Preke - Sermons - 2022

“God's love is like an ocean. You can see the beginning but not the end.”

This is a quote from Rick Warren, American pastor and author of many inspirational Christian books. When I'm on the beach looking at the horizon, or stand under the starry sky in the evening, then the only one thought that comes to mind is endless or without limits.

Our lives are not without limits. Wherever I go I reach my limits. If I want to travel, I have to cross borders. Especially now with the corona crisis, even provincial borders and a curfew restricted our freedom of movement. Not infrequently I am at the limit of my patience, of my concentration, of my knowledge. So many limits characterize our lives: poor and rich, black and white, native and foreigner. It is often precisely the borders that are the causes of the problems of this world. You are from here; you speak our language - but you don't. You belong us - but not you. Boundaries boundaries boundaries, they are everywhere. In many cases they are necessary to give us an orderly and balanced life enabling us not to be taken advantage of. Limits prevent burnout and depression... But they also lead to resentment and violence, discrimination and even war. And they deprive us of the freedom we wish for.
Jesus also had limits. He knew when to act and when he had to bide his time. He had times when he could be among people and times when he had to withdraw. He had times to heal and times when he had to go elsewhere. Then Jesus also got tired and had to rest, Jesus became thirsty and had to be given something to drink, Jesus had to be alone to be able to hear the voice of God so that he could fulfill God's will. As a human being, Jesus felt his limitations, and in that he was like us. He wasn't afraid to show others their limits, for example, the temple merchants, Pharisees, and his relatives. Jesus was also confronted with limits in his humanity. In this way he expressed his boundless love for God and man.

Is God without limits? God's boundlessness lies in his love for all men, and in his promise of hope for the kingdom of God. He doesn't set any limits. He would like to welcome everyone into his Kingdom; everyone who accepts this promise, whether Christian by birth or non-Christian. He calls them all, because he is omnipotent. He is "all-knowing" and "eternal" - he is without temporal and spatial boundaries as we know them. His love, grace and hope are there for all of us, despite our faults, despite our sins. This is exactly what we celebrate during Epiphany: Jesus has come. Jesus came for all people all over the world. God's salvation knows no barriers and borders. It can and should spread everywhere. We must only believe it as it is described in today's gospel- reading. Have faith in the work of Jesus. The Bible does not give us a recipe on how to overcome our own limitations. Nor does it tell us how to accept God's boundless love. The Bible takes us into the lives of normal people like the centurion of Capernaum. We recognize ourselves in these people. We learn from them.

There is comfort in knowing that the Christian message is limitless and does not stop at national or international borders, not at social classes or religions. It applies to all people without exception. It overcomes all differences and all that separates us. It gives us a foretaste of that colorful and multilingual kingdom of God that we see in the Wochenspruch: “They will come from the east and from west, north, and south, to sit at the table in the kingdom of God".

Today's sermon text, about the centurion of Capernaum, tells us about that love and grace of Jesus Christ that transcends all boundaries. A Roman centurion comes to Jesus with an urgent request. His servant is sick, paralyzed and in pain. A tricky situation, because the Centurion of Capernaum is a heathen. But he dares to cross the invisible border that separates Jews and Gentiles from each other, and he dares to turn to Jesus. And Jesus turns to him. He looks into his heart. He sees a person people in need. He does not see the uniform or the religious affiliation. It was not customary for a Jew to address a heathen and listen to him. Such a heathen would have been damned. But Jesus acts by different standards. In his eyes the heathen soldier was primarily a human being; a man in need He was a worried, desperate individual who had run out of words and tools to rescue a servant, and who saw only one possibility: Jesus. Jesus recognizes his need, Jesus recognizes even more. He sees a possibility of that centurion gazing into the expanse of heaven and into the boundless love of God. Here a heavenly blessing occurs because Jesus succeeds in bringing the love of God into the life of a heathen. Jesus replies, "Yes, I will come." A sign of God's love, without limits. It all ends well, or not.

A second tricky situation arises.

According to the understanding at that time, a Jew became 'impure' or 'unclean' through contact with Gentiles who were 'impure'. Jesus was willing to ignore these rules and help the heathen not to lose his faith in the omnipotence of God. The centurion recognizes the problem and acts out of consideration for Jesus by telling him that he is not worthy of a visit from Jesus and that one word from Jesus would be enough to heal the servant. One word would be enough to show how great and worthy God is in comparison to man. One word was needed to make the boundlessness of God’s mercy and love effective. Only one word!

This text is not about the miracle, the long-distance healing of the servant.

No, it's about the simple, naive belief of a non-believer for whom the kingdom of heaven is opened. “Lord, I am not worthy of you under my roof,” he says. "Speak just one word, and my servant will be healed". Here we see the intense faith in God's boundless love and devotion: Faith in a word of Jesus that brings all salvation.

Even Jesus is amazed by the centurion's faith. Here something happens that goes against our prejudices. Here we can learn to rethink, learn to repent! From the centurion of Capernaum, we can learn what real faith is, a faith beyond the limits.

And with that, this story gives us a warning:

As Christians, we often think that we have a special relationship with God. Why do we think we have a special relationship with God?

Is it because we learned a lot by heart in confirmation class?

Or is it because we go to church regularly and participate in church life?

Or that we come from a Christian home? That we support the church financially?

Or is it because we rely on Jesus just like the centurion of Capernaum? What do you think? Why is it that we have this special relationship? Only by trusting in Jesus will we find salvation.

Only if I call Christ Lord and really let him be Lord, can he penetrate into my life; into my health, into my marriage or my relationships, into the journey of my children and grandchildren, into my work and leisure time, into my house and garden, my daily bread and my hobbies. The list goes on and on. “Trust on the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your understanding.” So, it says in Proverbs 3:5. Faith is primarily a matter of the heart. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus does not say that the Word of God must take root in our heads, but in our hearts. (Luk.as 8,12)

Therefore, we should open our hearts and hope that God will speak a word to us and put it in our hearts. A word from him - taken up deep in the heart - makes us happy. If we do not only expect but also firmly and unconditionally believe that Jesus brings our lives in order, then our faith is like that of the centurion of Capernaum.

Jesus encourages us to believe like the centurion. Our lives should be filled with this faith that is so full of love, that is responsible, humble and pure. He desires such a faith will enter our hearts and take root and bear fruit. Because then we are on the right track towards his kingdom.

Examine yourself. Is Jesus finding that faith in you, here and now?

Does Jesus find faith in your heart? Is He really master of your life? Do you really accept His endless love and grace? Do you trust in him that with only one word he can change the world? Do you trust him that he can change your world with his endless love and mercy?

Then maybe you too are standing on the beach or under the starry sky and thank God for his boundless love, grace and mercy.

Amen.