Date: January 7, 2024
Bible Text: |
Sermon: January 7, 2023
“Atheist??”
This is a good time of the year for sports fans ----- football, basketball, hockey …
And today?? Bears vs. Packers. It warms my heart a bit .. when the game is over … most of the players
cross over and congratulate each other. The combination of competition and respect.
I love competition. Every day we need to “compete” ---- our job, in re-hab, taking care of our family and loved
ones. I think of 91-year-old Richard Mikal: in re-hab, working every day for hours, coming back after
surgery to have his leg amputated below the knee. “I will be back on the golf course!!” And Bill Watson,
the recipient of our love bucket a couple weeks ago. At the age of 67 … just had his leg amputated above
the knee. His spirit and determination are contagious … even over the phone from his home in Alabama.
COMPETITION goes deeper than winning or losing. It’s about giving every day your very best.
It’s not about “beating” somebody. It’s about being true to yourself and fighting hard to stay true
to the person you want to be.
In the first lesson for today -------- God says: “Let there be light.” God is pleased, and he separates the light
from the darkness. He calls the light “day” and the darkness “night.”
There is a lot of “darkness” in our world today. And there is probably some darkness in your own life.
Each day … in the midst of the darkness … we are called to hold onto the light. It’s easy to get consumed by
the darkness … and let the darkness define us. It’s not easy to see the “light” when we hear the word cancer,
or when our kid suffers, or you see bombs fly and homes destroyed.
But …….. the promise is: THE LIGHT IS THERE.
Every day … when I get up and open the front door … and see the flag waving in the wind.
I tell Peg I love her … and let Q know I’ll be back so he can help me at church …
I say to myself: I know there is a lot of darkness out there. But somehow and someway ----- each of us is
called to separate the light from the darkness … so we can focus on what is good and kind
and powerful. This requires caring, and listening, being humble and strong.
This afternoon I will share in the baptism of a young baby. I’m thinking ------- God “baptizes” us every day.
He calls us … he nurtures us … he nudges us “to see the light.”
RELIGION is an interesting journey.
I had a funeral yesterday for a Chicago cop. I call his son to talk about his dad.
Was your dad a church-goer??? Well … not much of a church-goer … but, Reverend, he was
a believer!! Now, wait a minute. My parents were married in a Methodist church. Oh ---- they became
Lutheran for a while … eventually joined the Catholic church … and then became “non-practicing”!!
I’m smiling ---- MY KIND OF GUY!!
When I think of Jesus … I think of his “universal spirit.”
I picture his face … the way he walked … his hands reaching out. I’m sure Jesus is a bit sad … when he
sees all the divisions in the church.
I’m not sure this will make any sense … but when did I ever make sense???!!
I’m thinking of 11-year-old TJ … whose funeral we had the week after Christmas. I ask his family ----- would
someone in your family like to help me with Communion? His mom points me to TJ’s uncle.
I’m not surprised. I watched he way his uncle supported TJ’s mom and older sister. He exuded a
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gentle spirit. So, I go up to him: “Would you be willing to help me share Communion at the
funeral tomorrow??”
He looks at me: “Well … I am an atheist. That may be a problem for you.”
He gets called away … and I have to get back to church for evening worship.
So, the morning of the funeral … I go up to him again -------- “I’m wondering … would you consider
helping with Communion??”
He again mentions being an atheist.
I smile. “I appreciate your honesty. I appreciate the love you have for your family.
When we share the bread and wine … it’s not about you or me or what religion we are or are not.
We are sharing a gift to those who want it. So, please help me.”
He replies: “I never thought of it that way. I am honored to help.”
The older I get … the more I learn … especially from people who claim to have no religion at all …
and yet their “spirit” speaks louder than words!!
Communion: it’s not about the denomination or the religion or the church …
it’s about our soul and spirit!!
I’m sitting in here alone … early this morning …
THE GIFT
THE LIGHT
A HUMBLE CARPENTER … with a spirit that knows no bounds.
It feels good!!
Don Borling
All Saints Lutheran Church
13350 S. LaGrange Road
Orland Park, IL 60462
January 7, 2024
www.allsaintsjoy.com allsaintsjoy@sbcglobal.net 708-448-2939