The challenge for the preacher who intends to preach for the whole creation on this Sunday is heightened by the various options of the lectionary texts, along with the opportunity to commemorate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. In an effort to wade into this challenge, I ask you to consider the image of a three-legged stool. I came across this image when I was gathering background information for a new course that I would be teaching at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, “Introduction to Sustainability.” In order to create sustainability, one needs to find a way to balance Economy, Equality, and the Environment. Let’s look at what unfolds when we present all three “legs” in the context of a sermon for this Sunday.
First, the leg of economy. The word, economy, has its roots in two Greek words: oikos which means ‘house’ and nemein which means ‘to manage.’ In the church, the lectionary is one way in which we manage our house. One could say that it is the basis for our economy as church. It provides us with a structure for preaching. In today’s text Isaiah is addressing Israel after their return from Babylon. The text, one of the four Servant Songs, identifies the servant as both Israel (v.3) and as an individual who is given a mission to Israel (v.5) and to all nations (v.6). In the concluding verse we are reminded that the Lord who chooses is faithful.
If you do not usually include the Psalm as part of your worship experience, consider incorporating it into this Sunday’s liturgy. It is rich with imagery that could be used to support your preaching, including God’s actions towards us, God’s plans, as well as God’s faithfulness and steadfast love.
The theme of God’s faithfulness continues in Paul’s letter to the congregation at Corinth. It is through God’s son, Jesus, that we have the strength and spiritual gifts to respond to God’s call. The nature of that call is highlighted in our Gospel for today. Jesus says to Andrew and Simon Peter, here identified as disciples of John the Baptist, to “Come and see (v.39).”
How does God demonstrate faithfulness to God’s creation as we humans ransack the house more than care for it? Who is the Christ for us today , in this wounded creation, that we are inviting people to “Come and see”?
Now the second leg of the stool, equality. Looking to the second leg of our stool, the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. provides us with an example of an individual who sought equality for the African American people during a time of segregation. To have a better understanding of his teachings, I recommend that you take the time to read or re-read his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Just as the people of Israel during the time of Isaiah were unwilling to change their ways, the white people of the South had little interest in changing their ways. Before inequality can be addressed, it must be brought out into the open. It must be seen before there can be change.
In spite of Martin Luther King, Jr. 's best efforts, we still live in a country and a world filled with inequality. We do not want to ’come’ because we do not want to ‘see.’ Here is or an opportunity for the preacher to highlight the current inequalities, the inequities that individuals of various minority groups continue to face. In his “Letter”, Dr. King reminds us that individuals should always be treated in the words of the Jewish philosopher, Martin Buber, as participating in a subjective relationship, ‘I to thou,’ rather than being treated as an object in an ‘I to it’ relationship.
This provides an opportunity to transition to the third leg of our stool: our relationship with our environment. Do we treat it, the more-than-human-creation, as an object or a subject? Do we see the earth as something to use, or as something to embrace and cherish? Here there is also the opportunity to talk about balance. As we seek to care for God’s wonderful creation, we must do so in an equitable way. While working to improve, restore, heal our environment, we must take care to not bring harm to individuals who have been victims of previous injustices. We must also be aware that marginalized peoples are the most likely to suffer from environmental injustice, environmental racism, and the effects of climate change. This task will not be easily accomplished because, as Dr. King pointed out, privileged groups are seldom willing to give up their privilege voluntarily. People are often unwilling to change. Just look at Israel. In spite of all the urgings, proclamations, and warnings of God’s prophets, Israel resisted change. Even today, despite the teachings of Jesus, many Christian church bodies are unwilling to embrace the need for change in either our relationships with people or the environment.
Creating a three-legged stool that is evenly balanced is not an easy task, however, preaching God’s word, working to achieve equality and equity for all people, as well as caring for this earth, are tasks that are worthy of being wrestled with. Therefore, my wish for you during this season of Epiphany, is that by facing these challenges you discover illumination, enlightenment, and a deeper understanding of Jesus’ call to each and every one of us. I invite you to “Come and See” and embrace the mystery.
Kristin M. Peterson
SAM Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Twig, Minnesota
Kristin M. Peterson and her husband Tracy Close live in rural Hermantown outside of Duluth, MN. Kristin currently serves as the Synod Authorized Minister for Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Twig. She has a B.A. in Church Music as well as an M.A. in Religion and an M.M. in Music Education. For 27 years she taught courses in music and philosophy at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet, MN. She has also served a variety of churches as organist and/or choir director. Living in the Northland provides her with daily reminders of how important it is to care for this wonderful creation that God has entrusted to us.