Fifth Sunday of Easter; April 20, 2008; Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester.
1 Peter 2:2-10.

Dear Friends in Christ, Grace to you and Peace, from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. AMEN.


You would be unusual if you didn’t enjoy an occasional compliment. You get that new hair cut, and you are pleased that someone notices. You work hard on a project, and you are commended for your work. A son or a daughter tells you that you are the best mommy or daddy in the world. A coach tells you that you did a good job. An audience applauds when you are done with a song or a play or a presentation. All of those are tremendously affirming.

Through the words of Peter, I would like to compliment you in the highest manner possible. People of God, “…you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.” It is easy to read over those words quickly since there are important words that precede and important words that follow.

But think for a minute. You are chosen. That is a great word. We like to be chosen. You are holy and royal. Who wouldn’t enjoy being treated like royalty, or to be treated like the Pope has been treated in our country this past week? You are God’s own people! We are proud to say that we are Dover/Eyota Eagles or John Marshall Rockets or wherever we attend school. We are often proud to say where we work or the family to which we belong.

A couple of months ago I was teaching a new member class, and we introduce ourselves at the beginning, including a place of work. The second person of the 40 in the room said, “I am one of the 30,000.” Most laughed, understanding the reference to our biggest employer in town, the Mayo Clinic. Two people later, someone said, “I’m one of the 30,000, too.” By the time we got around the room, about a third of the people had said with smiles that they were one of the 30,000.

That is terrific. I have more terrific news. You are part of millions, and your loving employer is none other than God! God even has a name for you—you are a part of the priesthood! In our lesson from First Peter this morning, Peter uses the term in a sense of evangelism, worship, and service. We are privileged to be amongst the priests of God with a holy job description. We are to worship; we are to spread the good the news; and we are to serve others. What a privilege and responsibility! I would particularly like to dwell this morning on our sense of serving others, particularly since, in our Gospel reading for today, Jesus also tells us that we are to do the works that Jesus has done in the world.

We are to be priests to others. Recently I was given an article that had been written in the March edition of “The Tower”, a newsletter of Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The author had a friend who spent some time in our fair city for medical treatment. As a devoted Christian, Nadine wanted some Christian care for her friend, Linda. She didn’t know exactly where to turn, but she remembered that Minnesota is known for its Lutherans. She writes, “I now truly believe that God led me to Bethel Lutheran Church. It looked so inviting with a big welcome center and beautiful red Pentecost banners hanging on every lamp post in the parking lot.”

She writes that she walked hesitantly into the building, but was greeted with warm smiles by the office staff. She told them that she was a Norwegian Lutheran who was looking for help for a friend back home. Shortly, she was sitting in a pastor’s office, and the pastor promised that Bethel would find a visitor/helper

Nadine flew back to Michigan believing she had done the best she could, but without any certainty that this church called Bethel would come through. But this church did come through in a woman whom I will call Mary. Each time Mary visited Linda in the care center or hospital, Linda would call home with absolute joy. A prayer shawl was given to Linda through the ministry of the church. It isn’t as if Mary didn’t have challenges of her own—a recent death in the family, grown children and grandchildren, assisting an aging parent, coordinating some ministries at Bethel. Yet, there she was—a faithful servant.

Writes Nadine: “Why am I sharing my very personal story? The Bible is full of stories used as illustrations to deepen our faith and inspire us to serve. It is easy to think that was `way back then; today is different.’ No, God still works through people. Faith remains all about relationships, a relationship with God and with people…family, friends, and, yet, even strangers…. May we all be a Mary when God needs us to serve him.”

May we all be Marys…and priests.

Dr. Jim Standiford, a prominent pastor in San Diego tells about his father, a devoted churchman. His father loved the church but he was a frequent and severe critic of those with whom he disagreed on church matters. Standiford recalls times when his father “chewed out” the Administrative Board of his home congregation. His father could be a difficult man at times. Then his father’s mother died.
Dr. Standiford’s grandmother was one of the matriarchs of the congregation. She was affectionately known to all as “Mother Standiford.” At the end of her funeral service, as Standiford’s dad was beginning to walk down the aisle out of the church behind her casket, he collapsed. Two of the very persons he had so recently publicly criticized came to his side, lifted him, and walked down the aisle one on each side supporting him. It was in that moment, as a high school junior, that the younger Standiford saw the church in a whole new light. Suddenly he understood what the church was. Those two men’s demonstration of their love for his father became Jim Standiford’s call to ministry.

We are priests to one another—whether we are strangers like Mary to Linda and Nadine—or even if we disagree with one another—supporting others in the name of Christ. There is any number of ministries at Bethel in which one could become a priest to others—locally, nationally, and internationally! No matter what your gift is, it can be put to use for the good of others. You may think that you have no priestly gifts. Really? You don’t think that visiting someone in the hospital or making a telephone call to someone who needs a friend is without worth? Do you believe that installing sheetrock in a Rushford house severely damaged by floodwaters doesn’t mean the world to someone? Do you believe that getting on a bus and riding all the way to Mexico to strengthen our Christian bond in Christ goes unnoticed?

Oh, God has given us great gifts. Today we say goodbye to one of those gifts in Lissa Kahl who is superbly equipped as one of God’s priests. And she has offered us those gifts the past eight months. She has taught me and others something about being a servant within God’s holy nation. How blessed we have been and continue to be.

We are called to be stirred in our hearts and spirits. We are called to be different, to hold ourselves to a higher standard—the standards of love and service.

“Why should I worship a dead Jew?” challenged a sincere young Jewish student who had been attending evangelistic meetings conducted by a man named Alfred Ackley. “Why should I worship a dead Jew?”

Answered Ackley, “He lives, I tell you. He is not dead, but lives here and now. Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands.”

Ackley is the author of the hymn that we will sing shortly. Ackley knew what it means to be a royal priesthood. He knew what it means to be the people of God. He knew about the works we are to do in the name of Jesus Christ. He knew, because he could proclaim the living God. “You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart.” AMEN.