Holy Trinity Ankeny

What kind of presence are you after this season? As we start this season of Advent, we are drawn to how precarious the present world is. We often think that this world will last forever, but the text raises fearful images. Listen to what Jesus is saying about this world, us and his presence among us.

What is it about this world that can harden our hearts and turn us in our own lives so much that we believe everything is all about us? More important: Once that happens, what is powerful enough to bend us back in the direction of love? We live like a worm in a jar of horseradish, not even realizing how distorted life has become. Christ rescues us from that existence to live in the light. Under Christ’s gracious gaze from the cross we learn the truth.

We all desire to have balance in our lives, but find it to be challenging. We also try to balance our spiritual disciplines, but at times it can be hard, especially when it comes to our relationship with money.  Jesus spoke a lot about money.  He taught the disciples about their relationship with money so it wouldn't control them.  How are we to use the money that has been entrusted to us?

Your generosity, your counter cultural decision to give back to the God from whom all blessings flow, is our foundation. From that foundation we are free to share God’s love far beyond the walls of our community. As the gathered people of God we are called not to complacency or contentment but to big dreams and grand visions.

WHO ARE THE SAINTS?

On the Festival of All Saints who do we celebrate? The famous faithful who officially bear the title? Those immortalized in art and icon? The “extra good” folks who made a big difference in the world? Saints are people in time and across time who are united in the person and purpose of Jesus. That is Paul’s witness to the Ephesians and it is the direction Jesus points in Luke’s gospel. Does that include anyone you know?

On this Reformation Weekend we hear Psalm 46. A Psalm that speaks of and about the chaos of life, not unlike what we live through when a loved one is suddenly hospitalized, or when we experience the death of someone dear to us, or when we struggle through relationships that end bitterly. Chaos invades our lives. Martin Luther searched for refuge in his times of trouble, as we do also. Who finds us in our trouble?

What does it mean to be saved? Is it a far off, post-mortem event? For Luke the Evangelist (who we remember this day) it was much more and very present. Salvation was an encounter with Jesus that brought restoration and allowed people to be what God called them to be more fully. It was healing, but more than that. It was forgiveness, but more than that. Salvation – is it for you? Today?

We are often very good at making those who are different than us, those we fear, into “others” but we serve a God who is always working in unexpected ways and through unexpected people to include rather than exclude. The good news is, even when we fail, God is still present, working through others to reach us and heal us.

Can one believe in God and science at the same time? Was creation actually made in seven, 24 hour days? Isn’t redemption all about saving our souls and escaping this world? Those are relevant questions in our age. They also can lead to ignoring the call from God to “till and keep” the creation as partners with God in the redemption of all creation. Caring for creation is a sobering call to joyous, hopeful work.

God has already chosen us and offers, without reservation, the abundance of life. This is eternal life because it is rooted in God. The world offers us life we can struggle for without promise, leaving us at the end with nothing that survives our death. “We brought nothing into this world. We can take nothing out.” (I Tim. 6:7) So, each day is a choice, echoed through scripture, to choose the “only life that is really life.” (I Tim. 6:19)