The Encouragement of Pastors
St. Barnabas, Apostle
The 10th Anniversary of Ordination for
Rev. James Alfred Roemke
June 11, 2017
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Today we gather to give thanks to God for the ministry of his servant
Pastor Jim Roemke these past 10 years. It is good and fitting for
the church to honor her ministers, for in doing so we honor the One
who sends them to us, even our Lord Jesus Christ. So also, today,
even though Pastor Roemke hasn't served here at Messiah all of those
10 years, we recognize also that God has worked through this man here
and at his former parish, to forgive sins, administer the sacraments
to sinners, and to proclaim the word of God and especially the
message of Christ crucified.
It was about 10 years ago, when my good friend here was ordained,
that I also had the privilege of preaching for the occasion. And, God
willing, perhaps I'll have the honor again many years from now to do
the same again. But for today, we agreed it was fitting to observe
the commemoration of St. Barnabas, who's day falls on June 11th.
Pastor reminds me this was the occasion, also, for the first Sunday
he ever served as an actual pastor. But it is fitting for many other
reasons, as we'll soon see. First, some background on Barnabas:
His given name was Joseph, but he was
called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement).
He was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, and he sold a field that
belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles'
feet. (Acts 4:36-37). Here Scripture makes first mention of Saint
Barnabas.
This name given by the Apostles matches
what we know of his actions. When Saul of Tarsus (or Paul) came to
Jerusalem after his conversion, most of the congregation wanted
nothing to do with him. They knew him only as a persecutor and an
enemy of Christ's Church. Barnabas, however, willingly gave him a
second chance. He sought him out, spoke with him, and brought him to
meet the other Christians, vouching for him.
Later, Paul and Barnabas went on a missionary journey together,
taking Barnabas's cousin Mark along. Part way, Mark turned back and
went home. When Paul and Barnabas were about to set out on another
such journey, Barnabas proposed to take Mark along, and Paul was
against it, saying that Mark had shown himself undependable. Barnabas
wanted to give Mark a second chance, and so he and Mark went off on
one journey, while Paul took Silas and went on another. Apparently
Mark responded well to the trust given him by the "son of
encouragement," since we find that Paul later spoke of him as a
valuable assistant (2 Timothy 4:11; see also Colossians 4:10 and
Philemon 24).
Barnabas stands for us, today, as an encourager as well. Yet another
example of a faithful ministry of the word, he teaches us by example
and reminds us of gifts God gives to his church through his appointed
servants.
The apostles gave him the name, “Barnabas”, but I also like to
call him “Mr. Second Chances” He reminds me, for instance, that
it is one aspect of the pastor's office to afford “second chances”
to sinners, under the cross of Christ. The cross is the only second
chance we have with God, the only escape clause from the punishments
due for sin. And a faithful pastor points sinners to that cross, and
to this Christ.
Yes, Paul was a great sinner and persecutor of the church, but
Baranabas could see through the cross, that Christ had forgiven Paul
and would use him for good. Yes, Mark may have chickened out or
given up when the going got tough, but Barnabas saw through the
cross, that whatever Mark's failing – Christ had it covered, and
Mark would go on to continue serving the kingdom.
You, also have a faithful Barnabas, Messiah. Your pastor here, will
encourage you with the same cross of Christ, and restore you by the
forgiveness Christ speaks through him. It doesn't matter what your
sin is, this pastor will hear your confession and pronounce God's
holy absolution for the sake of Christ. It doesn't matter how big or
how small it is, the Barnabas in this place will remind you of your
baptism, where your old Adam drowns and your new Adam arises daily.
Were you unkind, or selfish, or angry, or lustful, or negligent, or
prideful, or gossipy, or discontent, or hateful, or cowardly, or some
combination or all of the above? This faithful Barnabas will feed
you with the very Body and Blood of Christ, who was none of those
things, but who takes all of those sins and more and wipes them out,
giving you a clean slate each and every time.
The Gospel reading for today is also helpful. Why is this chosen for
St. Barnabas day? Barnabas wasn't one of the 12 sent out here by
Jesus, though Luke refers to him briefly with the same title,
“apostle”. Perhaps because, like the 12, Barnabas was also sent
out, though at a different time and to different places, in a twosome
with St. Paul. And furthermore, this reading from Mark 6 gives some
basic contours common to all who serve in the public ministry of the
word. Consider:
Jesus sends them out with authority – and so he does for us, and
this is good for you, the hearer. To know that the pastor doesn't
preach his own word, his own ideas, his own opinions – but always
and only the word of Christ. A word that has authority. So when the
pastor forgives your sins, it's not his forgiveness, but God's. When
the pastor proclaims that in Christ, salvation is sure, eternity is
yours, and “it is finished”, you know these are not his words,
but the words of him who sends him. And that is an encouraging
thought.
Take note, it says Jesus “began to send” them out... This isn't
the last time Jesus would send out preachers carrying his message.
It may have been that he sent the 12 out on several occasions similar
to this, as it seems Matthew and Luke's accounts have some varying
details. Jesus would send out the 72 in pairs of proclamation. And
some of his final words before his ascension were words of sending,
that disciples should be made of all nations by baptizing and
teaching everything he has commanded. The same Jesus, by the same
Spirit, sent laborers into his harvest fields throughout history, all
over the world, and has even sent a young man from Indiana to a
congregation in Kenosha for the same purposes.
Jesus also reminds them that some will hear and receive and believe,
and others will reject this message. He instructs the disciples to
testify against them by the prophetic action of shaking the dust off
their feet. A powerful statement that if you won't receive Christ
and his word, then you have no part with him or his church. But the
flip side is that some will believe and show appreciation for the
word, the ministry, and therefore the ministers of this message.
Some would even take them into their homes, and show hospitality as
long as the preacher was there.
So also, today, not everyone has ears to hear the Gospel. I'll let
you in on a little secret about us pastors. One of the hardest
things for us, one of the biggest griefs we bear, is when people
reject the Gospel of Christ. It happens far too often.
But the comfort, the encouragement for us from Christ is partly,
knowing beforehand that some will reject, but also that some, like
you will believe. And this is one of the greatest joys of the
pastor. Not that his people love him. Not that they give him a nice
salary or a Christmas bonus, or a nice parsonage or a 10 year
anniversary celebration. But it pleases us most, gives us the most
joy, when sinners repent and believe in Jesus Christ. When that
happens, there's even a party in heaven as the angels join in great
rejoicing.
But yes, that does also mean that those who receive the message and
appreciate it will also care and provide for their pastors. And I
know that you do so here at Messiah, and have for a very long time.
It is a testament to your faith in Christ, and that you do treasure
his precious Gospel. And because of that, you care for and treasure
your pastor. And so, I encourage you - keep up the good work!
Thanks be to God for the 10 years he has proclaimed the word through
this faithful servant. May God continue to bless and keep you and
your family, Pastor Roemke, as you encourage these your people with
the message of Christ crucified. And we pray that the Lord who has
sent us into the harvest will also bless our labors, according to the
work of his Spirit, for his good purposes and according to his
gracious will. God grant it, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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