KEEP IS A WORD FOR ENTERING THE SEASON OF LENT
A man named Cain committed the first murder recorded in the Bible (Genesis 4:1-16). He killed his brother, Abel, in a jealous rage over whose sacrifice was more acceptable to God. When God asked Cain, “Where is your brother,” Cain responded indignantly, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” This question surfaces again and again with frightening regularity in our so-called “Christian” nation. Those who have more than they could ever need or use, blame the weak, the aging, the young, and the sick for the tragedy of poverty, hunger or not being able to afford healthcare.
As Ash Wednesday (February 22) begins the season of Lent, we will make the sign of the cross with ashes on the forehead of those who come to worship. We will speak the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” because things crumble into dust for us and for all descendants of Adam and Eve. That’s why we speak the words at the grave, “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”
But we don’t stop there. Before those words we say, “In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to almighty God our sister or our brother…” And after those words we speak, “The Lord bless him or her and keep her or him…”
We can ask God to keep us and our sisters and brothers. Because God’s only Son, Jesus, took responsibility for us, assumed our humanity, came to us as one of us, and loved us when we could not be responsible for ourselves. Now God calls us and all those blessed with much to be our sisters’ and brothers’ keepers. We don’t need people who want to be our leaders telling us we can’t, when God says we can!
At the Annual Meeting of Trinity Lutheran Church on January 21-22, I pointed to one young man who was never afraid to say “We can.” His name is Christian Volkmann. He lives now in God’s eternal keeping. He welcomed and served at the Five Loaves and Two Fish Community Lunches with his father David, and his mother, Maria. He would greet people with one declaration and one question, “I know you!” and “What are you doing here?” As we begin the season of Lent, Christian’s words echo for us the words of Jesus who says, “I know you,” and who then asks, “What are you doing here?”
How about beginning each day in Lent, hearing Christian’s words, “I know you,” looking at ourselves in the mirror, and then answering his question “What are you doing here?”
They are nothing short of the words of the Christ who calls us and keeps us in a community that cares for and keeps our brothers and sisters.
Pastor George M. Schelter
Pastor George M. Schelter
Pastor's Message
Trinity Lutheran Church
Touching Lives for Christ
