2 Oct 2005

Philippians 3:4-14

Tortillas and Jesus

Many of you recognize this person. His name is Gilberto Flores. He is a Mennonite pastor from Guatemala who lived through the most deadly and brutal days of their civil war. Gilberto, now a Denominational Minister and member of the Executive Board of the Mennonite Church USA, tells of unbelievable, surreal experiences during the conflict. At a retreat he told us some incredible stories. He told us that one-day he found himself ministering to the displaced people up in the mountains of Guatemala. People had fled the cities to get away from the war. Many of them had lost family members and all their material possessions. Scared for their lives, they found refuge in caves and isolated parts of the jungle.

Gilberto said that once a connection was made to go and minister to these people, usually a young man would take his hand and lead him through the jungle for hours. On one occasion it took him the entire day to reach the people. Normally, he said, the young man would lead him to the middle of a cornfield, and ask him to wait. Then a voice would say, "ya estamos aquí pastor, comiense." "We are all here, Pastor, you may begin." The young man would give Gilberto water and two tortillas. Then Gilberto, without seeing anyone, without a Bible, wine or bread, would begin to minister God's Communion to these displaced people. Carrying the Bible and/or food into the jungle would be suspicious to the army looking for deserters. From memory Gilberto would recite the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, break the tortillas in half and begin to minister the Lord's Supper. One by one they would appear between the corn plants, take the water, a piece of tortilla and walk away. Old ladies, children, mothers with babies, men, pregnant women people he will never see again or know their names would come out from nowhere to take from this Mennonite pastor the symbols of Jesus' broken body for the sins of the world.

There is a lot we can say about the evilness of war and what war does to individuals, families, communities and nations. We can talk about how barbaric weapons are and how dehumanizing war can be. However, on this Sunday when most of the Christians of the world celebrate Communion, I would like to talk to you about knowing Jesus and continuing to walk with Him.

You see, in the midst of tragedy, when all that we have is taken away, when we find ourselves alone, we as human beings tend to do one of two things; either curse God and go mad or break down and allow God to heal us.

Paul said, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death" (v. 10). When Paul faced his own immortality, when he knew his death was near, he looked back to his brothers and sisters (the church) and encouraged them to find strength in Christ. He seemed to say, all in all, everything I have done and accomplished, all the titles and degrees I have accumulated, all the good deeds I have done, all the years I have come to church, all the money I have given away to charity, are nothing compared to knowing Jesus Christ as Lord. "More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ..." wrote Paul (v.8).

I want to encourage you, one week after Hurricane Rita and a month after Hurricane Katrina, to reflect upon what matters to you. Where do you spend your time? What are the most important things in your life? Do the material things that you have matter more than Jesus Christ?

As I was driving to San Antonio early Thursday morning I began to feel anxious. And, yes I was anxious about getting to San Antonio. Driving all night and only reaching Katy would do that to you. However, I began to feel anxious about leaving all of our material possessions behind. Then I looked at Danny through the Mini Van window and realized that what I was leaving behind simply could not compare with my family. And I slowly began to think about my Lord. We, Deena and I, have been blessed way-beyond what we deserved. I have met great people (including my wife) and seen great places all over the world and all because I have made Jesus my Lord. If I have something in this world it is because my God has been merciful to me. I can not, therefore, I dare not, put the things I have above my God, my Lord and my King.

Seek God! Make an effort to know Jesus Christ as Lord. This is what Paul did and this is what he hoped we would do. Feel God's presence. Touch his hand. Take his hand. Allow him to transform your life. Allow him to speak to your life's circumstances. Allow him to direct your life, to direct your steps. Because, I am fully convinced, that if you allow him to be your God, your Lord and your Savior, you will begin to see life differently and the material things you have will lose their importance, will cease to matter. After all what do we have? We have entered this world with nothing. And we shall leave this world with nothing. We have each other. We have our families. And we have our God. Make an effort to know Jesus Christ as Lord.

Then Paul said, "Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own... I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (vv. 12, 14). You might ask, what is the goal Paul is trying to reach? The goal is not Jesus. He has found Jesus, or should we say Jesus has found him. "Christ Jesus has made him his own." Paul's goal is also not salvation from Death and Sin. Paul knows that salvation from Death and Sin happened when Jesus rose from the dead. He knows we have defeated Death and Sin today, because Jesus has already done away with their power.

Paul wrote, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press on..." (vv. 10-12a). For Paul the goal is reaching the end of his life serving Jesus Christ. He wanted to know fully the power of Jesus' resurrection, share with Christ in his suffering, but he can not reach this goal until death. How can we know fully the power of Jesus' resurrection? How can we participate fully in the resurrection of Jesus Christ? When we stand resurrected before our Maker, then we will fully experience "the power of His resurrection." When we no longer have to struggle with evil and sin. When we no longer have to struggle with our own flesh; low self esteem, addictions or temptations. When we no longer have to be victims of corrupt governments or natural disasters. When we no longer have to carry the memories of past hurts. When we no longer struggle with limited knowledge and question God and each other. Then we will fully know and understand the power of Jesus' resurrection. Until then, we must press on.

So, I want to encourage you, one week after Hurricane Rita and a month after Hurricane Katrina, to reflect upon your walk with God. How often do you talk with God? How often do your read the Bible? How often do you seek His face? How often do you practice the spiritual disciplines? How do you know if you are growing as a believer? Press on! Keep seeking God. Keep asking questions. Keep growing. Keep allowing the One who came to us to transform your life. Seek to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. Some day, someday we will know and understand fully the power of the resurrected Messiah. In the mean time, let us press on. Let us continue to learn and continue to serve.

The stories Gilberto Flores told us on that retreat are fixed in my memory forever. The thought of having to escape a war and run into the jungle with my children breaks my heart. Yet, I know this is exactly what happened to thousands of people for many years in Central America. What is amazing to me is that their Christian faith played an important role in their lives, even in the midst of horrific conditions. Perhaps it was their Christian faith that allowed them to overcome such tragedy. Perhaps it was their hopes in Jesus Christ, His saving power and the thought that someday they would no longer have to suffer, that allowed them to continue living, to press on. Furthermore, it is also amazing that they risked being caught and perhaps being killed in order to receive Communion. How incredible it is to think that the symbols of Jesus' broken body and shed blood could give so much strength and hope to suffering people.

As we take Communion this Sunday let us remember all of our brothers and sisters around the world who will be taking Communion with us on this day. Let us remember the hope we have in Jesus. Let us remember the power of his resurrection. Let us remember we belong to him. Let us press on.

May the Lord of our lives and the power of his resurrection give us strength and hope to face whatever comes our way. May we seek him daily, and seek to know him better. May we continue to grow and continue to press on.

Amen