Dear Members and Friends of Martin Luther Church !

The painting by the artist Andreas Felger displays the Watchword for the Year 2008, John 14:19: "Jesus Christ says, 'Because I live, you also will live.'" This word of Jesus reminds us that the church is the community of faith and hope. Faith in our crucified and resurrected Lord. Hope of all the life this crucified and resurrected Lord provides for us.

When the disciples heard this word "Because I live, you also will live" for the first time, they had to bid farewell to their Lord and Master; this belonged to the parting words of Jesus before he was to die at the cross. Today we hear it as a word of the Resurrected who promises us abundance of life because he the Living has defeated the death. This points to an eternal hope which cannot be overcome by death. But this also opens a perspective in our every day life. Let me pass on to you an experience of a priest in the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"Every day, when I walked through the streets of Rio de Janeiro, I saw a man in his best years, sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall of a house, with his hand extended and asking for a donation. He was unable to walk. His legs were mutilated. Too often I had passed him without thinking what it means not to be able to get up, to be handicapped. One day, however, I realized the fate of this man in its full harshness, for I saw how many people passed him without paying attention to him, much less giving him something. On the spur of the moment, I approached him and asked him whether he wanted to get up, whether he had the wish to be able to walk. With mistrust he looked me up and down for a while, but then he must have recognized in my face that I did not want to taunt him, and he began to talk. He still hoped for a change in his life. I, however, was the first person in a long time who addressed him of those who passed him. 'I am so alone with my fate', he lamented, 'for many people find it embarrassing to stop and talk to me, I can sense this only too well. I thank you. – I would very much like to move around, but nobody offers me help, for the walking aids are out of reach for me and my relatives. I just have to forget about it.' I shook his hand and promised him: 'I will arrange for you to walk.' Then I went home.

During Sunday Mass, I only spoke about this man in my address and about his lot in life, and what we could do for him. A spontaneous collection brought more than was needed for crutches and artificial legs. I was happy. But even happier and more surprised was the man on the street, he could not believe that he was being helped. Over the next few weeks he practiced studiously, until he could walk without assistance. Then Easter approached. I invited him to the main Sunday Service and gave him a seat at the very front beside the altar. Again I preached about him and said: 'Jesus has arisen to new life. He grants us a new life. It is also in our hands that an entirely new life begins for our fellow human beings. Because of you, it has begun for our friend who is sitting beside me. Get up and show yourself to the congregation, to which you now belong.' He got up and showed that he could walk. The church was filled with touching enthusiasm. This, for me, was the most beautiful celebration of Easter."

Jesus promises us life, eternal life, abundance of life; that's the promise we as Christians live from. So let us help each other, let us grant life each other, every new day; that's the task we as Christians live for.

With kind regards,

Your Pastor Alexander Mielke