Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
In light of the events in this nation the past week, I offer these words with a heavy heart, as a follower of Christ, a Pastor in Christ's Church, a citizen of this nation, a son of a Navy officer.
I have been thinking about what my father would have thought of the events of the last week had been alive. Please know that he was a person of faith. Servanthood was at the core of his being as a son, husband, father, Navy officer and civilian leader. He was a student of history who had been present for events which are now central to this nation's history. We had seen combat in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, three wars.
In 1965, he was the commander of a task force of mine sweepers which traveled up the Mekong River to Phnom Penh. The mission he led was to bring diplomats of the United States and South Vietnam governments to meet with diplomats of the Viet Cong, and the North Vietnamese and Chinese governments in the palace of Cambodian President Lon Nol. The two groups represented were adversaries, enemies. They were at war. The mission was to bring about peace. We know from history that their mission did not succeed. Only a year after my father returned to us in Yokohama, Japan did we learn where he had been as it was a secret mission.
Only twice did I hear my father speak of this mission. I remember his heart was heavy each time the subject was broached. As a person of faith, I knew he had prayed for peace even as he prayed for the safety of the men under his command. It was a missed opportunity which led to the death of thousands who need not have died.
In the Rite of Affirmation of Baptism in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, one of the promises asked of the person affirming their baptism is "will you strive for justice and peace in all the earth?
That is a profound statement to affirm.
This past week the leader of a war-torn nation, a nation which had been invaded, came to visit with the leader of another nation. They had previously viewed each other as friends, allies in democracy. But on this occasion, rather than offer assistance without reservation, without payment, the host of the meeting turned a gift into something to be purchased, and also expected extravagant gratitude beyond that which had already been shown on scores of occasions. The host had turned the relationship into one in which one party was to be subservient to the other. And the subservient party was the one fighting for the life of his people.
Wednesday we begin the season of Lent, forty days when Jesus makes his way to the cross. It is a time to examine ourselves, acknowledge our frailty and our sin. The Devil is at work in the world and Jesus wages spiritual warfare on our behalf. He is the host who doesn't seek to extract anything from us who would be defeated without his victory on our behalf. He is friend, servant, and Lord. He purchased our forgiveness and new life not with "silver or gold (extracted from the earth), but with his holy and precious blood and innocent suffering and death." We say thank you not under compulsion. What Christ offers he does freely with no expectation of anything in return. Jesus' desire is for us to have life and have it abundantly. Without the servanthood of this host, we would surely die.
We are called to follow Christ and he alone. We are called to be Christ to our neighbor.
I cannot help but think of what my father would have thought of what transpired this past week between a host and his guest.
I cannot help but think of what Our Father thinks of what transpired this past week between a host and his guest.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Pastor Frank Kauzlarich