Calvin Synod Herald, 2016 (117. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2016-03-01 / 3-4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 3 from time to time by the adherents of the religion, requiring sacrifices at specific times and places. The only religion that made some exceptions was the Jewish religion, which mentions the loving relationship God had with man, and God's desire that man should treat others in a proper manner. But those commands related primarily to other Jews, not to all mankind. Secondly, the emphasis of Christianity is not on "sacrifice", but on loving God and our fellow man in all of our actions in life. Jesus repeatedly taught this in the Gospels, especially we find this emphasized in Luke's Gospel, but perhaps most beautifully we see it summarized in the Gospel according to Matthew 25:31-40: "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom preparedfor you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 1 was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.1 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'." Jesus final command encompasses all that He taught in this scripture. This is how we are to act towards all others throughout life. Yes, we win Jesus' gift of eternal life by "faith, and faith alone", but we exhibit our love for God and our faith through our actions. There is a beautiful passage in the Acts of the Apostles 9:36-37a, 39b: "Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.... All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them." It is exceptional to see this type of person in life today. Just recently my church organist, Margaret Augustine, was called home by her Lord, and she was the kind of person who took Jesus' command seriously. She was almost eighty XeCCemes 'Húsvéti 'Ünnepe két WILLIAM PENN ASSOCIATION Fraternal Life Insurance and Annuities Phone: 1-800-848-7366 www.williampennassociation.org The Only Hungarian Fraternal Benefit Society years of age, and had never been married. But she had taken as her "family" the many that Jesus had commanded all of us to love, as in Matthew 25. She had cared for her mother through a lengthy illness, neglecting her own health issues. She worked full time for 55 years, was the church organist for 40 years, volunteered at a hospital every week for 40 years, was on the Board of an orphanage for 35 years, and made it a point to communicate with persons from our area who were sent to prison, in order that during their time away from home she could share concern and love for them. Often she met with them prior to their incarceration to strengthen her relationship with those who would be soon forgotten even by their families. A truly exceptional observance of Christ's message, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. ’." She had no children, yet there well over 100 people there to pay homage to this person and the gift of love she had given them, just as the women had come to pay homage to Tabitha in Joppa. Yes, our relationship with Christ is the result of His love for us and our faith in Him. But he has called us to share His love with others in appreciation for His sacrifice. The offer of eternal life comes with this command. Celebrate the new life given us by Christ at Easter by remaking your life in His image. Rt. Rev. Kolomun Karl Ludwig Bishop
