Summer Pondering

“Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.”

Thomas Jefferson

Sobering words from one of the brightest and most thoughtful of our nation’s founding fathers. As we celebrate and commemorate our two hundred fifty years as a nation, it seems like a good time to contemplate our triumphs, our aspirations and our shortcomings. Truth be told, whatever nation you call home it is always a good time for collective and personal reflection and introspection. Our focus in this column and newsletter though is not on politics or nationality but on our brief earthly pilgrimage as fellow believers.

Yet, as with our nation, now is a good time for reflection on where we’ve been, where we are, where we are headed, and where God would have us be.

Our recent Gospel readings have been full of stories, lessons and parables. Some of these parables seem quite clear while with others, just like the apostles and believers of the time, we struggle to comprehend. These parables, sermons, and our recent interactive study sermon speak of law and gospel. While we try to remember and follow the law, or at least the spirit of the law, we often stumble and fall short. In Romans, Chapter Seven, St. Paul himself speaks of not doing what he strives to do and instead doing what he hates. Here on earth, our tendency is to fall short. That’s where Gospel, God and grace come in. Our Lord does love us and will forgive us and show us his love and mercy if, with a contrite heart, we ask for forgiveness and a genuine aim to do better, to love God and love neighbor.

We do strive to follow the spirit of our Lord’s teachings here at St. Paul’s. We sow the seed and reach out to our neighbors. We continue with both the diaper distribution program and with collecting food for the Tahoe Park food locker. We have multiple outreach events, and we belong to and partner with the Tahoe Park Neighborhood Association.

We’re in a summer hiatus for now, but we have and plan to continue to work with other local Lutheran congregations to serve the greater community. Like Jefferson, on reflection, we should tremble a bit when we contemplate that God is just, pause a moment, and then continue to serve our Lord and community as able understanding that while God is indeed just, he is also a God of grace, love, and mercy to those open to receiving these glorious gifts.