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The Gospel of Matthew Bible Studies
The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007 Ordination of Louise Christensen
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
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Time after Pentecost - 10 It was just ten days ago – on May 30th – that I was awakened at 4:30 am by a call from the hospital. Maddalyn Anderson, a four month old infant girl, was in the emergency room and not doing at all well – and the family was asking if I could please come. Carol and I both went. Pastor Josh had also been contacted – and had actually arrived just before we did. I will never forget the scene. There was little Maddy – and her mother and father at her side. Dr. Pete Council and the nursing staff were doing everything they possibly could to try to save her life. For awhile, we even dared to hope as her condition stabilized a bit. Finally, after several hours – a “Help Flight” plane arrived and she, along with her parents, was flown to the University of Minnesota Fairview Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. But in the end, it was all for naught. Maddy’s heart had stopped working and she died later that day. Her funeral was held this past Monday here at Pella, and I know that many of you were there. But the reason why I am mentioning this now is to recall how helpless I was feeling while there in the emergency room. We were all praying – desperately praying – that Maddy would somehow pull through, but it was not to be. And what could I, and Pastor Josh, and my wife Pastor Carol, possibly do or say to help Maddy and her family in the midst of all this? In one sense, we could not do anything. We, unlike the medical staff, were of absolutely no real use. And yet, in another sense, I think that we were of some help to the family and even to the medical staff. Not because we were anyone special, and not because of anything that we said or did – but simply because we were there – and they knew that we cared. And perhaps through us, everyone also knew somehow that God was there – and that God cared. In a way, this was also the situation in today’s gospel reading. It was a time of great sorrow. What would we have said or done if we had been present? The setting is a funeral service for a man who had died, but the focus is on his grieving, widowed mother. Her life lately had been nothing but one terrible tragedy after another. First, her husband had died. And now, her only son. Not only was she bereft of their love and companionship, but she was also now bereft of any physical or monetary support. In those days, there was no Social Security or welfare as we have in our country today. She didn’t have any “safety net”. There was no family left to care for her or provide for her needs. What would we have done or said to comfort her at this very difficult time? One thing that we could have done – and probably WOULD have – is to let her know of our love and concern by at least attending her son’s funeral. As our gospel tells us, a LARGE CROWD from the town was with her. We do this even today. When we go to a funeral service, it is as much to show concern and support for the living as it is to remember and honor the deceased. (That is why so many people came to Maddy Anderson’s funeral this past Monday.) Yes, even though the people of the town of Nain did not know what to say to the widowed mother, they did at least support her with their presence. And, I am sure, that meant a lot to her! I am sure that she appreciated their coming. But yet, she was still in the midst of terrible grief with no hope for the future. As this very sad service was going on, Jesus came passing by. He was journeying with his disciples and others, and apparently just happened upon the scene. From what we know, he had no knowledge of who these people were and no prior acquaintance with them. They were strangers to him and he to them. If Jesus had been like many people, he would have just kept on walking by – or at best would have just slowed down to gawk and stare – like we tend to do at the scene of a traffic accident today. But Jesus – even though this widow was a stranger to him – was moved with pity and filled with compassion for her. The Greek word used is splagchnizomai – which literally means “having feelings in the gut.” Brian Stoffregen, an ELCA pastor and Bible commentator, notes that this verb is used only two other times in Luke’s gospel – to describe the feeling that the Good Samaritan has for the beat-up man on the side of the road (Lk. 10:33), and later to also describe the feeling that the father has for his “prodigal son” when he returns home (Lk. 15:20). Splagchnizomai is a feeling of shock and total identification with the need of another. It is not a “rational feeling” but rather a feeling that is based upon overwhelming emotion of the moment. That is what Jesus was experiencing for the widow in the midst of her grief. At that moment, he senses her utter destitution and desperation. And because of this, he does not just pass on by. Because of his overwhelming emotion of splagchnizomai, Jesus is moved to use all of his power and energy to help her in whatever way he could. And so he went to her and said, “Do not weep.” Then he stepped forward and touched the bier and – as our gospel tells us – the bearers stopped walking. I am sure that everyone there was wondering what the heck was going on! Why would a stranger come and interrupt the proceedings at a funeral service?! They were observing all of the formal “rituals” – but Jesus’ actions were entirely unexpected and “out of order”. I am sure that they were all more than a little puzzled – and also somewhat outraged! But Jesus, speaking from the very depths of his being – from his splagchnizomai – then speaks to the dead man saying, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” And somehow, God’s power worked through Jesus – and the dead man sat up and began to speak. (I wonder what he was saying?!) And then Jesus gave him to his mother (and I wonder what SHE was saying?!) Luke in his gospel does not specifically tell us, but I have a feeling that their words were similar to what everyone else was saying! For, as Luke tells us, FEAR seized ALL of them, and they glorified God saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!” They were seized with FEAR because they knew without a doubt that they were standing in the very presence of God’s glory! They were also moved to WORSHIP and PRAISE at this manifestation of God’s power. And, certainly, they were filled with happiness for the widow and her son – whose bitter grief had been instantly transformed into a fantastic JOY! Everyone there, who previously did not know exactly what to say or do (except to observe formal funeral rituals), were now just bubbling over with words of joy and praise! They too were now experiencing splagchnizomai – emotions that were totally beyond rational thought! But what does this story mean for us here now? It does not mean that we should be expecting Jesus to raise our dead loved ones back to life at every funeral service – or even at any of them. But this story does show that God through Jesus has splagchnizomai for us whenever we are experiencing grief and sorrow. He hears our cries and experiences our pain. And he does not just ignore us and pass on by. Somehow, he comes to us and comforts and supports us with all of the power and energy he can give – even when we are “dead” and our hope is completely gone. For if Jesus loved and had splagchnizomai for a widow who was a stranger to him, he certainly loves and has splagchnizomai for us who are his very special friends. GOD STILL LOOKS FAVORABLY UPON HIS PEOPLE! Whenever we are hurting, Jesus loves us in a way that goes to the very “guts” of his being. He is with us and he weeps with us. And Jesus will use all of his power to help us. Somehow, he will make everything alright. Somehow, he will even raise us from death itself – if not immediately then certainly on the Last Day. He will turn all of our sadness into joy – just like he did for the widow and everyone who was with her in today’s gospel. As I mentioned at the beginning of this sermon, we often do not know what to do or say in the midst of pain and tragedy. But when we, like Jesus, have splagchnizomai for those who are hurting – God will somehow work with us and through us to help them to experience his love and his power. And God will also work through others to help US to also experience his love and power when we need it in the same way. Even in a hospital emergency room, like it was with the family of Maddy Anderson. Even at a funeral. Even during all of the other trials and pains that we go through in life. Splagchnizomai - a compassion and love that goes to the very “guts” of one’s being. That is what Jesus had for the widow in today’s gospel, and that is what he still has for each of us today whenever we are hurting. He does not pass us by. He is with us - always. He will comfort and help us – always! Thanks be to God! Amen! -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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