Saint Luke's Lutheran Church

The old man was dying, and he knew it. His dying wish was to have his six children with him. It had been a long time since they had all been together, for hard feelings and conflicts had divided the family. One by one each came to say farewell to their father. When all his children were there, he made his final plea in words he had carefully rehearsed: "All I ask is that you love each other," he said with tears moistening his hollow eyes. "Now is the time for you to forgive and be one. I can longer be the peacemaker. It is up to you to forge the bonds that will make this family strong. Please, stop blaming each other and bickering with each other. Ask God to help you overcome your differences and to lead you along the paths of righteousness."

In that hospital room, each one promised to respect their father's wishes. Within an hour their father was dead, and three days later they buried his ashes at the cemetery. When it was all over, the six children went their separate ways, never to hear from or speak to each other again.

In the final hours of his life, Jesus had gathered his children, not around a hospital bed but around a table. After eating his last supper with them, Jesus made his final plea: Love one another, as I have loved you. Then he prayed. He prayed for his disciples, asking the Father to make them one. Then Jesus prayed for us, Jesus prayed for Cara and Kristin, for Dan and Kyle, and also he prayed for each one of you. He prayed that we might be one.

A friend of mine tells about a Baptist family that moved into a predominately Lutheran community in Minnesota where there was no Baptist church. Their six year old boy was the same age as the girl next door, and the two immediately became fast friends. One day, their mothers decided to take them on a picnic at a park with a little creek running through it. After eating the picnic lunch, the two youngsters went off exploring. The girl's mother said to her, "Don't get wet. We didn't bring a change of clothes." The shallow creek was just too inviting, however. So, with his mother's warning ringing in her ears, the girl decided that they should take off their clothes to wade in the water without getting them wet. Totally unembarrassed, the girl stripped to his birthday suit. Her new-found friend just looked at her in amazement and said, "Grandma was right. Lutherans really are different from Baptists."

Yes, there are differences between Lutherans and Baptists. There are differences also between Lutherans and Lutherans, and there are differences among us. Just because we belong to the same congregation, does not mean that we are all alike - we do not all think alike or look alike or live alike. In fact, there things about which we disagree - sometimes deeply, and we debate them vehemently. And yet, Jesus prays that we might be one.

In this prayer, Jesus asks the Father to make us one, not to make us alike. Jesus' concern her is not about diversity, but about discord. Unity does not eliminate diversity. The absence of diversity is not unity but uniformity, and unity and uniformity are not the same. Uniformity is bland and boring. Unity is exciting and challenging. Uniformity inhibits growth. Unity stimulates growth. Uniformity is OK, but unity is a thing of beauty. A choir that is not on the same sheet of music or following the same beat is not as pleasing to the ear as a choir which sings in unison. Better still is a choir that sings in harmony, with different voices adding depth and richness to the sound. That is unity.

Jesus prays that we may be one, not that we may be uniform. Jesus prays that we all be in harmony, not that we all be in unison. Jesus prays for this unity because unity is not something that we can create for ourselves. It is a gift. Our unity is in Christ. So when Jesus prays that we may be one, he repeatedly describes that unity as us being in him and him being in us.

Notice what this means. Christianity is not an individual religion or a private faith. Faith in Jesus puts us into relationship with all of God's children. The church, especially a congregation, is like a family - a family that is made up of lots of different people. In the church, just as in a family, there are some you may like better than others - usually because they are more like you. But in a family you are not free to pick and choose your brothers or sisters. In the church, just as in my own family, there are times when someone says or does something that is hurtful or antagonistic. But in a family you are not free to simply walk away or write people off. Yes, I know that this happens - in families and in congregations. But when it does happen, it grieves the parent's heart. In the same way, God's heart breaks when his children do not "bear with one another in love and make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

This unity, this bond of peace, is not just so that we can all be one big happy family. Jesus has an even greater purpose in mind. The reason Jesus prays that we might all be one is so that the world may know God's love. The purpose of St. Luke's Lutheran Church is summarized in our mission statement: "To know Christ and to make him known." This is why we exist as a congregation - and this is why God has called you to be a part of this congregation.

Those of you who are being confirmed today have spent most of your life focusing on the first part of this mission: "To know Christ." You have spent a lot of time learning about God in Sunday School and Catechism classes. You have spent a lot of time learning how to relating to God in worship, in small groups, in your mentoring programs, and in the fellowship events.

Today marks the point in your spiritual life when you will formally commit yourselves to the second part of this mission. Open your hymnals to page 201. At the top of this page you find the Confirmation commitment. Look at the third line in that list of infinities: "To proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed."

This is what is expected of every member of the church: to proclaim the good news of God in Christ. Notice that this proclamation is to be made through word and deed. This is not multiple choice. We do not get to pick one or the other. We are called to share our faith both through what we say and through what we do. For it is when our words and our actions are consistent with each other, when what we do reinforces what we say, that the message is proclaimed with full power and conviction.

I know that some of you may be thinking to yourselves: "I can't do that!" Or "I don't know how!" I say to you, "Yes, you can. You can do this." If you are able to talk about your parents or your children, about sports or the weather, about your school or your work, then you can talk about the love of God and what Jesus has done for you on the cross. Now, you may not know how to do that very well. If that is the case, then maybe you should learn how. It is something that can be learned. Take one of our Faith Sharing Seminar, or look to the example of some of our youth who have taken Peer Ministry Training, or join a Bible study group with people who can show you how and allow you to practice sharing your faith with them in a caring and accepting environment. As you do, remember that Jesus is praying for you, and remember that the very same night he offered up this prayer, Jesus also promised to send the Holy Spirit who would teach us and lead us into all truth.

To know Christ and to make him known. That is our mission as a church and that is your mission as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Today, let us join with Jesus in praying for Cara and Kristin, Dan and Kyle; and let us also join Jesus in praying for ourselves. And when we pray, let us pray that we may all be one, united in love and in faith and in purpose, so that the world may know the love of God in Christ Jesus. Amen.