“TERROR, DOUBT AND FEAR”
April 26 2009
First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa
Rev. Barry W. Szymanski, J.D.

Luke 24:36b-48

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’ **** This is the Gospel of the Lord!

Good morning! My name is Barry Szymanski. I will be serving you as Associate Minister. I am excited about being here! As your minister I have a twofold focus: The first is Pastoral Care, which involves visitations with you in nursing facilities, hospitals, and your homes. The second is Spiritual Formation – both one on one, and in groups.

Your first question is probably: WHO AM I? I trust that you want to know something about me. I am a second career minister. My first career was, and is, a lawyer. I have been a lawyer for 37 years. My practice emphasizes business, non-profit, and organizational law, and estate planning. My wife, Sue, and I have been married for over 41 years. When I started seminary my wife thought it best that we sell our home, which was near 88th and North in Wauwatosa. Between law practice and school, Sue knew that I would not be available because of my job and studying theology – which was more true than I imagined! We have one daughter, Sarah, who just celebrated her 1-year anniversary of opening an eco-friendly clothing and accessory boutique in Bay View, which is called Chartreuse. Yes, that was a commercial! For additional information, my wife will be very happy to tell you more! We have two Maine Coon cats, Bo and Buddy, who are brothers, and a tank of two fish – both un-named.

Now, as to my call to First Church: I am here for you. If you have any questions, please don’t think that you are bothering me. I am here to help you! I also am available to pray privately with anyone who wishes – and to meet with you at church or in your homes to discuss any concerns you may have.

Now, to God!! Today’s sermon is entitled “Terror, Doubt and Fear.” In a generally peaceful society, people rarely encounter terror. As to doubts, yes, we encounter doubts! During the course of our lives we may have doubts about our friendships. We may doubt our abilities. We may doubt our faith in Jesus. And, during our lives, we have fears -- we are often afraid. Afraid of losing our jobs. Afraid of not meeting the mortgage payment – or bills for health care. We may be afraid of spiders and snakes. Even of ghosts under our beds – or ghosts hiding in a messy attic closet!

But, terror is another story. Do you remember the mass shooting which took place in Binghamton, New York? Picture the two receptionists at the American Civic Association – one is Shirley DeLucia and the other is Maria Zobniw. The Civic Association where they work teaches English and citizenship classes to refugees and immigrants. In walks a 41-year-old man, Jiverly Wong. Shirley stands up to greet him, but he says nothing, pulls out a gun and shoots her in the abdomen. He kills her co-worker, Maria. He then moves past the receptionist area to the classrooms. In total he fires 98 shots in a little over a minute. In spite of her shock and panic, and with her co-worker dead in the room with her, the receptionist, Shirley DeLucia phoned 9-1-1 after Wong went into the classrooms – and she stayed on the line with the operator! Imagine her intense terror as she anticipated him returning to the reception area and shooting her again. And it took 39 minutes after the 9-1-1 call before the police entered the building! Until that time, she was still in danger of dying. I think it important to bring out her dread and fear when trying to understand today’s Gospel reading.

Some weeks ago we re-lived the passion of Jesus – his torture by the soldiers – and then his horrific death. The disciples of Jesus knew about the intense whipping by the Roman soldiers from what happened to Jesus – and to others. They knew the horror of crucifixion - / that’s why they were hiding in that locked upper room. They did not want to be arrested, beaten, and killed.

Remember Machiavelli? Who wrote The Prince? He told his readers that to subdue a village, a prince should round up all of the leaders, then execute them in the public square. Remember Shakepeare’s quote about the way to take over a society of laws, when he said, ‘the first thing is to kill all of the lawyers.’

Recall John’s Gospel in chapter 12 when we are told that “the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well [as Jesus], for on account of [Lazarus] him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.’” [10-11] Imagine the panic of Lazurus’ family when they heard this – and the fear, which gripped them every hour waiting for soldiers to arrive and kill Lazarus.

So, after Jesus’ death, the word was out in Jerusalem and the cities around it – Jesus’ followers were sure to be marked for arrest, torture, and death. Remember Peter’s vehement denials after Jesus was arrested – when a servant girl of the high priest spotted him while he was warming himself at a fire and accused him when she announced: “You also were with Jesus of Galilee." In fear, Peter denied he knew Jesus and “Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him,” and confronted him. Imagine Peter’s fright. Matthew 26. Therefore, after Jesus was killed, picture the alarm of his Disciples in not wanting to be the next to be scourged and crucified. You can see them them, hiding in that locked upper room – suddenly Jesus appears among them! In addition to their fears of being arrested, the disciples were now startled by Jesus standing there -- and terrified because they thought that they were seeing a ghost.

Even though Jesus greeted them by saying, ‘Peace be with you,” this did not give them much comfort. To sooth them, Jesus asked them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” Luke tells us that their shock and terror gave way to joy – but they were still disbelieving – and still wondering.

But, and I find this so important, Jesus told them that everything written about him “in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” This is an interesting statement, that ’[Jesus] opened their minds to understand the scriptures.”

We would have thought that the disciples, being good Jewish people, and having been with Jesus for three years, and having attended synagogues every Sabbath with Jesus, would have understood the Scriptures. But I think that Jesus ‘ . . . opened their minds to understand the scriptures.” in yet another way.

A Theologian by the name of David Chytraeus, who died, by the way, in 1600, wrote this: “Neither the accumulated wisdom of all the earth and the skies, nor languages, the Church Fathers, and daily reading of the Holy Scripture, nor immense learning and eloquence / make a good theologian or pastor / if the cross Is not added. / Through the cross God purifies, cleanses, / strengthens, and perfects the light of His true knowledge, . . .” David Chytraeus added that “. . . real Christians who live each day happily and joyfully . . .” and who have read “. . . the lament of an Ezekiel, the prayer of a Jonah, and other Psalms . . . understand those descriptions of a faith struggling under the heaviest of trials . . .” He continued with his next assertion, which is as applicable to us in this church today, as it was to the disciples in that upper room, and the hearers of Rev. Chytraeus’ in the 16th century: “How can a person be able to understand the Gospel or teach it to others, if he himself has not experienced the power of the Gospel in the midst of sorrows and trials?” I think that David Chytraeus put his finger on what Jesus was teaching his friends in that locked upper room. Jesus taught them that through His cross and His resurrection,’ their minds [could best] understand the scriptures.”

While we would have liked to have been there for that unfolding of theology, we have it right in front of us – both the scriptures – and the cross! We might argue that we did not have the chance to see Jesus like the disciples did – or touch him like they did, or eat with him, or see his miracles. But, they did, and yet they were in fear!

So, if the disciples saw Jesus, touched him, ate with him, saw his miracles – experienced him - /Why their fear? Why did they, as John tells us twice in Chapter 20, lock themselves in the upper room? It was because they feared the soldiers of the high priest – precisely because their leader, Jesus, had been killed.

So, even though Peter and all of the other disciples walked and talked with Jesus, they dreaded the thought that they could be killed also. Having spent three years with Jesus apparently gave them little, if any, security!

Where does that leave us with our terrors? And all of our doubts? And the myriad of our fears? What caused the disciples to change? What did they rely on? And what can we rely on? Or, more accurately, Who did they we rely on? And, Who can we rely on?

The Book of Acts tells us that, at Pentecost, Peter and other disciples accepted the power of the Holy Spirit. After Pentecost, while the Apostles were boldly on their way to public ally pray in the Temple, Peter told the infirm man, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Today’s reading continues the story of that cure! I ask myself whether, if I had experienced the person of Jesus as his friends did, and if I experienced the Holy Spirit as they did, would I be as strong in the Holy Spirit as they were? Would any doubts I have give way?

Would my daily fears melt? Would anything in this world give me the feeling of terror? Could I be a hero and stand up to terror, and doubt and fear? Could I do what receptionist, Shirley DeLucia, did, when she became a hero by talking on the phone, frightened that Jiverly Wong could return at any moment and kill her also?

Could I make the sacrifice which Capt. Richard Philips of the Merchant ship Maersk Alabama made when he offered his life in exchange for his crew after the Somali pirates boarded their ship. The apostles and disciples eventually became heroes also. What makes a hero? Is it love? Is it love that makes the goal secondary to a person’s own life? What made Jesus give up his life? Jesus lived his life in total dedication to his Father.

In my life, I have come to understand that the love that Jesus had for his Father far exceeded the love that he had for his own life on this earth. Jesus’ love made his own life secondary. Jesus love for us, his fellow brothers and sisters, far exceeded his own life on this planet. His love was primary. Eventually, the apostles and the other friends of Jesus grew in immense love of him. Ultimately they gave their lives for him.

Throughout history many people, Congregationalists among them, gave up their lives for God – and for their fellow brothers and sisters. For all of these Christian heroes, their love for Jesus transcended their terrors, as well as their doubts, and their fears. I think that we can more easily understand this when a parent sacrifices their life for their children.

In Romans, Chapter 5, Paul tells us that “rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” So I continually look upon God’s love for me, and my family and friends, and trust that Jesus died for me so I may have a relationship with God. I look upon what I have experienced in my life, and, through doubts and fears, I believe in God, hope in God, and receive the love of God. As John wrote in his letter [1 John 3], we also “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God.”

Our hope takes us to what John also told us, that “what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.” But, as long as we live on this earth, we will have doubts.

When I worked as a chaplain, I saw and heard it from people when they learned they were dying. It is part of who we are. We question everything. But trust in God’s love for us removes the terror. We can walk with Jesus knowing that he has taken the journey before us. We can trust in his words to all of his friends when he said, “Peace be with you.” Jesus’ words are words of security: Peace. It is an eternal greeting from Jesus to us, and for us to each other. In extending peace, we offer to wipe away terror and doubt and fear.

That is what Jesus did in that locked upper room: He offered peace. He offered assurance. He explained. He remained and ate with them. Why can we trust Jesus? We can trust Jesus who died a horrific death, because, as Joaquin Setanti said, “Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk.” Jesus incurred the risk – and was resurrected! That is a key reason for hope!

The musician, John Lennon, who died in 1980, said this: “We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it.” When we are open to God’s love, we are nurtured. And from that nurture, grows faith and hope. I think that in the trust that we place in God, our expectations are met: what we anticipate has been told to us. It is not just an optimistic dream, but a hope in what has been experienced by others, and promised by our Christ.

Doubts are good – because questioning is good. But Jesus has put terror on the other side of the door. Our fears are calmed by Him. Our task, is to take the gift of divine love and nurture it in prayer, to take the divine gift of love and actively work for the good of His church. To take that divine gift of love and actively work for the good of our neighbor.

LET US PRAY,

Lord, God, we pray that we grow closer to you in faith and in love; to a closer relationship with you. Give us the grace to understand that the resurrection and the cross are intertwined in life. Father, may we trust in the life, death and resurrection of our Christ, our Savior.

Lord, we pray that you help us resolve our doubts and our fears be set aside as we journey through our life with your Son.

May each of us say, like the Psalmist, that, “You have put gladness in my heart . . .[and] I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.”

Lord, we know that our safety and security is in your Son’s promise of peace to us. And, in your protection, we can live and sleep in peace. Father, we know that your love for us calls us to a life of love. With your love, all else is secondary. We pray that you be with us in all that we do.

Lord, may we, in our hearts, if not in our words, give the blessing of ‘Peace be with you,’ to all we meet. We make this prayer in your name, with Jesus our Christ, in union with your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Acts 3:12-19

12 When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “you Israelites, - why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant* Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, 15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus* has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

17 ‘and now, friends, * I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also

Psalm 4

Confident Plea for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
You gave me room when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
How long, you people, shall my honour suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?

Selah

But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
When you are disturbed,* do not sin;
ponder it on your beds, and be silent.

Selah

Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
There are many who say, ‘O that we might see some good!
Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!’
You have put gladness in my heart
more than when their grain and wine abound.
I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

1 John 3:1-7

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he* is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

BINGHAMPTON

A receptionist who was working at the ACA, and phoned 9-1-1 is being hailed as a hero.

Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski says the woman who was shot near the entrance by the gunman. She acted as though she was dead, and dialed 9-1-1. For 39 minutes the wounded receptionist relayed information to 9-1-1 operators, before police entered the building. "She was very composed as I said she was very helpful to us. She was able to provide us with a description but she was hiding underneath her desk for her own safety. She was very helpful to us with the initial description, what we were looking for, that he had handguns. We knew he wasn't right, close to her. So she was helpful. Very brave lady," said Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski. The woman is one of 4 victims being treated for gunshot wounds. All are expected to live.

The receptionist who was badly wounded but still managed to call police when a gunman opened fire in an immigrant center remains fearful and rolls her eyes at being called a hero, her brother said Monday. Shirley DeLucia continues to recover in a Binghamton hospital from gunshot wounds to the abdomen suffered when 41-year-old Jiverly Wong burst into the American Civic Association Friday morning and started shooting. Wong killed 13 people before taking his own life. DeLucia's brother said she is still anxious after surviving but he expects her to bounce back. "The only thing that we know right now from her is when the gunman came in, she got up to ask him if she could help him and he just didn't say anything I guess," said Lyle Fassett. "He got his gun and shot her. She remembers falling backwards and down and that's pretty much it. We haven't gotten too much more out of her."

Police have called her a hero for feigning death after being shot, then crawling under a desk to call 911 despite her injuries and staying on the line. DeLucia is in stable condition and her doctor said she'll make a full recovery. Fassett said his sister hasn't divulged much about what she remembers of that morning, including the death of co-worker Maria Zobniw. "She did mention that she remembered her being shot and I think she knows that she's gone," Fassett said. "Beyond that I don't know if she knows about any of the other people but I think she has a good idea. She hasn't talked about it." Meanwhile, Wong's sister said her brother was depressed about losing his job at a vacuum manufacturer and very frustrated with his poor English skills.

In an interview on NBC's "Today" show Monday morning, Wong's sister said she had "occasional communications" with him but they hadn't lived in the same house together for 20 years. The woman, whose name wasn't given during the interview, said her younger sibling kept his feelings to himself. She could tell he was depressed about losing his job and frustrated with his English speaking skills, she said. Her family is "very sorry for all the victims and their families," she said.

Reached by The Associated Press in the hours immediately after the Friday shooting, the distraught woman initially thought there must be some mistake and that her brother was a victim, not the gunman. She declined to give the AP her name. On Sunday, police defended the 43 minutes it took to enter the building after the first frantic 911 calls from terrified immigrants inside the center. Medical examiners told the district attorney that the injuries were so severe; none of the victims would have survived even if police had entered the building immediately. Survivors reported huddling for hours in a basement, not knowing whether they were still in danger.

Four Chinese were among those killed, and a Chinese student was also shot in the arm and leg but survived, officials said. The other victims came from Haiti, Pakistan, the Philippines, Iraq, Brazil, Vietnam and the United States. Funerals were scheduled Monday for two of the victims, Zobniw and Hong Xiu Mao. Wong was "an avid gun owner" who had recently visited a firing range weekly, Zikuski said, but authorities still don't know his motive. Authorities don't know whether he had a particular target, and police Chief Joseph Zikuski said at a news conference the choice of targets may have been random.

DeLucia's friend, Jeanne Carangelo, said she is not surprised her friend kept her wits about her after being shot, even as the 911 dispatcher instructed her on how to control her bleeding. "She's not a scaredy-cat. She's a get-her-done kind of girl," said Carangelo, who coordinates volunteer services at United Health Services, where DeLucia volunteered for 27 years. "It was such a trauma," Carangelo said. "If you can imagine laying there while people are being shot that you know." DeLucia's surgeon, Dr. Christian Tvetenstrand, said he expects DeLucia to spend another five or six days in the hospital, followed by therapy and counseling to recover from what could have been a fatal wound. "It was millimeters away from the main blood vessels in her abdomen," he said. "If it had struck those, she would have died." He credited "luck and a strong will" for her survival.