March 7, 2010
Third Sunday in Lent
Pastor Brad Davick
Galatians 2:19-20; John 15:12-17

No Longer I

Grace and peace to you.

In the study of literature, there are certain terms used to describe the characters the author has developed. For example, the protagonist is considered to be the main character or lead figure in a novel, play, story, or poem; often referred to as the "hero" of a work. The antagonist is a character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works again the main character. There can also be a Christ figure; a spiritual or prophetic character who parallels Jesus. The Christ figure may have divine qualities similar to Jesus such as performing miracles, healing others, displaying loving kindness and forgiveness, fighting for justice, offering heartfelt compassion and mercy. The Christ figure acts selflessly and begins to do what today's Gospel story says, "to lay down one's life for one's friends."

For example:

Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte has Edgar Linton who loses everything to his foil, Heathcliff.
John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath has Jim Casy, who in Christ like fashion, sacrifices himself to save Tom Joad, the protagonist, after an altercation with a deputy.
Ulysses, by James Joyce has Leopold Bloom, who despite his faults, performs such a remarkable number of charitable deeds that he becomes, in many ways, a modern Christ.

Les Miserable, by Victor Hugo, and the basis for our Lenten theme, Luther, Les Mis, and Life Lessons, also has a Christ figure. As the story continues this morning, this Christ figure is emerging. Last week, the protagonist, Jean Valjean, began to "lay down one's life" in freeing Fantine from the clutches of Javert's strict adherence to the law, and in taking care of her through her illness.

In today's part of the story, Valjean becomes arguably even more of a Christ figure.

Under his own name,Valjean is a convict and fugitive-a penniless criminal who has no place in any community. Yet under an assumed name he has made a name for himself: he is a wealthy man, a respected citizen, a savvy businessperson (whose workers depend on him), and a wise leader.

Last week, we saw that Valjean was able to show mercy to Fantine and yet still keep all of these prizes. But now, to show mercy to a man who would go to prison in his place, Valjean must first lay down much of what he has won: his business, his power, and his place in the community. Today, we see in Valjean, one who acts selflessly and begins to do what today's Gospel story says, "to lay down one's life for one's friends."

In this essay, "On the Freedom of a Christian," Luther describes what it means to do this, to "lay down one's life for one's friends" or "be Christ to the neighbor (the other). He writes, "God, without merit on my part, of His pure and free mercy, has given to me-an unworthy, condemned, and contemptible creature-all the riches of justification and salvation in Christ, so that I no longer want for anything, except faith to believe that this is so. For such a Father, who has overwhelmed me with His inestimable riches, why should I not freely, cheerfully, and with my whole heart do all that I know is pleasing to Him and acceptable in His sight? I will therefore give myself as a Christ to my neighbor, as Christ has given Himself to me. And I will do nothing in this life except what is needful, advantageous, and wholesome for my neighbor, since by faith I abound in all good things in Christ."

To be Christ to the other is nothing that we do. When we are Christ to the other, it's all about what God does through us; as Paul writes in the reading from Galatians "it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me." In other words, I'm no longer me... I'm a Christ figure.

We have examples from literature of what this looks like; like the books described this morning.

But all these literary examples are rather extreme situations and experiences. Hopefully you and I will never have to face such extreme conditions. So... what about in real life? What does it look like for you and me to be Christ to one another? Maybe it looks like...

My college fishing buddy, Spark, who upon hearing that I'd been threatened by my children's new stepfather, rode with me to their home after spending a weekend with me. As I've thought about that ride, Spark came along, not to protect me, but to protect the new stepfather... he sensed the rage burning within me. He gave me a feeling of peace... he dissipated my rage and soothed my soul.
Or maybe, the one of you who early one morning in April of 2008 called to say, "She's close... I can feel her... I can see her... lots of hair... .wearing a light pajama set." The wait for Ellie was becoming unbearable. Your words filled me with the hope I needed to hear. Your words were prophetic, not more than two weeks later, we had our first picture of Ellie... lots of hair and wearing a light pajama set."
Might it look like; saying 'yes' to a father who on a Saturday in September, called 29 other churches, all of whom said, 'no' to his request to marry his just graduated from Great Lakes Naval Station son and his high school sweetheart, before his deployment to sub school on Monday morning. As we embraced each other saying our goodbyes following the ceremony that evening, through the tears the father tried to put 5 one hundred dollar bills in my hand while saying, "I will never be able to thank you enough for saying, 'yes to us this afternoon.' "You just have," was my reply, "now, give these 5 one hundred dollar bills to your new daughter-in-law."

Isn't this what it looks like to "be Christ to one another?" It doesn't have to be dramatic. It happens in spite of me... yet somehow Christ showed up through me... through you... so "it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." Thanks be to God. Let us pray.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church § 824 N. Lewis § Waukegan IL