Rising From the Ashes - Homily from the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lorain

Photo Credit - Melissa Steeber

I remember one time in one of my classes I was talking with the kids and we had this discussion on what our responsibilities were to help other people.  The kids were all over the place – some said we should help anyone who is down on their luck.  Others said we should help others if they deserve it.  But there was one person who said, “You know, it says right in the Bible – “I am not my brother’s keeper.”   That’s  my motto.  Every one for himself.”

I then had to explain to him that the phrase he was referring to, one that is so often misquoted out of context as an excuse to explain why someone didn’t want to get involved, was really from the story of Cain and Abel when God asked Cain where his brother Abel was.  Cain had killed his brother Abel and thought he could divert God by answering back, “I don’t know.  Am I my brother’s keeper?”  Cain’s diversionary tactic didn’t work, though, and God, who really knew what had happened all along, condemned Cain’s actions and punished him accordingly.  So I told my student that his interpretation of the phrase he thought came from the bible that gave him permission to ignore the needs of others was really an excuse that God wouldn’t accept, because in reality, we are all, through the graces bestowed on us by God, we are all our brother’s keepers.

The readings today all point to our responsibilities as Christians to help, support and love each other.  God wants us to know that, no matter what our circumstances are, and no matter what the circumstances of those around us, he expects us to be available to allow Him to work through us.  He accepts no excuses – Not “I don’t have time.”  Not “They don’t deserve it.”  Not, “I don’t have anything to give them.”  God tells us we have a responsibility to be our brother’s keeper and to carry his message of love to all we encounter, not just those we want when it is convenient for us.

We, as church, are blessed with so many opportunities to be Christ to others.  We, as believers, have accepted the responsibility to help others.  None of this has been more evident than this past week as a result of a fire at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lorain. 

This church is located in downtown Lorain and has a history that goes back 90 years of servicing the poor and needy.  The church houses a food pantry that serves 350 families a month and provides parish nursing and other needed services not only to its own parishioners, but also to anyone in the neighborhood that needs help.  They are part of Family Promise and help to shelter homeless families.  They have a unique ministry that is called, “The Front Door Ministry,” where people come to the front door to get help for various emergencies.  In all of their programs, they emphasize the dignity of the individual needing help and recognize their responsibility as Christians to do what they can for them.

But then, a little over a week ago, a fire started in the basement of their church, and the whole church was destroyed.  This included their worship space, a custom made organ valued at $1 million dollar with priceless historical value, their office space, their meeting space and every bit of their food pantry where they kept supplies that helped 350 families every month.  All gone in a couple of hours.  Experts have determined that the fire was intentionally started by someone and the congregation is also having to deal with that.

The pastor of First Evangelical has been quoted several times in the paper since the fire about his shock and his sorrow in his grieving.  But he has also spoken about his faith in the flock that he shepherds, the other faith communities that have rushed to his assistance, and those in the neighborhood who he has traditionally served.  Rather than dwell on the loss or placing blame on someone or something,  He has focused on rising from the ashes to continue to minister to those in need by getting his food pantry back up and operating quickly and finding ways to continue the other ministries that serve the poor.  There were no excuses and he certainly didn’t say, “We don’t have enough time,”   “Our problems are worse than theirs,”  or “We have nothing to give them.”  No, Pastor Madsen stood in an open field last Sunday and addressed several hundred people who came to worship with him, telling them, “We will find a way.  We will continue to help those who need our help.  God will provide.”

What an example for us to follow!   We too often become so mired in our own problems and issues, we forget about the needs of others, but God said that is not good enough.  He lets us know it is our responsibility to take his love to others, to be church for others, to be our brother’s keeper.  When we do this, not only do we fulfill his mission for us, but he assures us we will get everything we will ever need.

Let us pray for our Christian brothers and sisters at First Evangelical during these difficult times that they may continue to be light for so many that need them.  And let us pray that we, too, can be open to receiving the grace to be our brother’s keeper.  God has missioned each and every one of us to reach out to those who need His love, in a non judgemental, self sacrificial way that will allow him to work his miracles of conversion.

God’s love is powerful and can change the world.

But only if we open ourselves to the possibilities he gives us.

We are all united in God’s love.

Let us never forget that.