A scary sermon
The scariest sermon I every preached took place during my internship. This internship was the third year of my graduate experience. I lived with my wife and two children in Ithaca, New York. There I served as Campus Pastor at Cornell University and assisted at Trinity Lutheran Church. I was blessed with a fine supervisor and a supportive congregation. The congregation never had an intern (or vicar) in its history; I was the first. Sometimes I felt a little like I was under a microscope! Twentyfive PHD’s were members of this one congregation.
Pastor Don Cario assigned me to preach on Mark 9:30-37 which addresses marriage and divorce. The congregation was comprised of both married and divorced people. How could I preach in such a way that divorcees didn’t feel estranged, and that married people didn’t become selfrighteous? Jesus gives us the answer so clearly in that text. He uses children to bring adults back to their senses, and He points to the stubborn heart that we all have. Jesus spoke to the liberal (Hillel) Pharisees, telling them that the formal writing of a certificate does not justify divorce. He also addressed the conservative (Shammai) Pharisees, telling them that purely legal marriages are not God pleasing. Married people are guilty of spiritual divorce when they use and abuse one another. We are, as married people, guilty of spiritual divorce in our daily sin against our spouse. Divorced people are guilty of spiritual divorce when they have not run back to the Father’s arms as a little child. Jesus takes us little children, stubborn hearts and all, to His cross of saving mercy. Here we are forgiven and never forsaken! Here we have life eternal!
Both married and divorced people need the gospel as God says in His Word, “Come unto me all you weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
God’s Church on earth is the best place to rest your guilty soul. Here souls are washed every Lord’s day.
Don’t leave your soul dirty. Just as you wash your car, take your soul to the “people wash” where Jesus cleanses you from all dirt. Come single, married or divorced, receive the mercy of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection, for you! Come as a child who appreciates a new gift and live in the tender mercy of our unchanging incarnate God.
See you Sunday.
(The Rev. Kent Puls serves both Grace Lutheran and Mammoth Lakes Lutheran churches. Grace Lutheran Church is located at 711 N. Fowler St. Bishop. Sunday services are at 10:45 a.m. Mammoth Lakes Lutheran Church is located at 379 Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth. Sunday service is at 8:45 a.m. For more information, call (760) 872-9791.)