Text: Luke 12:13-34
In the name of + Jesus. Amen.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
There is a difference between wisely saving for the future as opposed to hoarding in fear. For God has promised to provide for us, as our Lord comforts us: “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” Jesus refers us to the birds: “God feeds them” day by day without need for barns and storage facilities and banks. When we trust in God, when we have faith in His promises, we can keep things in proper balance: managing our material goods wisely without falling into fear and covetousness.
For as our Lord teaches us, our souls could be required of us at any time, maybe even today. And then what becomes of our amassing of wealth? So instead of laying up treasures for ourselves, we should be “rich toward God.” Our lives should be focused on the kingdom and not on securing more stuff.
We were all stunned and saddened that the Rev. Charles Henrickson, was suddenly called to his heavenly home. To some of you, he was a teacher. To some of us, he was a colleague. To many, he was a friend. He was also a husband and a pastor. To God, he is and remains His dear child, redeemed by the waters of Baptism and the mighty promises of the Word of God. Pastor Hendrickson’s last sermon, which went unpreached to his congregation, proclaimed this same Gospel that comforts all of us when the souls of our friends and loved ones are required of them. Pastor Henrickson’s sermon included this proclamation of the Gospel:
“‘Abide in the vine.’ In other words, stay connected. Remain where you are, connected to the vine. The idea of remaining where you are could sound kind of boring. But when it comes to the Christian life, nothing could be further from the truth. Far from being dull and lifeless, for the Christian, abiding in the vine--that is, remaining connected to Christ--is dynamic, active, and productive… Is this how you see yourself? We may have many identities in life: teacher, student; employer, employee; husband, wife; parent, child. But first and foremost is your identity in Christ. In baptism you were connected to Christ. You were joined to Jesus. Now your life is linked to his. Jesus gives you your identity. And here’s what he says it is: ‘You are the branches.’ Branches are defined by their connection to the vine. Jesus is the vine, and so your identity is defined by your connection to Christ. It is in that relationship that you will bear fruit in your life… Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you rejoice in your Baptism and you receive the body and blood of Christ in Communion. Let God’s word transform your mind and sink deep into your soul, as you sing the liturgy and hymns of the church and hear the preaching and teaching of God’s word. Let Jesus’ words abide in you… Abide in the vine. Stay connected to Christ. Your relationship to Jesus is your basic identity in life. He is the source of your life and the secret to your fruitfulness. Receive life from him as you continue in his word. This is where and how you will find what you need to be fruitful. Abide in the vine, and you will bear much fruit.”
Thanks be to God for this proclamation from His servant. For we don’t have to amass and hoard wealth. God Himself provides “daily bread” for us. We can be wise without being fearful. We can be frugal without being miserly. We can be generous without being foolhardy. But most importantly of all, we can live our lives with boldness, without anxiety, as branches connected to the vine. We don’t have to fear poverty, and we don’t have to fear death. Life is meant to be lived, as Jesus says, abundantly. We do so by faith in His words. And we, like Pastor Henrickson, are ready whenever our souls are required of us, for we are attached to the vine. And like our dear brother who now awaits the resurrection of the body with us, but who waits in heavenly glory singing with the saints and angels, we have “moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” For, dear friends, just as Pastor Henrickson preached and taught, just as he lived and died, and just as we will see him again in the flesh: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Thanks be to God for his mercy shown to us, and to Saint Charles his servant. Let us all likewise hold fast to the vine and reap our eternal reward. Let us “fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Amen.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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