Holy Eucharist
In Thanksgiving for
Mildred Kulakowski
April 5, 2007
I.N.I. (In the name of Jesus)
This invitation is found in a small mid to late nineteenth century settlement of Danish immigrants in northwestern Wisconsin. At West Denmark Lutheran Church, the inscription on the church bell rings out:
To the bath and the table,
to the prayer and the word,
I call every seeking soul.
The bell, by its ringing and its inscription, describes the good work of the church. It is a place to be made clean by the waters of baptism, nourished and fed by the meal around the altar, enabled to pray to God as Father through the words of the Lord's Prayer, and as the living word of God announces for us and for dear Mildred
I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
Mildred, baptized into saving waters that bear God's redeeming grace, responded regularly to the invitation.
Mildred knew what it was like to be the church. Mildred said plainly (how else would she say it?) that she loved Christ the King.
The last visit I had with her and with Tony was in their home one week ago today. After sharing laughs (how else would anyone spend time with Mildred?), she said in usual fashion, "so, are you going to give me communion?" like "don't you know what I need?" "don't you know what your job is?" "can't you see that I seek to be claimed and nourished by the living God?" And then she would add, "Tony, aren't you going to join us?"
I shall miss her expression-full face, eager to engage in life's joys and foibles, to talk and conjecture, and yank my chains (how else would Mildred act?).
Her broad smile exuded happiness, when talking about making cartwheels as a girl or remembering a recent visit from Isabella.
Her smirk elicited laughs, when she and Tony were talking about current events, or the personality of the cat.
Her furrowed brow brought questions about so many things in life and in faith.
Mildred was a seeker, and she was no shrinking violet in expressing herself.
To the bath and the table,
to the prayer and the word,
I call every seeking soul.
Jesus receives seekers.
Like Nicodemus, who came by night in the second chapter of John's gospel acknowledging him as a teacher who cannot do the signs he does apart from the presence of God. Jesus announces to Nicodemus and all seekers that he can find a new way through birth by water and the Spirit.
To Nicodemus and eavesdroppers like us, Jesus speaks this most beloved verse: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
Jesus receives seekers.
Like the woman from Samaria, coming to draw water early in the heat of the midday sun to avoid gossip, as she has been through five husbands and does not want to receive shame for being with yet another man.
Jesus announces to the Samaritan woman and all seekers that he has water that will gush up to eternal life.
To the woman and eavesdroppers like us, that he is God's promised Messiah.
Jesus receives seekers.
In the gospel today, for us who are at a loss without Mildred in their lives as mother, grandmother, great grandmother or a fixture in the church, Jesus offers an invitation to come along with him to wherever he is going.
Thomas, yet another seeker, perhaps with a quizzical look on his face that we could have just as easily seen on Mildred's asks the obvious question (how else would you expect Mildred to respond?), "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
Jesus rings out welcome and the way, the road, the place to find God, by connecting with him.
To the bath and the table,
to the prayer and the word,
I call every seeking soul.
In the next three days all the way through to Easter, we in the church will try to the best of our abilities to draw the world and all seekers to Jesus. On this day, Maundy Thursday, we will remember Jesus' commandment to love one another as he loved us and demonstrate that with the washing of tired and smelly feet.
And we will call every seeking soul to the table, to take in that promise of Jesus' connection with us in bread and wine and in it become connected to God and to people of all times and places that responded to the invitation.
As we seek to be renewed in the ways of life, recalling Jesus' self-giving to us on the cross, and raised to life after three days, and ourselves invited to communion with these mysteries, let us give thanks to God for Mildred who gave and received love, who desired deep connection with those around her, and who in her death will most certainly find her way.
To the bath and the table,
to the prayer and the word,
I call every seeking soul.
I.N.I.
The Rev. Timothy J. Keyl, Pastor
Christ the King Lutheran Church
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