GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE Celebrating the Life of P. J. Strauss September 24, 2015 Lessons Psalm 23 Psalm 121 Romans 6: St. Matthew 6:25-34 Pastor David J. Risendal www.onelittleword.org drisendal@stplc.org facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, CO 80111 303/770-9300 www.stplc.org facebook.com/stplc Prayer of the Day O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our brother, P.J. We thank you for giving him to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us your aid, so we may see in death the gate to eternal life, that we may continue our course on earth in confidence until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before us; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Sermon Susan and Steve, Gabby, Barb, Don and Margaret and Alyssa, extended family, friends: grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Can I just get this out of the way, first thing? We shouldn t be here today. Plain and simple: we shouldn t be here, in this place, for this service. I believe that at the very core of who I am. I realize some people are going to try to understand the events of these past 1 1 Romans 1:7, 1 st Corinthians 1:3, 2 nd Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 st Thessalonians 1:1, 2 nd Thessalonians 1:2, Philemon 3; New Revised Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).
Celebrating the Life of P. J. Strauss (September 24, 2015) 2 nine days in terms of God s will; that God has some sort of a comprehensive plan unimaginable to the human mind, of course but in God s mind, a plan that causes all of human history to make sense. As much as we might long for this to be true, and as much as we suspect it would give us some comfort, it just isn't the case. There are forces in this world that cause things to happen which are as distressing to God as they are to you and me. And humans you and I have been given enough freedom that we can choose to do what is pleasing to God, or choose to do what goes against what God has taught us; what God stands for. The truth is: not everything in our lives goes according to God s plan. This past week is an example of that. With that said, I don t presume to understand why PJ did what he did. I do understand, though, that it was not what his extraordinarily loving family wanted him to do. It was not what any of his friends and acquaintances wanted him to do. It was not what any of us wanted him to do. And it certainly was not what God wanted him to do. It was just wrong. That s why I am convinced: we shouldn t be here today! We should be off somewhere doing what we most enjoy doing. Maybe some of us should even be somewhere up in the mountains doing it with PJ. We just shouldn t be here. But at the same time, for those of us who are people of faith, there is no other place in the world we d choose be, than right here, right now. Because in the
Celebrating the Life of P. J. Strauss (September 24, 2015) 3 midst of events we cannot understand, when the brokenness of this world crashes in and breaks our hearts, this is the place where we come to receive hope, and peace, and the strength to go on for another day. PJ s family understands this. I know, because we have been spending time together this week, and I have seen why it is so important for them that we gather together for worship. Now I suspect that not everybody in this room shares this same perspective. I m working with the assumption that some of you may be here today not because you have a deep-seated need to worship in times like this, but because it is important for you to show how much you care about PJ s family. If that is the case, we are so glad to have you with us. Thank you for joining us. And thank you for the strong message that your presence gives to PJ s family it is a sign of your intent to love them and support them and care for them in these days. What a gift that is! There are also those of us who couldn t not be here today. There are those of us who believe that there is no other place in this world we d choose be than right here, right now. Let me offer my suggestion as to why this is the case. You see, at the heart of Christian faith is the powerful promise of God. You may or may not have noticed, but when you came into this room, you came in through our baptistry. (Go ahead. It s OK. Turn around and look, if you want.) At the entrance to this room, where we come every week to meet God, are
Celebrating the Life of P. J. Strauss (September 24, 2015) 4 moving waters. A reminder of the moving water in the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. A reminder of the water that was poured over each of our heads as we became members of the Christian Church. We enter into the family of God through these waters of baptism. And as a reminder of this, we enter into this worship space through the waters of baptism. These waters are a sign of God s love for us. A love that is promised to us in Baptism, and a love that continues with us through the rest of our lives and beyond. There are many public caricatures of the Christian faith in our culture these days, among them the suspicion that Christians tend to be judgmental and hypocritical. I am aware that some people have those impressions of us. I have to admit that in our worst moments, those impressions can be accurate. In my worst moments, they can be. But in our best moments, when we are true to our faith, and when we are true to the One who died for us, the Christian faith has everything to do with this profound love of God that embraces us in baptism, surrounds us through our lives, and in the end, welcomes us into the presence of God. This profound love that, in the words of this congregation s mission statement, welcomes us into the love of God, just as we are. This section spoken from the front of the chancel, near the font: PJ received the gift of this love in the waters of his baptism. You may have noticed this display at the front of our worship area. I love this. It is so faithful.
Celebrating the Life of P. J. Strauss (September 24, 2015) 5 And it is so PJ. We have a picture of PJ, as many of us remember him. His family did a wonderful job of drawing us back into those memories with their words just a few minutes ago, and I am so grateful that they were willing to do so. We also have here a portion of his remains, clothed in this baptismal gown. It is a white linen that we call a funeral pall, and it is a reminder of the promises we have in baptism. And we also have here a pair of pretty stylish looking cowboy boots. Boots that, as I understand it, are just about seventeen years old. As the story goes, PJ was robed in a long, white baptismal gown on the day his parents brought him to the Baptismal font. During worship, he was handed to his grandfather, Pastor Don Hinchey. Pastor Hinchey poured water over his head three times, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. He marked him with the sign of the cross. And then, when he raised him up in the midst of the assembly after his baptism, he was actually quite shocked to see these shiny cowboy boots pop out from underneath the gown. Isn t that something? Born on Labor Day. Baptized on All Saints Sunday. Two months old, and PJ was already decked out and ready to head for the mountains that he would come to love so well. All of this is here as a reminder for PJ, and for you, and for me, of the deep and powerful and transforming love of God that we experience in the waters of our baptism.
Celebrating the Life of P. J. Strauss (September 24, 2015) 6 PJ received this gift of love from God. And with this love, a promise. The promise that no matter where PJ s life s journey took him, God would never leave him. The promise that no matter how dark some of the chapters of PJ s life might become, God would never leave him. The promise that no matter how deep PJ might sink into despair and difficulty, God would never leave him. A promise from God. A promise to PJ. A promise to his family. And a promise to you, and to me. We have a God who promises never to leave us. Never! You see, if our standing with God was based on the quality of our lives, or the clarity of our faith, or the consistency of our witness, we would all be in trouble, wouldn t we? After all, we re only human. But this isn t the case. Our standing with God is based on what is promised to us in baptism: that God will never leave us. And God, who promises, is faithful. Of that we need not have any doubt. That is why Jesus, later in his life, could say to his followers: Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? If God cares enough for these tiny little birds, just imagine how much God cares about us. If, in fact, God s eye is on the sparrow, just imagine how much more God s eye is on you and me. So do not worry,
Celebrating the Life of P. J. Strauss (September 24, 2015) 7 Jesus says. You are in God s hands. You who have been washed by the waters of baptism. You who have been surrounded by these waters throughout the course of your lives. You who, in the end, will be welcomed through these waters into the presence of God. This is a radical claim. I understand that. And I know that there are some who have a much narrower view of what God is up to. But honestly, our faith is a radical faith. And our God is a radical God. One who, in the cross of Jesus Christ, opened his arms and embraced the world. One whose grace and peace is far more abundant than any of us dare imagine. It is into the grace and peace of God that we commend this broken and beautiful brother of ours, PJ Strauss. It is into the grace and peace of God that we commend his family, that they might find the strength and perseverance they will need for these days. It is into the grace and peace of God that we commend our own lives, that we might be drawn into God s promise, and transformed by God s love. Grace and peace to each and every one of you. The grace of God that knows no bounds. The peace of God that passes all understanding. May these touch you, and fill you, and heal you, and inspire you, and transform you, and most of all keep your hearts and 2 minds in Christ Jesus, now and forever. Amen. David J. Risendal, Pastor 2 Philippians 4:7, paraphrased
Celebrating the Life of P. J. Strauss (September 24, 2015) 8 Gospel Lesson; English Text 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, What will we eat? or What will we drink? or What will we wear? 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today s trouble is enough for today. 3 3 St. Matthew 6:25-34, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).
Celebrating the Life of P. J. Strauss (September 24, 2015) 9 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: 6:25 Διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑµῖν µὴ µεριµνᾶτε τῇ ψυχῇ ὑµῶν τί φάγητε [ἢ τί πίητε], µηδὲ τῷ σώµατι ὑµῶν τί ἐνδύσησθε. οὐχὶ ἡ ψυχὴ πλεῖον ἐστιν τῆς τροφῆς καὶ τὸ σῶµα τοῦ ἐνδύµατος; 26 ἐµβλέψατε εἰς τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ὅτι οὐ σπείρουσιν οὐδὲ θερίζουσιν οὐδὲ συνάγουσιν εἰς ἀποθήκας, καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑµῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τρέφει αὐτά οὐχ ὑµεῖς µᾶλλον διαφέρετε αὐτῶν; 27 τίς δὲ ἐξ ὑµῶν µεριµνῶν δύναται προσθεῖναι ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ πῆχυν ἕνα; 28 καὶ περὶ ἐνδύµατος τί µεριµνᾶτε; καταµάθετε τὰ κρίνα τοῦ ἀγροῦ πῶς αὐξάνουσιν οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν 29 λέγω δὲ ὑµῖν ὅτι οὐδὲ Σολοµὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων. 30 εἰ δὲ τὸν χόρτον τοῦ ἀγροῦ σήµερον ὄντα καὶ αὔριον εἰς κλίβανον βαλλόµενον ὁ θεὸς οὕτως ἀµφιέννυσιν, οὐ πολλῷ µᾶλλον ὑµᾶς, ὀλιγόπιστοι; 31 µὴ οὖν µεριµνήσητε λέγοντες τί φάγωµεν; ἤ τί πίωµεν; ἤ τί περιβαλώµεθα; 32 πάντα γὰρ ταῦτα τὰ ἔθνη ἐπιζητοῦσιν οἶδεν γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ ὑµῶν ὁ οὐράνιος ὅτι χρῄζετε τούτων ἁπάντων. 33 ζητεῖτε δὲ πρῶτον τὴν βασιλείαν [τοῦ θεοῦ] καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ, καὶ ταῦτα πάντα προστεθήσεται ὑµῖν. 34 µὴ οὖν µεριµνήσητε εἰς τὴν αὔριον, ἡ γὰρ αὔριον µεριµνήσει ἑαυτῆς ἀρκετὸν τῇ ἡµέρᾳ ἡ κακία αὐτῆς. 4 Psalm; English Text: 23.1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 4 St. Matthew 6:25-34, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).
Celebrating the Life of P. J. Strauss (September 24, 2015) 10 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 5 First Lesson; English Text: 121.1 I lift up my eyes to the hills from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 5 Psalm 23, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit.
Celebrating the Life of P. J. Strauss (September 24, 2015) 11 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. 6 Second Lesson; English Text: 6.3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 7 Second Lesson; Greek Text: 6:3 ἢ ἀγνοεῖτε ὅτι, ὅσοι ἐβαπτίσθηµεν εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν, εἰς τὸν θάνατον αὐτοῦ ἐβαπτίσθηµεν; 4 συνετάφηµεν οὖν αὐτῷ διὰ τοῦ βαπτίσµατος εἰς τὸν θάνατον, ἵνα ὥσπερ ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ἐκ νεκρῶν διὰ τῆς δόξης τοῦ πατρός, οὕτως καὶ ἡµεῖς ἐν καινότητι ζωῆς περιπατήσωµεν. 5 εἰ γὰρ σύµφυτοι γεγόναµεν τῷ ὁµοιώµατι τοῦ θανάτου αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως ἐσόµεθα 8 6 7 8 Psalm 121, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. Romans 6:3-5, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. Romans 6:3-5, The Greek New Testament, opp. cit.