A Word That Will Not Die

josephholubsermons

May 16, 2010
Easter 7
Isaiah 55:10-11
2 Cor 4:7-11
John 20:24-29

A Word That Will Not Die!

“For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

The Israelites perceived and experienced “God’s word” as a creative purposed-filled energy; a creative purpose-filled power for good. They trusted it was an energy that, no matter what the circumstances or obstacles, would continue to work towards the goal of God’s good purpose.

For example, the Israelites believed that everything came into being as the result of a creative energy. In the first creation story in Genesis 1, God’s “wind” (the Hebrew word is ruach which also means “breath” and “spirit”) was an expression of God’s word and functioned as a creative agent that resulted in the entire cosmos including the world and humanity – and it was “good.” That story was a part of their larger faith-story.

In the New Testament in the gospel of John, the early Christians confessed that this creative energy, God’s word, was expressed and manifested in a human life, the life of Jesus. It is John’s gospel that declares, “The word became flesh and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth.” Using metaphors like the “vine and branches” and others, John’s gospel declares that this creative word can dwell in us and take the shape of our lives to work towards a good purpose. In that way the life of Jesus is continued.

I will tell you a story, that for me captures in part, the meaning and power behind this passage. In the year 2001 a young man, who was a member of the congregation I was serving in Aurora, Colorado (Holy Love Lutheran Church), came to me with a request. This young man was Tanzanian, born and raised in a little village outside of Arusha. His father was a Lutheran Pastor, and most of his family still lived in this little village in Tanzania. The young man explained to me that for a long time it was the dream and desire of his village to build a new church building, for the building they were worshipping in was old and dilapidated. He showed me pictures of his village, family and church.

Since 70-80% of Tanzania was not even in a money-based-economy, his question was, “Could Holy Love Lutheran Church contribute, or help raise, funds towards the construction of a new church building in his home village?” He indicated to me that the building would be constructed by the local people who had the required skills, but had no way to secure construction materials. They simply had no means to purchase them. He mentioned to me they already had plans drawn up for a rather simple cinder block open air building. So, they pretty much knew what materials in what quantities were needed – and how much it would cost.

He estimated that $10,000 would make their dream a reality. His request was, “Would our congregation be willing to raise a portion of it?” To make a long story short, later that year our congregation raised the $10,000 and even more! The money was provided for the materials they needed for their new church building and several other things as well.

Arrangements were made to deliver the funds securely, and the next year, 2002, the church building was constructed. In 2003 a group of people from Holy Love Church went to Tanzania on a mission trip for three weeks. For two weeks our group worked in an orphanage in central Tanzania, and the third week they visited some of the national parks. They ended their three week visit in the small village outside of Arusha and worshipped in the new church with the congregation. It was a joyous event and they were received with stupendously gracious hospitality.

For me that is a living illustration of today’s passage, “…so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

The “word” in this case took the shape of the need and dream of this congregation in Tanzania. One of their own, thousands of miles away, embodied and expressed that “word” – their need and dream - to others who made it their own; and their need was met and their dream became a reality. As a result a whole bunch of people were blessed – not only the people of the little village in Tanzania, but Holy Love Congregation was also richly blessed. They adopted this congregation. A relationship was established that extended over several years; a relationship that came to mean much to Holy Love congregation. The group that went on the mission trip came back and expressed how they had been blessed, and even changed, by their experience in Tanzania. “…so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

But let me tell you another story. It was about 1994, and a group of people from this congregation (LOTM) were planning a journey to Tanzania, to Arusha specifically, to see first-hand the work being done there at a children’s hospital in which an associate member of LOTM had taken great interest and was committed to supporting.

To prepare for the trip the group wanted to learn more about Tanzania. Through another member of LOTM a contact was made with a young graduate student from DU whose native country was Tanzania; from a little village not far from Arusha located on the side of Mt Meru; a village named Ndoombo. This young man made several trips to LOTM, and some in this congregation became acquainted with him. He shared with the group that most of his family still lived in Ndoombo, and the group was invited to visit his village and family when they were there, especially since they were going to be close by in Arusha.

The LOTM group, in fact, made their journey to Tanzania and did, in fact, visit this young man’s village of Ndoombo. While there the LOTM group learned that this village had the need and dream for a new church building since the one they had was old and dilapidated. To make a long story short, a member of LOTM (Robert Swartz) worked with the young man and drew up plans for a rather simple structure for their church - the roof lines of which even resemble the roof lines of this building.

Time went on, circumstances changed, people’s lives evolved, and contact was lost with the young man and no one here at LOTM ever knew exactly what happened to him or if the little church in Ndoombo ever got built. No one knew, that is, until this last Wednesday morning when, at our bible study, in the course of conversation about this very Isaiah passage, Joe Lambrecht (who was a part of that group from LOTM in ‘94) and I discovered to our astonishment and joy that the young Tanzanian man who had been in contact with LOTM in the mid 90’s was the same young man who walked into my office in the year 2001 to tell me the story of his village, his family and their need of new church building.

And that, as Paul Harvey used to say, is the rest of the story! In the end it just happened to be me, the common denominator of the two congregations, each of which was totally unaware of the other congregation’s involvement - wow!

“…so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” A word that went forth from one congregation and it made its way to another who unknowingly saw to it that the word would not return empty. It was a word that would not die!

Today we unveiled a new display in the narthex of some of the primary causes we support with our monthly second offering. We can say that everyone of those started as a “word” – a small word of one person or a few persons that took the shape of an idea, or a proposal, or a passion, or even a plan of action that went forth and attached itself to others – who in turn made it their word and perhaps augmented it – and it went forth from them and the process continued – until those efforts have ultimately involved and touched hundreds, if not thousands of people.

In 1995 another young man walked into my office in Anchorage, Alaska. His “word” was succinct and to the point: “Gloria Dei Lutheran Church ought to be able to build a Habitat for Humanity house!” It wasn’t framed as a question or a request. It was an exclamation – a declaration! At that time Habitat for Humanity was trying to get a foothold in Anchorage, and they were struggling. To make a long story short, the “word” that young man brought to me went forth and eventually attached itself to ten Lutheran congregations who came together to build two houses at once (side by side) – and a house every other year since – which only stimulated other denominations and congregations in Anchorage to get involved and build houses as well – and Habitat for Humanity came alive and gained a solid foothold in Anchorage. “…so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

For Lent, I asked my confirmation youth to each create and do a service/outreach project or effort. Instead of a group project, I asked them to create their own and involve others. It was amazing to see their creativity and commitment. They did all sorts of things. Examples include: One youth, for a week, intentionally did random acts of kindness and kept a log of each act. Another collected used toys and gave them away. Another with his family sold hot dogs at school to raise money for Haiti. Another went around the neighborhood and collected for the FIRC Food Bank. Another participated in the “Breckenbeiner” Ski Fundraiser. Another helped at the Community Dinner – and more – there are 18 in the class! I told them to think of each project as a “word” of the Kingdom of God - a word that Jesus would affirm, that went out into the world through them – and then to trust it would not return empty, but would make a difference – even if it was a difference that they could not see or measure exactly.

How many times have I heard the tragic and discouraging lament in my ministry, “Pastor, I am just one person. I cannot make any real difference.” All I can say is, “Baloney!” That was certainly not the mindset of the early communities that sprung up around Jesus in those first decades after him. They experienced his life and presence as a power and energy that would not die! That’s a great deal of what they meant by resurrection on a practical, every day level. For them, Jesus was a power, an energy, a presence that would not die! His life kept coming to life again and again in their communities of faith. You can feel and perceive it in the words of the epistle for today, “We are afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed.” (2 Cor 4:7-11)

“…so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

A word of: love, grace, and compassion; a word of advocacy for social justice; a word of forgiveness and reconciliation; a word of hope and peace; a word of kindness and understanding; a word of affirmation, respect and dignity – whether it’s a spoken word, a gesture, or a plan of action is never done in vain. Why? Because of the promise: “so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Many times in my ministry, sometimes months or even years after the fact, someone will say to me or tell me what a difference something I said or did had made to them. Most of the time I don’t even remember the incident! What that tells me is that even and especially the littlest things (littlest words and gestures) make a difference. None of us is powerless. We have been given this incredible promise in Jesus – that his life simply will not die!

One thing we can all do is live our lives as if this promise is true. We, like Thomas, may doubt it, doubt it sincerely and totally – and that’s OK. But even with our doubt, we can still choose to live as if it’s true and then see for ourselves. And, you know, like Joe and I were this last Wednesday - we just may be surprised!