Sermons for the Month
A Stronghold In Tumult
DATE: October 29th, 2006
SERVICE: Reformation Sunday
TEXT: Psalm 46“To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN
Psalm 46, which we just read together, is on the "favorites" list that is written in the front of my Bible. It has been on that list for years, but recently when I read it a new image comes to mind. Now I remember a particular event when I hear the words, "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea; though the water rage and foam, and though the mountains tremble at its tumult." I think of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, otherwise known as "The Tsunami". Perhaps you too recall some of the news reports from December 26, 2004 when an undersea earthquake triggered a series of tsunamis (or tidal waves) that devastated costal communities in South and Southeast Asia. Did you know that the earthquake was the second largest one ever recorded on a seismograph? It also was the longest duration of "faulting" ever observed. This earthquake was so huge that it caused the entire planet to vibrate, and it triggered earthquakes in far away locations like Alaska. It even made a huge impact on the topography of the seabed. The loss of life was overwhelming; nearly 230,000 people either died or are missing. (1) I offer all that factual information to make a theological point. Perhaps it was a tragedy of that magnitude that the writer had in mind when Psalm 46 was written. If, in the midst of any earth-moving, mountain-trembling event we are able to trust and believe, as was true of the writer of the Psalm, that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, indeed that the Lord of Hosts is with us and is our stronghold, then we posses something quite valuable. As 11 of Faith's youth affirm their baptisms today they are saying, "I believe in that kind of God. I believe in One who created all that exists and declares it to be good. I believe in One who forgives us and redeems us. I believe in One who gives us faith and strengthens us for the challenges of living." And, you can bet that as life marches on for them, and for all of us, there will be plenty of opportunities to continue trusting God as a stronghold in the face of earth-shaking events. I know of two women who saw this reality during their confirmation service. About 15 years ago, at another congregation where I served as pastor, a gentleman died in church as we began worship on Confirmation Sunday. He had a heart attack as the choir, in which is wife was singing, processed. As I reflect on that day, and others like it, I am thankful that as they (and the rest of us) got ready for church that morning there was no hint of what the day would bring. Trusting God to be a very present help in trouble was vital that morning as congregation members moved him into the narthex where paramedics ministered to him. But, he was in God's care before help arrived, indeed before he was carried out of the sanctuary. While his wife waited in the library, and I sat with her, the organist and congregation leaders stepped forward, trusting that the Lord of Hosts was with them. They sang hymns and prayed, and his wife later spoke of the great comfort that provided her, and how thankful she was to be at the church when this occurred rather than at home. We did have a brief service that day and two young women were confirmed. I have no idea what I said in the condensed sermon, except I do recall looking at their drawn faces and pointing out the obvious, that in the midst of that which we cannot control, the one thing we can count on is God's strengthening presence. Even if we struggle with doubt, anger, confusion and want to scream out "why?" - and someone else has to believe it for us - it's still true that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Today is Reformation Sunday when we remember the birth of the Lutheran church and the reforming actions of a man named Martin Luther. I'm sure that when Martin Luther entered the monastery he had no idea that God would use him to reform the church. He could not have imagined that the day would come when he would be declared a heretic and an enemy of the empire. Nor could he have known that friends would one day be so concerned for his life that they would kidnap him and hide him away in a castle to keep him safe. Some time in the midst of the turmoil he wrote the hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" which is based on Psalm 46. Just as my view of that Psalm has changed in recent years, so has what comes to mind when I hear that Lutheran hymn, particularly the last verse. When the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 occurred I was Director of Pastoral Care at St. Luke Lutheran Community, a retirement community and nursing care facility. As was true everywhere we struggled to make sense out of the events of that day for months. On Reformation Sunday we, of course, sang "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God". But when we reached the last verse I looked out into the faces that had endured depression and wars and saw tears on many cheeks as we sang, "God's word forever shall abide, no thanks to foes who fear it; For God himself fights by our side with weapons of the Spirit. Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child or spouse, though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day. The Kingdom's ours forever!" The threatening situation that inspired that hymn had long sing passed, but the truth it conveyed lived on, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Today I have shared with you three items from my "events I remember" list. I could add more, times that stand out in my mind. Many of you would place some of the events on my list on yours' as well. But, you also would include other moments that are joyful, sad and challenging. As we gather here today, each of our "most remembered" lists looks a particular way, and if there is anything we can be sure of it is that it will not look that way forever. Life is not stagnant, so our lists of "remembered events" are constantly changing in ways that are unknown to us at this moment. So it will be as long as we are alive. So, we can give thanks that the words of Psalm 46 flow and adapt through the ages, bending with time, and yet maintaining an unchanging message. It is true on this Confirmation Sunday, and always, that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Indeed, God is with us, and is our stronghold.
AMEN
(1) 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake, www.wikipedia.org