It is said that Bernard of Chartres the French philosophers of the 10th century used to compare people of his generation to dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants. He pointed out that they could see better and farther than their predecessors, not because they had better vision or greater height, but because they were standing over their gigantic statures. That is true, not only in Chartres’ generation, but also in ours. And this church is a great example of that. We are here today beginning a new year and installing new leader because of the genuine faith and deep commitment of women and men who supported this community with their talent, time and treasure. People whom God called to serve as leaders, the same way all of you have been called.
To recognize the value and hard work of others and our dependency of what they did has been part of our faith as Judeo-Christian people. We cannot separate ourselves from those great women and men who carried on their shoulders the responsibility to bring the church forward. For instance, Israel describes themselves as Abraham, Jacob and Isaac’s children. They understand that they are the result of the covenant God made with these men. They are the result of their faithfulness. Jesus in Mark 12:27 and Luke 20:38 says, “He (meaning God) is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” We can conclude that those whom God called to serve and are not with us anymore, are alive at God’s presence.
When Jesus was transfigured on the top of the mountain, Moses and Elijah came to support Jesus, they were and are alive. They are part of the Triumphal Church. Therefore, by faith we believe that those patriarchs and matriarchs who were leaders before us are not just in the past, as part of our history, they are part of the present as well. They are the great cloud of witnesses Hebrews 12 speaks about.
Some of you being install today are new, this will be the first time you will serve, others have done it for many years and will continue doing it. Before continuing let me thank all those leaders who for different reasons will take a well deserve break. Thanks for all your hard work in this church and even when “officially” you will not have a position in our leadership, you are leaders and your advice, counsel, experience and input are always welcome.
In the Gospel of Matthew 22, Jesus was asked about the most important commandment. And today I would like to remind you of his answer. He said, “love your God with all your heart, mind and strength and He continues saying and your neighbor as yourself.” Brothers and sisters God called you to serve because He knows, you love Him with all your heart, mind and strength and you love your neighbor in such a way that you will bring to them the gospel of salvation. God thru His church chose you to continue with the ministry Jesus begun and to be the extension of those great women and men whose names and hard work are still in our memories today. Today spiritually speaking, they are with us.
Jesus asked us to “Love God and neighbor. That it is not something easy to do; even to know who our neighbor is, sometimes is hard, but Jesus gives us a hint. In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus asked an expert of the law what the most important commandment is, and the expert told Jesus “Love your God with all your heart, mind and strength…and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke says that the expert wanted to justify himself and asked Jesus, “and, who is my neighbor.” Jesus answered him with the parable of the Good Samaritan…we all know it, so I will not read it.
I just would like to recall the beginning and the end of the parable. The parable begins with the question, who is my neighbor? The center of this question is “I or me”, who of those around me is my neighbor? Now listen to Jesus’ question at the end, “Which one of these three men do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by the robbers?” He changes the person who is at the center, it is not “I or me” anymore is the “man who was attacked by the robbers” the one who was in need.
Sisters and brothers love God with all you are and all you have. And love your neighbor as yourself. Now the question is: As leader of this church whose neighbor, am I? whose neighbor, are you? Whose neighbor, are we? Whose neighbor is our church? According to the parable we must be neighbors to those who are in need. In need of salvation, in need of a visit, in need of a phone call, in need of a glass of water, in need of someone to talk to, in need of someone who shows mercy, in need of love and grace.
“Which one of these three men do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by the robbers?” Jesus asked. The expert of the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him “Go and do likewise.”
Leaders of… “Go and do likewise.” Serve God and serve the church by serving each other and by serving those who are in need.