“Practical Suggestions for Holy Living”

Lectionary 22 C 2007

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

              Last week, Susan and I delivered our youngest daughter to Concordia in Moorhead where she will begin her first year of college.  It was an emotional time for us.  The youngest has grown up.  The time has come to step back, let go, and allow her to experience this new chapter in her life, and in ours as we are now empty nesters, hoping and praying that all will go well.  Of course, like any father, I had to sit down next to her and give her a few suggestions that she should think about and remember after we leave.  I told her to study hard, be aware of where you are and who you are with, be a friend, watch your money and how much you are spending, have fun, and a couple of other things that only embarrassed her a bit, all to which she said, “I know dad, I know.  You don’t have to keep telling me these things.”  If only that were true, that once we are told certain things we would follow them and make them a part of our lives.  No, I think it is good to be reminded once and a while of how we are to live and act in this world.  That is why I was drawn to our second lesson for today from Hebrews.  These are things that we know, and yet, often fall short of following.

              These practical suggestions for holy living come at the end of the book of Hebrews.  Hebrews is an unusual book in the Bible.  The author is unknown and the intended audience is unknown also, except that they are Jewish Christians.  The point of Hebrews is to provide an argument for Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.  As the fulfillment of God’s promise, Jesus is superior to everything else.  As the Son of God, it is Jesus that we are to worship and give our lives to.  For the Jewish Christians who wanted to fall back into their old religion and practice, the writer of Hebrews compels them to remain faithful to Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”  This is the God we put our faith and trust in.  As we give our lives to Jesus, we are changed and live new and different lives, lives obedient to the one who calls us from death to life.

              “Let mutual love continue.”  This new community is defined by love.  Love is the rule and guiding principle.  The greek word for this kind of love is philio, which means “brotherly love.”  It is the root of the word Philadelphia, which means the city of brotherly love.  This is a love that encourages and supports, that empowers and enables others in the community.  This is an important directive, because our feelings and emotions can often change and get the best of us.  All too often we don’t want to show love, or be loving to those around us.  Yet the Bible tells us to love one another deeply from the heart, “for love covers a multitude of sins.”  Again it says, “Owe no one anything except to love one another.”  And again, “Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”  Henry Van Dyke wrote this short poem about love:  “There are many kinds of love, as many kinds of light, And every kind of love makes a glory in the night.  There is love that stirs the heart, and love that gives it rest, But the love that leads life upwards is the noblest and the best.”  Dear friends, “let mutual love continue.”

              As we are reminded to love one another, it is this love that enables us to follow the next directive, “to show hospitality to strangers.”  Our gospel lesson today is all about showing hospitality.  We are to look beyond only those who are our friends and family and those of high social status.  We are to welcome all people, regardless of who they are.  The list includes those we may not usually think about, the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.  The feast that Jesus provides for us in his body and blood is an open invitation.  His gifts of forgiveness and life are for all.  Can we do anything less than be welcoming and hospitable?  Who knows?  We could be entertaining angels without knowing it.  This word on hospitality may have something to say to us as we struggle as a country with immigration policies and how we regard the strangers in our midst here in Red Wing.

              The next directive brings those who sit in darkness and who are hidden behind closed doors out into the light and open.  Remember those who are in prison and who are ill-treated or experience torture.  We do have a concern for those Christians in other lands who suffer persecution for the faith.  We know there is opposition to the faith in other countries.  We pray for their safety and well-being.  But we need to be reminded of those who sit in our own prisons, a growing population that is out-pacing the rest of the world, and those who suffer ill-treatment by our own hands such as in Abu Grave or Guantonimo Bay.  The laws which govern the way we treat people are an important sign and symbol to the rest of the world, a principle that gives hope and promotes justice and peace.

              The next directive addresses the foundation of the family and all relationships.  “Let marriage be held in honor by all.”  Nothing is more important that the commitment of love that husbands and wives make toward each other.  The trust that has taken years to build up can come quickly crashing down and destroyed by one act of indiscretion and infidelity.  We need to encourage commitment, honesty, fidelity, monogamy, respect, love, and trust in all our relationship and put sex in its proper perspective and use.  Luther’s explanation to the sixth commandment expands our understanding of sex to include all of our relationships.  He says, “We are to fear and love God so that matters of sex our words and conduct are pure and honorable, and husband and wife love and respect each other.”  Sex is a powerful force in our society.  In its proper place, it is a beautiful and wonderful thing.

              It is sometimes said that we don’t pay attention to things until it affects our pocketbook.  “Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have.”  This is a difficult directive in a society that encourages buying and spending and accumulating more and more things.  We put a lot of status in how much we own and have.  I am struck by the fact that Jesus talks more about our relationship to money and possessions than he does about prayer.  Why?  Because “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  It has to do with where we put our faith and trust.  Jesus says, “Do not be worried about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”  Our faith and trust is in God who provides us with everything we need from day to day.  The virtue that we are to live with is contentment, to be content with what we have.  What leads to contentment, I think, is to have an attitude of gratitude, to be thankful for what God has given to us and to know that everything we have and own is a gift of God.  Such contentment is found in the promise of God, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”  Knowing that the Lord is my helper fills us with confidence for living.  One of my favorite Bible verses comes from Colossians, chapter 3:  “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

              Another directive that we often fail to do is remember our leaders, “those who spoke the word of God to you.”  How thankful we are for the past and present leaders of our church.  They have taught us about Jesus and have shared their lives with us, giving us an example to follow.  Just think of some of these names of past pastors: Heimark and Wold, Cole and White, Benson and Smith.  And some of these past lay leaders: Solvig Carpenter and Audrey Hage, Marvin Harder and Gertrude Richardson.  Their faithfulness has made United what it is today.  But we also need to remember our present pastors and leaders and pray for them: for our president Todd Otteson and all the members of the church council.  Through their faithful leadership, the Gospel is proclaimed and we are reminded of this promise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  This is the foundation of our faith, the cornerstone of the church, the solid rock on which we place our trust.

              So…we continue to worship our God who we know as Jesus Christ, to sing our praises and confess his name.  The rhythm of our life together is to gather for worship and then go out from this place to be of service to others.  There is no separation from our Sunday to Monday.  Our worship continues through out the week as we “do good and share what you have.”  We will do well if we remember these things.  This is the life of faithful discipleship.  This is the way of holy living.  Amen.