Good Morning Calvary on the Boulevard.
And welcome to the first Sunday of Lent.
In the traditions of our faith.
Lent, a time to say, “I’m sorry!”
A double “I’m sorry.”
For the sins of our life.
The things we’ve said and done.
That have hurt our families and friends.
And the things we’ve left undone.
Sin is not only what we do.
But what we fail to do.
To love big.
Forgive often.
Push ahead.
Be of good cheer.
Devote ourselves to good works.
Pray often.
Read our Bible.
Learn and grow.
Grow up into the love of Christ.
And that’s what Peter wants for his church.
To grow up into the love of Christ.
To be mature in the things of God.
Deeply grateful.
Ready to serve.
Full of faith.
Kindness and love.
Peter directs our attention to Christ.
Because of Christ, we’re here today.
In the family of God.
With hope in our heart.
And peace in our soul.
Because of Christ.
Who proclaims to us the Kingdom of God.
The way it should be.
The way it can be.
The way it will be.
Christ invites us to sign on with the Kingdom.
To stand on the right side of history.
To stand with him.
To take up our cross.
And suffer, if we must.
Suffer for the sake of good.
For the sake of the gospel.
For the sake of Jesus Christ.
In our passage this morning, Peter celebrates.
The far reach of God’s love.
Reaching into the darkest deeps of time and space.
The love of God going to hell.
Storming the kingdom of darkness.
The realms of evil.
To preach to the lost souls.
Because the love of God is vast and rich.
There is none beyond the reach of God.
In the end, all are saved.
All are redeemed.
I believe that in the end:
The fires of hell are quenched, and quenched forever.
The darkest place filled with light.
When I think of salvation, I think of light.
The rise of the sun after a dark night.
A dark room, and someone flips a switch.
That which was dark is now bright with light.
Let there be light, said God.
On my morning walk, a home.
Dark with shadows.
Large leafy trees filled the city easement.
The sidewalk heaved up by their roots.
And then one day, the trees were removed.
A new sidewalk paved.
It’s a new home.
Beautiful in the light of day.
I think of light when I think of salvation.
Souls lost in darkness are found.
The blind can see.
All of creation will sing the songs of salvation.
The work of Christ completed.
On that glorious day:
Christ will hand the kingdom over to his Father.
And God will say to Christ:
Well done, good and faithful servant.
This week, my son, Josh, handed his keys over to the manager of the Social Center. This week, the first day of school … Josh took a great picture - a child entering the building, the last child in a line - they’re all in the building now, safe and sound … with electricity and lights, bathrooms and running water, and a kitchen that works - a beautiful building … for parties and gatherings of one sort or the other … and a place for health-care workers to store their equipment and medicine.
We’re all very proud of Josh and what he’s done … and, of course, Calvary is part of that work … all of you have prayed for Josh … the Deacons gave a most generous gift … and personal gifts from many of you, as well.
With the keys turned over, the work is done.
That’s what Christ will do one day.
Turn the keys over.
The work will be done.
Heaven and earth made new.
Christ rescues the perishing, as the hymn puts it.
Christ rescues the whole of creation.
From top to bottom.
From the hallways of heaven.
To the depths of hell.
Nothing lost.
No one left behind.
All are saved.
Those lost in the flood.
And those redeemed by the water.
By the water of baptism.
We’re saved, says Peter.
Not because of anything physical, says Peter.
But the spiritual reclamation of the soul.
The transformation of our lives.
The mark of a good conscience, says Peter.
For we have said yes to Christ.
Who first said Yes to us!
We who once lived in the shadows of sin and death.
Live now in the light of Christ.
W live by the will of God.
By the rules of love.
Peter writes a little later:
The end of everything has come.
Therefore, be self-controlled and clearheaded.
So that you can pray.
Above all else.
Show sincere love to each other.
Because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins.
Open your homes to each other without complaining.
And serve each other.
According to the gift each person has received …
Whoever speaks.
Should do so as those who speak God’s word.
Whoever serves.
Should do so from the strength God furnishes.
Do this.
So that in everything, God may be honored.
Through Jesus Christ.
To him be the honor and power.
Forever and always.
And to that, I can only say, Amen and Amen!
