Claimed, gathered and sent

When I looked at the gospel passage from John 14:15-21 , verse 18 was like a neon sign and I knew that was the message for the folks at Bethel Lutheran Church   in Portville, NY. This is my sermon based on the gospel passage: What comes to mind when you hear the word orphan? Maybe you think of the TV ads for various organizations that ask you to support an orphan who lives overseas. You may be supporting one of those children. The story of Jane Eyre may come to mind or Dickens’ Oliver Twist. Or maybe you know someone who as a child lost his or her parents thereby becoming an orphan. We typically think of children when we hear the word orphans , but any of us can be orphaned at any age. In Jesus’ time, orphan was a common metaphor to describe disciples left without their masters. The phrase “leave you orphaned,” could also be understood as an idiom meaning, “leave you helpless.” One who was orphaned was without the aid and comfort of those who serve as associates or frie...

When I hear this, I think of all those who have suffered so much from weather driven disasters, both overseas and in our own country. And then along with that, we have the gospel text for tomorrow: 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.   16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you anothe r Advocate, to be with you forever.   17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.   18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.   19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.   20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.   21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."   (John 14:15...