Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 30:27-31:9; Revelation 3:1-22
“You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people.” (Psalm 86:1-2, 6, 8)
By now, you and I are witnessing many of the trappings of Christmas. Street lights. Houses decked with boughs of holly. Music on the radio. Christmas parties. What fun! I know you northern states are probably blanketed now by the white of snow, but how I wish you could experience what a Cajun Christmas is like! Forget about hurricanes. Even after Katrina, our Christmas tree sported ornaments with claws and tails. Want to know what that's about? Give me a call. Maybe your pastor and I can arrange a crawfish boil for you and your youth group this spring. Come see New Orleans. I'll give you a Christmas ornament to take home!
Remember Katrina? My family and I waited out the storm in Baton Rouge, with my dear brother, Dr. Paul Anderson. That is, Dr. Rev. Paul Anderson. He's a Lutheran pastor, in spite of what all those other letters before his name say. I wish you could have been there when he led us in Compline, the night after the storm. Come to a Higher Things conference. Compline is done every night. And done well!
Well, just after the storm I got a call from one of my elders. His house had taken in 10 feet of water. “Pastor, what will we do? Where can I go so that my family and I will still hear the gospel?” That's what he asked me, word for word. “Where are you?” “Conroe, Texas.” I about fell out of my chair. Conroe, Texas? That's where Rev. George Borghardt serves! I couldn't contain my laugher. I've known Pastor Borghardt for years, even in the days when he wasn't a Lutheran. Were those happier days? No way! I've heard him preach. God is faithful. I knew my elder and his family would still be hearing: “You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people.” He will speak peace to them, even in Conroe, Texas!
A favorite post-Katrina bumper stickers reads: New Orleans — Proud to Swim Home. You, too! When the flood waters rise, literally or figuratively, think of Baptism. Your entire landscape is covered now in Christ's Water. God has covered all your sin. With water, He has revived you, that you may rejoice in Him. So, Swim Home! Go to church tomorrow. Hear God speak. What will He say? Listen closely. He'll speak peace to you. Again.