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Joy: Becoming Who We Are!

Delivered July 27, 2003,
by Mary Mae Schwartzentruber from MCEC

Text: II Cor. 2:14 - 3:6, 17, 18

Introduction: last visit as Minister of Missions; becoming pastor in my home congregation, Bloomingdale, Kitchener

     It is a privilege to greet you one more time in the Name of Jesus Christ - and in the name of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada. It is a special privilege to celebrate with you during this 25th Anniversary.

      You have walked a courageous, pioneering path of faith and faithful service in New Brunswick and in this region, a path that did not begin here, but rather followed on strong, courageous and pioneering choices founding families had already made back in Ontario. As Mennonite pioneers/travellers of sorts — perhaps you can identify well with the missionary nature of the Apostle Paul - who shapes my reflections with you today.

      Very early in his travelling ministry, Paul had spent 18 months in Corinth, working as a tent maker alongside Priscilla and Aquila. Paul helped create the church at Corinth and he loved this church, probably writing at least 3 letters to them. (II Corinthians seems to be parts of two different letters.)

      Is II Corinthians a love letter, then? Well, not exactly! The relationship between the Apostle and the Corinthian church was stormy: here, Paul seems to be defending his own ministry. This is a letter of defence, challenge and argument. Would you consider that a love letter?

      But it is a love letter in the sense of offering correction to the church. Loving the church so much that one could not sit by and watch it go astray. To love can mean to challenge, to offer correction. It is out of addressing offering serious correction and challenge to a member of the Corinthian community in II Cor 2 that the Apostle moves into the celebration of a triumphal procession that wafts the aroma of Christ in every place! The Apostle is full of life-giving images in this argument with the church at Corinth. I will highlight 3 of them, hoping to deepen your joy in "Becoming Who you Are," becoming more of what the Spirit of God desires for you.

• The Joy of the Aroma of Christ
  2:14, 15 "God spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved...."

        "Smell"is not something we usually talk about in church :) In our society, we try very hard to control the way we smell ---- bathing, laundry, deodorant, after shave, perfume, floss .... Yet, my Congolese students of the 70's when I served MCC in the Congo wondered why white people smelled like dead horse meat!

        But here, WE are the aroma, the fragrance of Christ in the world!

        Aroma - essence - innate - fabric of being ---- What do you associate with the "good smell" of Jesus Christ? What kinds of actions and attitudes would "smell beautiful" to God and to our family and neighbours? What is the fragrance of the Petitcodiac congregation? Pause Many of you might not live right in this village. Some live far away! But you must never doubt that this village knows something about your aroma! What do you want them to smell?

        When I asked Werner's about the fragrance of this congregation, his immediate answer was service - Practical service to those in need ... those vulnerable, on the edge of society; supporting MCC - both in fund raising and in direct Voluntary Service. And of course, are peace and justice, restorative justice, conciliation not part of the fabric of being Anabaptist Christians?

        V. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved ..."

        But even the Apostle agonizes at the end of v. 16: "Who is sufficient for these things?" "Who is up to it?" Who is adequate to spread this incredibly delicate yet powerful fragrance? For a moment, Paul seems to accept the Corinthian challenge to his ministry ... who is competent or sufficient for the task?

        Do any of you recognize this question? We might not have enough time and energy to be the aroma of Christ. We might not live close enough to each other to be the local fragrance of Christ. Are we sufficient for this ministry????

        You will hear the Apostles strong response to this challenge: 3:4 "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of Spirit..."

        "God has made us adequate to be ministers of a new covenant, a covenant of Spirit." The word "ministers" here does not mean pastoral leaders — the Greek word "diakonia" is like "deacon", those who serve, ministering people who aid and support! Our competence is from God who has made us able to serve!

        Of this we are confident. We can say, "By the grace of God, I am enough. I am able to serve! I am ‘good enough' to be the aroma of Christ in my family and in my neighbourhood"

        Can we adapt the famous advertising claim I AM ... to "I AM .....CHRIST'S!" "WE ARE ....CHRIST'S!" Sometimes we may need to repent/confess to be able to say this ---- but then, let us REJOICE in it!
  
  

• The Joy of Becoming "A Letter of Christ"
  3:3 You show that you are a letter of Christ...written not with ink but with the Spirit of the Living God...."

        If the church at Corinth was a letter of Christ written with the Spirit of the Living God, shall the Church at Petitcodiac be any less? In what ways are you a letter of Christ written on tablets of human hearts?

        You, as a congregation, are a letter of Christ .... to be known and read by all. We, as individuals, are a letter of Christ ... to be known and read by all.

        A letter can go much further than an fragrance ---- as a congregation, you experience the JOY OF strong international connections - Friendship, relationship support to the church in Colombia ----- strong Support for international witness as in Australia thru Mark and Mary —

        A letter is also verbal ----- I wonder whether our joy might be deepened if we gained confidence and skill in adding words to our deeds??? Can we imagine the joy of the Church and the joy of Christ in having neighbours and friends who do not know Christ come to understand why we do what we do? Hear simple, inviting words about our deepest values are and on what they are based? Imagine the joy of welcoming people into brand new, fresh, lively relationship with Christ.

        Maeyken Wens was a young mother of 4 children, Anabaptist, in Antwerp, Belgium, 1573. With a group of women studying the Bible, she was led away by the sheriff's men. One visit to the jail, months later, allows a letter to be smuggled out to her family, a letter addressing eldest son, Adriaen:

  My dear, dear son,      I write you this letter with my love and a reminder to be a follower of Jesus. Do not think of the suffering that I endure. Do not let the world lead you astray, but rather think on the Scriptures that your father teaches to the congregation from the word of God.... Take seriously the call of God on your life. You are of the age to make a public commitment to Jesus through Baptism."

  Months later ---- there is a knock at the family's door. A sad messenger steps in with another letter from Maeyken. That day, the sentence was passed: the women were declared heretics and were sentenced to be burned at the stake.
  The letter said,

  Dear Adriaen,      Do not fear what the world can do to us. It is better to suffer here than to suffer for an eternity. Think on the Lord Jesus Christ and his love for you and his flock. Please take the little ones and hug them and kiss them for me. Do not cause your father pain: he is a good man who loves me and God and has always been kind to me. Should your father also be taken, care for your brother and sisters. I peray that you will have the courage to be a follower of Jesus Christ. We will meet again in the New Jerusalem, for I want you to know I have reminded true to his teaching til the end. Your loving mother, Maeyken Wens

  The next day, with heavy feet and a broken heart, Adriaen approaches the town square prepared with four wooden stakes, chains and firewood. His mother is led by - with a black, metal screw silencing her tongue. Now she cannot speak of her faith either to him or to the gawking crowd. Now she cannot sing praise to her Lord. The authorities had heard enough of that in the early years!

        When the flames have died - there in the ashes lie the tongue screws. Symbols of courageous faith. Silent letters.

        What words need to be spoken right close at hand here in Petitcodiac? What words need to be sung? Do your children know that songs "God's Love is for Everybody?" Do children's birthday parties include singing with friends, teaching them such songs?

        What letters are needed in your community?

        Someone is reading your mail. You have something to TELL! REJOICE IN IT!

• The Joy of Transformation 3:17, 18
  "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord ARE TRANSFORMED from one degree of glory to another"

        The Greek work for transformation is metamorphosis!! Like the EGG to the caterpillar to the cocoon to the beautiful butterfly ---- we are metamorphosed!! Transformed! ... From one degree of glory to another ...

        As we keep our eyes on the person of Jesus, walking in his path, we are being transformed..... "metamorphosed"

        We do not transform ourselves. That is not our work .... Rather, "this comes from the Lord, the Spirit." It is the Spirit's work to transform us ... Like the butterfly, we are willing and ready partners, collaborating with God in being freed ....

        But like the butterfly, if hands, thinking they can "help," interfere and force those wings out of the cocoon ---- the butterfly will not make it... the wings will unfortunately be rendered inadequate for flying. The butterfly will die.

        Transformation - the Spirit's work; the Spirit's timing; the Spirit's responsibility. No coercion! No force! We are willing — we are watching the face of Jesus. We are walking the path of Jesus as best we know. And the Spirit does the rest.

        Does anyone know what these letters mean? P B P G I N F W M Y The caterpillar: Please be patient - God is not finished with me yet. I am becoming a gorgeous butterfly!

        There is a deeply touching song that says,

  "I will change your name. You shall no longer be called Wounded, outcast, lonely, or afraid, I will change your name. Your new name shall be Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one, Faithfulness, friend of God, One who seeks my face." I will change your name.

        How might God want to transform this congregation? What do you imagine God's desire for Petitcodiac Church might be for 5 years from now? I believe you can discern this! What little steps in glory might you commit to in this 25th anniversary year?

        "And all of us ... seeing the glory of the Lord ARE TRANSFORMED from one degree of glory to another ..." Rejoice!

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