( 1 Peter 1:3,13-21 ) - [ Deutsch ]
Dear congregation, we have baptised Kaila. In the baptism of a child lies so much promise for the future. It truly isn't difficult for a family to look ahead. Even those who encountered Jesus in the reading are looking forward to the future. HOWEVER: before they come with Jesus, they still want to take care of a few things. I can understand these two. They are hesitant to solely focus their gaze on the future. One wants to bury his father before following Jesus.
That's an act of love, the last he can do for his father. And I also understand that another wants to say goodbye to those in his house. That's the least one would think to do. But Jesus remains firm: "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." | Lk 9:62 And when I look at Jesus' life, I see that he also demanded sacrifices from himself. Never did he say that the path of discipleship was easy. To follow Jesus means to make the decision of how one wants to live. And then it can happen that one is not taken seriously and is ridiculed by others. It's not like that here. But globally, 340 million Christians are considered persecuted, tens of thousands are imprisoned, tortured, discriminated against, and killed. Christians there are the strange others who are under general suspicion. It was also the case in the early communities that Christians were persecuted.
The First Letter of Peter is addressed to the communities in Asia Minor, believed to have been written around 70 AD. It does not address individual communities or specific individuals, but rather comprehensively addresses all those who believe in Christ. And it aims to encourage the discriminated minority and revive hope anew.
Read 1 Peter 1:3,13-21
During the confirmation retreat last weekend, the confirmands considered what is essential for life and what is nice to have beyond that. Family and friends are essential to life because relationships are essential. Much in life is given to us. We cannot give it to ourselves. Faith is also a gift. I cannot make it myself. It's the same with love. I cannot make it myself. If you give Kaila the baptismal verse: whatever you do, do it in love, then we know: Kaila cannot make this love herself. Giving love is only possible when a person receives love. From family, from friends. And from the loving promise of God in baptism: I am here for you. You belong to me. I love you unconditionally.
Your life shall be holy forever and ever. The goal of faith, the salvation of souls, awaits you. That is God's gift to us. And just as the First Letter of Peter is probably addressed to a baptismal situation, so it speaks into the baptism of Kaila and into all our baptisms, which once and for all say to us: Child of God - you are redeemed. The blood, the crucifixion of Jesus, was not just an execution, but also a redemption from the bitter world and often unworthy life. After the resurrection, we know that this harsh world is not everything, but God promises us a paradisiacal world in which Jesus can already live. Freed from fear, we may live, accepted by God and destined for eternal salvation.And this feeling of liberation should carry us through our lives. Jesus Christ has saved us, so we should live as the saved.
This is not always an easy path, new challenges continually arise in the way. The path leads in the right direction when there is freedom on the signpost. Because the Christian community stands in the footsteps of the liberation of the people of Israel from Egypt, from distress and slavery. There are recurrent allusions in the First Letter of Peter. They should be open to what God intends for them. Strengthen the mind and be sober, the letter writerurges. Try to find a balance between adaptation and distance from the world, which is referred to here as strangers. It is a passage to God for all who know God and call upon his name and do not obey the rules of the world. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance; The question always arises: to whom do I want to obey? There are desires and temptations. Do I let myself be driven by them, restlessly, always wanting more? To whom am I obedient? The Greek word in the original text for obedience means listening to the call of God. God speaks to me. I am his counterpart. God wants a relationship with me. I am to lead my life in awe of God. We will all stand before his judgment one day. And thisthought should motivate us to live consciously and responsibly. And then there is another thought that I would like to delve into. It says in the letter: as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.16For it is written (Leviticus 19:2): “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Holy, one often thinks: to be without flaws. But that's not what it means. What does it mean to be holy? In the Old Testament, it means being devoted to God, belonging to him. Church is holy because it belongs to God, the holy Christian church is so because it belongs to God. The Pharisees thought: being holy sets them apart from others, makes them better people. No, dear congregation. That's not what being holy means. God is holy because he comes into the world in JC, he seeks a relationship with us. Being holy is a relational concept. You are good, child of God, I may be told. God wants a relationship with you. One that carries you through life. And if someone makes such a promise to me, then I want to listen. And I also want to change because I want to correspond to this promise. Because I know under this promise I can grow and unfold. People change when they receive this promise. Dear congregation, the strength of this text lies in its encouraging power. Move forward, follow Jesus. Through baptism, you are born again to a living hope. It is greater than anything negative that happens in this world. Jesus has conquered death and thus all life-threatening forces. Each decides for themselves whether they want to be bearers of hope. Hope is entrusted to me, which not only withstands crises but also radiates. It is entrusted to us to be a source of energy. Against paralyzing thoughts, trust helps; something is expected of you. Even on days of lament, you can emit impulses of confidence and live free from the constraints of fear. You are entitled to an indestructible joy. Perhaps that already causes an energy boost. And if not, always seek the reason for hope and joy - singing, praying, or in silence. I cannot prevent something negative from happening to me from the outside, but how I deal with it, and where I seek my source of strength, that I decide myself.
There is the sea of hopelessness and the sea of love. What do you choose?