What is our potential, our destiny, our meaning? To be connected back up to our Creator through faith in Jesus Christ to do the works he prepared beforehand for us to walk in.
Isn’t the Creator of the Universe who came down to you as a man and died for you that you may live, isn’t He a better object of your faith?
Dear God, fill our hearts with compassion as you have had compassion on us in Jesus Christ. Send your Holy Spirit to call us by the Gospel, enlighten us with your gifts, sanctify and keep us in the true faith. Strengthen us through your Word and Sacraments to grow in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.