Calvin Synod Herald, 2012 (113. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-03-01 / 3-4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 7 When God Says - Go! It’s a life changing experience when a young woman tells her husband “we’re going to have a baby.” As her dreams of motherhood are fulfilled - she may have thought of it for years - her world and her husband’s were irreversibly changed. She would have to learn to be a mother, and he a father. Yes, their life together would be different too. At that time so many couples realize that their house is inadequate for the baby s’ coming. Perhaps the rearranging of the furniture or rooms might be enough. Some realize that what they need is a whole different house to live in. Come To Bethlehem and See The coming of Jesus into the life of Mary and Joseph altered their lives and others completely. She was betrothed to him by her family, probably her father’s decision, and just maybe her mother had some input. Imagine their feelings when she told them she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph was in a quandary too. He surely was pleased that this fine maiden was promised to him, and now this sudden change of circumstances. But the Holy Spirit was also at work in Joseph, enabling him to understand God was at work, and enabling him to undertake the task of providing a welcoming family for Jesus, as the angel said God’s son would be called. Who could have foreseen the laborious trip to Bethlehem with Mary, the baby’s birth in a manger, or fleeing from Herod’s mad slaughter of infant boys just to exterminate an heir to David’s throne? He returned to quiet Nazareth as a safe haven for Jesus and taught him his trade. Under his care Jesus also learned his heavenly father’s business. Mother’s Work Never Done Glimpses of Mary’s life, told in the Scriptures, hint that Mary never quite understood her son’s ways. There was that scary trip where he stayed behind to talk with the teachers at the Temple. Her plea for Jesus’ help when the wine ran out in Cana was met by pleasing her with an abundance of good wine in the old jars. She feared for him with his his brothers and sisters, who tried to pacify a crowd he had angered, and probably when his townsfolk at Nazareth almost stoned him. No doubt Mary’s tears fell at the cross when her firstborn’s life was extinguished after agonizing pain that tore of his mother’s heart. In the years after as she pondered all in her heart, and shared glimpses of Jesus’ life with the new followers in his Church, she held a special place of love and respect by the disciples. Come, Follow me When God enters lives, He changes them in unimaginable ways. It was Jesus’ way throughout his ministry. When Zebedee’s sons Peter and John were fishing by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus drew them away to who know where. Following him for several years they left behind all they had. It appears John was a pillar of the new church in Jerusalem, while Peter travelled afar across another sea and established a congregation in Rome. The God who calls his children to leave all without question can be seen in the lives of Abraham and Moses, John the Baptist and Saul of Tarsus, as well as the courageous missionaries to the wild tribes of Europe. It was they who converted the ancestors of Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and America’s Pilgrims. The Knock on Your Door We should not be sursprised that when the Lord knocks upon our door that he would also bring about a radical change in our lives. We’re not talking about a slight rearrangement, but that our lives would be markedly different because he has come into our hearts. Jesus’ conversation with a rich young ruler spelled it out quite plainly. The young man knew well what was expected of a good person, and quoted from the scriptures, about loving God and the neighbor. Then Jesus replied “Do this, and you will live.” But the man was unwilling to leave his fortune behind and walked away. “Do this!” Lent makes us go face to face with Jesus, who confronts us with God’s expectations of us. Like Mary and Joseph, and the many in the years between us, the call comes to each of us also. As their tasks in God’s eternal plan of salvation were different, each of us has our own call. Yes, we know what to do, as they did. Now, do it! Doers of the Word Jesus told about two sons whose father asked them to help him in the vineyard. One said no, and the other yes. The first one repented and pitched in. The second never bothered at all. Jesus asked, “Which of the two did the will of his father.” We all know the answer! Jesus’ parents stayed in Nazareth as Jesus grew. When the Church was established, others stayed in Jerusalem. But some went afar. Not everyone is is called by God to leave home to serve in his Church, but all are called to take their part. An apocryphal story says, “On the street I saw a small girl cold and shivering in a thin dress, with little hope of a decent meal. I became angry and said to God, “Why do you permit this? Why don’t you do something about it? For a while God said nothing, then he replied quite suddenly, “I certainly did something about it. -1 made you! The View from The Cross When Jesus looked across to the thief alongside him, that soul’s life was changed and the door to salvation opened before him. Through the Church’s teaching and ministries of care, countless lives have been changed and made pleasing to God. Through Sunday School teachers, camp leaders, Christian colleges, children’s homes, prison societies, and missions at home and abroad, lives have been blessed and changed. One person whose life was in shambles found a new life through a church ministry and told a church member who supported it “Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am the life that was changed. I am so glad you gave. Another person said, ’’When we look beyond ourselves, we can see who we are a lot better: That’s exactly what Jesus was saying to the young man, with a challenge to follow him and change the priorities in his life. It’s all about following Jesus. When our lives and our charity are Christian we will see and know with certainty that we walk in the footsteps of the Fisherman and we are forever changed. Rev. Albert W. Kovács
