We begin, on this Trinity Sunday, a six week study of 2
Corinthians. Scholars surmise that this
isn’t the second, but more likely the fourth letter that Paul has written to
this troubled congregation. It appears
that he has visited them between the writing of 1 Corinthians and this book,
and there has been a conflict that has led to many people being hurt and
disillusioned.
Relationships have been frayed and shattered and there is
woundedness that is real and tangible in this church. Paul’s word, then, in this letter, are words
that recognize the depth of the pain and the true reality as to what has
transpired…and he’s not going to just “let it go” (Elsa from the movie,Frozen…sometimes you do have to face it
and not just ♫let it go♫).
Paul, and the people of this congregation, does not want
this very real and present pain to be the thing that defines them going
forward. With that said…what to do?
Paul says in this book, we hold people accountable for their
actions, we name the pain, and then (and only then can) we allow God’s amazing,
saving, healing grace to enter. Then,
and only then, can forward momentum happen and a new future be realized.
All of that is background for these next six weeks. Let’s take a look at the text for today.
Paul starts this letter off with the shortened 1st
century greeting – it’s still filled with praise and thanksgiving; and one that
names who he is, who is with him, and to whom this letter is addressed. ‘
Then, something happens…from verse 3 to verse 7, the word “console”
and all of its derivations shows up 10 times!
I invite you to turn to your neighbor for a couple of seconds and hear
from each other what you think of when you hear the word “console, or
consolation.” [give about 10-15 seconds]
Would anyone like to share what they found?
In Greek, “console” word is pa•ra•ka•lein which carries
with it the idea of encouragement, comfort, building and strengthening. Pa•ra•ka•lein
reminds us that as we move forward in our daily life, we both receive and give
these gifts of encouragement, comfort, building and strengthening. I believe we cannot speak these words often
enough – for the rest of the world seems bent on making sure we feel
inadequate, incapable, unlovable and alone.
And we know as Christians, we are not!
We belong to the Triune God…and to each other.
Liturgically, we use this text from 2 Corinthians in the opening
prayer of the Funeral Service. It goes
like this: Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of all mercy and the
God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows so that we can
comfort others in their sorrows with the consolation we ourselves have received
from God.
Funerals and memorials are an excellent time to think about
encouragement, comfort, strength and building hope once again. It can be a powerful healing time should
family members feel (or be) estranged.
And, we engage in this idea of consolation each time we use the Brief
Order for Confession and Forgiveness – where we ask for forgiveness from
God…and (hopefully?) from each other.
Which leads us right back to our text for today. Paul is trying to bind up a broken
community. He reminds them that he has
suffered much for the sake of the gospel, and some of that suffering is recent.
In these last verses I have found amazing hope this week. Paul is so often known as some kind of
Super-Christian (which he was), infallible and indefatigable – which this quick
run of verses shows he was not! Paul
made mistakes, he suffered failures and defeats. Paul’s life was threatened and he was dealt
some crushing blows.
And…even when all of this horrible stuff happened to
him? Paul kept on preaching the Gospel
of Jesus, who is the Christ! He didn’t
let those disappointments and defeats stop his ministry which Jesus personally
gave him on that Damascus Road so many years earlier when he was stopped dead
in his tracks, blinded, and given his mission.
He was empowered by the Holy Spirit to keep on doing what
God had called him to do.
And so should we be.
Each and every one of us is called by God to do what we do – both inside
these walls and even more importantly -- outside these walls, in the world that
Jesus died to save! Your jobs, your
school work, your family life, your friends are all part of your vocational
duty as children of God and followers of Jesus!
None of us gets a bye, and none of us gets to retire from this vocational
calling that started at your baptism.
So, on this Trinity Sunday, we can celebrate the wonderful
triune God we serve!
And we can send Callie to Beach Camp and LRCC, and Katelyn
to Ireland, knowing that even though they are apart from us, they are part of
us as sisters, as coworkers in the body of Christ.
We, too, can be empowered to speak about our faith, knowing
that as we stumble perhaps with our words, the Holy Spirit will be there with
us keeping us strong and perhaps inspiring us with just the right words to say;
we can go from this place steeped and filled with God’s grace. We can go into the world knowing the real and
intimate friendship and fellowship of Jesus, our brother!
Thanks be to God for the Trinity!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen
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