Saturday/Sunday May 2, 3 2026
Saint Luke Lutheran Church
Albuquerque, NM
[NOTE: The text (Greek and in three translations) follows the Sermon.]
AT THE READING OF THE GOSPEL:
With your bulletin this evening/this morning you have been provided with a half sheet that contains two other versions of the Gospel Reading you just heard. One is from The Message by the eminent Presbyterian Pastor, scholar, theologian, author, and poet Eugene Peterson (of blessed memory); The second is from the First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. I invite you to follow along with one version or the other, as I read the version we usually have each week (from the New Revised Standard Version). Or you could peruse them during the Sermon, or later. Or you could just listen. Chose one as we stand to hear the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus, According to John. {C} Glory be to you, O Lord.
+ In nomine Domini. Amen.
When we read the Gospel According to John we are reading something that is so very different from the earlier Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. Parsing through this “Fourth” Gospel is more akin to reading Wisdom Literature than it is a verbatim account of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus.
It’s almost like reading from Proverbs or Ecclesiastes or even the story of Job — parts of the Gospel even sound like one of the Psalms. We hear this from the very first verse of the very first chapter. John’s Story does not begin with the story of Jesus’ birth, but with this: “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and God was the word.”
We think this was an ancient hymn. It is more poetry than prose (especially when you hear it in Greek: ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.
And that is the way it goes through the Gospel of John. In one scene after another Jesus speaks to his followers, imparts to them wisdom.
These speeches, these “sayings” come down to us, through the centuries, and we read and hear them — often portions of them, pieces of them — especially during this Season of Easter.
And let us be aware that most Biblical Scholars would say that there is not one writer of the Gospel According to John, but a group of writers, let us say a school of writers who together assemble not only the significant moments of Jesus’ life, but also what these moments mean, how they are remembered.
And that’s where we are this morning. What has “happened” (so to speak) in this Gospel just before this (and you can consult the Bibles in the pews in front of you to check this) is this: the setting is Passover, Jesus washes the feet of his followers, there is a meal and during that meal Jesus foretells his future arrest and death, Judas leaves the table, and Peter is told he will deny Jesus three times.
Then comes our reading for this morning. The setting provides the stage for Jesus to talk about what it means to trust God — what it means (for us!) to follow Jesus, to let go of our fears and anxieties and live in the knowledge that God is one who will never abandon us, never refuse us, never hate us, never forget who we are.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.”
“Don’t let this rattle you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home.”
“Do not let your hearts fall to the ground — Trust in the Great Spirit, and trust in me. My Father’s lodge has room for everyone.”
Here’s an insight into the secret life of Preachers, the most recent example of which was spoken to me from my nearest and closet Biblical Evaluator and Judge of Preaching (my wife, Beverly). She asked me why I was having such difficulty writing this sermon, and I said: “the more familiar a reading is, the more difficult it is to preach upon.” She replied, “Yes. I’ve always wondered about the “rooms” — will I have my own room, will I have to share it, what if I don’t like how its furnished, what if its not big enough?”
To which I responded, “You’ll just have to wait and hear the Sermon.”
The point is well taken.
There is more than a sufficient supply of things to worry about these days — war, rumors of war, more rumors of war, lies and deceit, distrust, unfaithfulness, confusion, abuse of power, abuse of people, abuse in so many forms, personal loss, societal loss, global loss, fear and fear and more fear, poverty, homelessness, mental health — yes, mental health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s the time when we (all of us) need to think boldly and bravely about the issues of Mental Health, and more than just think — do something, make something happen.
I wish you could have all been with me last evening to attend Shabbat Service at Temple Beth Shalom in Santa Fe — especially to hear the sermon of my dear friend and colleague Rabbi Neil Amswych.
[I’ll post a link to the Sermon on my Facebook page, or I’ll send it to Angie in the Church Office here and you can obtain it from her.1]
The title of his Sermon is “The Prison of the Mind” and he speaks of the death of three young people in the community in the last nine years — by suicide, as well as one by a drug overdoes — and three more who nearly died by suicide were it not for the intervention of the community of faith.
I am reminded of my own experiences during the time of my being Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Santa Fe — standing behind the altar, presiding at the funeral of a young man whom I had baptized — surrounded by 20 or so of his friends — his older brother holding the container of his cremains as we said the Commendation:
Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant _______. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.
Nor can I forget the funeral in that loving congregation for our own son who took his own life those (now) many years ago.
He spoke of what it is like to live today as a young person, the difficulty of life, the future mountain of debt they will face in training for a career, the probability of never affording their own home, of seeing the world on fire, politically, socially, environmentally. The fear of being gunned down in places that should be safe. The life of spending hours every day online, not knowing if what they see is really true. They see spiritual institutions meant to give support — which pray the same words every week, written in language decades before they were born, using metaphors which are not only alien, but isolating — “and then, to add insult to injury, they hear those communities complain that they never attend.”2
Depression is rising to rates unheard of. “— there are around130 deaths by suicide every single day and nearly 3 mission American adults attempt suicide every year.”
Nearly 20% of adults in our country experience or have experienced or are being treated for depression. The rates continue to rise.
If this is true than one in five of us sitting here this evening/this morning are likely to have experienced depression.
Perhaps even right now, in this moment, in this Holy Eucharist. It is a loneliness that is much like “stacking shelves at the supermarket. You bring everything to the front so that people who look at you see that everything looks good, but cannot see the emptiness behind.”3 [Thank you Rab. Neil for the image.]
It is like being in prison with no hope of escape or freedom or parole. How many times I have heard this sentence spoken to one who is depressed, “Well! What are you depressed about?” Or even worse, “Just get over it! Move on!” Or even further, “Depressed‽ Well let me tell you about my depression!”
If you are in the throes of depression (what the French call triste [sadness]) you cannot let yourself out of the prison — it doesn’t work.
What does work is for another to be there to touch, listen, hear, be quiet, above all simply be present.
Or, as Jesus was trying to tell those who would follow him:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.”
“Don’t let this rattle you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home.”
“Do not let your hearts fall to the ground — Trust in the Great Spirit, and trust in me. My Father’s lodge has room for everyone.”
When we find ourselves locked in the room of our sadness, when we have to key to open the door — then one from the outside needs to speak those words, “there are many rooms — now come, let us find one.”
Is it self-awareness and self-study and self-help that does this? No.
Therapy? Yes, often. Medication? Perhaps. But always the presence of another who reaches out and offers a hand, a heart, a love.
Speaking of rooms, there was news this week that the State of Virginia is now allowing churches to provide housing on their land most of which must be used for affordable housing.
Speaking of rooms, I say this with great pride: my former parish, Christ Lutheran Church in Santa Fe has for the last two years provided what is called “Safe Outdoor Space” (SOS). Let me quote:
The Micro Community is a small, supportive community on the Christ Lutheran Church campus that provides temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Santa Fe. Residents live in individual pallet shelters and are connected with case management and services through our partner organization, The Life Link. The goal is to offer a safe, stable place where people can rest, rebuild, and work toward permanent housing.4
Beverly and I attended the Open House two years ago; and we have watched the program grow and thrive — as well as the congregation “which took a chance” and offered space. When you are in Santa Fe, drive by and look — and then maybe speak to other communities of faith, here in Albuquerque. Why not?
The Father’s Home, the Lodge just might have enough space for everyone who has no space, who is locked up in the “prison of the mind”, who can only find a spot on the ground on a piece of cardboard for the night.
It’s worth a try. It’s worth the Gospel. It’s worth saving lives. And that, my friends, saving lives, is nothing less that what God asks of us each and every day we are privileged to wake up in the morning and take a deep breath of gratitude Love God. Love Neighbor. Love Creation.
And let us say: Amen.
Deo Gratias (+)
The Rev. Benjamin Larzelere III
Retired
1https://oursermondiscussion.boards.net/thread/235/prison-mind-1st-2026?page=1&scrollTo=414
2This paragraph is a summary of Rab. Neil’s words; and “ “ is verbatim.
3Again, thank you Rab. Neil.
4https://christlutheransantafe.org/pages/sos
JOHN 14.1-14
1 Μὴ ταρασσέσθω ὑμῶν ἡ καρδία· πιστεύετε εἰς τὸν θεόν, καὶ εἰς ἐμὲ πιστεύετε.2 ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ πατρός μου μοναὶ πολλαί εἰσιν· εἰ δὲ μή, εἶπον ἂν ὑμῖν ὅτι πορεύομαι ἑτοιμάσαι τόπον ὑμῖν;3 καὶ ἐὰν πορευθῶ καὶ ἑτοιμάσω τόπον ὑμῖν, πάλιν ἔρχομαι καὶ παραλήμψομαι ὑμᾶς πρὸς ἐμαυτόν, ἵνα ὅπου εἰμὶ ἐγὼ καὶ ὑμεῖς ἦτε.4 καὶ ὅπου [ἐγὼ] ὑπάγω οἴδατε τὴν ὁδόν.5 Λέγει αὐτῷ Θωμᾶς, Κύριε, οὐκ οἴδαμεν ποῦ ὑπάγεις· πῶς δυνάμεθα τὴν ὁδὸν εἰδέναι;6 λέγει αὐτῷ [ὁ] Ἰησοῦς, Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή· οὐδεὶς ἔρχεται πρὸς τὸν πατέρα εἰ μὴ δι’ ἐμοῦ.7 εἰ ἐγνώκατέ με, καὶ τὸν πατέρα μου γνώσεσθε· καὶ ἀπ’ ἄρτι γινώσκετε αὐτὸν καὶ ἑωράκατε αὐτόν.8 λέγει αὐτῷ Φίλιππος, Κύριε, δεῖξον ἡμῖν τὸν πατέρα, καὶ ἀρκεῖ ἡμῖν.9 λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Τοσούτῳ χρόνῳ μεθ’ ὑμῶν εἰμι καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωκάς με, Φίλιππε; ὁ ἑωρακὼς ἐμὲ ἑώρακεν τὸν πατέρα· πῶς σὺ λέγεις, Δεῖξον ἡμῖν τὸν πατέρα;10 οὐ πιστεύεις ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρὶ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοί ἐστιν; τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἐγὼ λέγω ὑμῖν ἀπ’ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ λαλῶ· ὁ δὲ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοὶ μένων ποιεῖ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.11 πιστεύετέ μοι ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρὶ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοί· εἰ δὲ μή, διὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτὰ πιστεύετε.12 ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ κἀκεῖνος ποιήσει, καὶ μείζονα τούτων ποιήσει, ὅτι ἐγὼ πρὸς τὸν πατέρα πορεύομαι·13 καὶ ὅ τι ἂν αἰτήσητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου τοῦτο ποιήσω, ἵνα δοξασθῇ ὁ πατὴρ ἐν τῷ υἱῷ·14 ἐάν τι αἰτήσητέ με ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου ἐγὼ ποιήσω.
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe[e] because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
JOHN 14.1-14
[The Message}
14 1-4 “Don’t let this rattle you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I’m taking.” 5 Thomas said, “Master, we have no idea where you’re going. How do you expect us to know the road?” 6-7 Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You’ve even seen him!”
8 Philip said, “Master, show us the Father; then we’ll be content.” 9-10 “You’ve been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don’t understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, ‘Where is the Father?’ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren’t mere words. I don’t just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.
11-14 “Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.
[First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament]
His followers hung their heads as his words sank deep into their hearts. Creator Sets Free (Jesus) gathered them together and had them sit down in a circle, like an eagle gathering her young under her wings. He spoke softly but clearly to them.
1“Do not let your hearts fall to the ground,” he encouraged them. “Trust in the Great Spirit, and trust in me. 2My Father’s lodge has room for everyone. If this were not so, then why would I tell you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3When I am finished, I will come back to you, so that you will always be with me. 4You already know the path to where I am going.”
5Looks Like His Brother (Thomas) interrupted and said, “Wisdomkeeper, if we do not know where you are going, how can we know the path?”
6“I am the Great Spirit’s pathway, the truth about who he really is, and the life of beauty and harmony he offers to all. There is no other guide who can take you to the Father. 7To know me is to know my Father, so from now on you know him and have seen him.”
8Friend of Horses (Philip) said to him, “Wisdomkeeper, show us the Father, and that will be enough.”
9“Friend of Horses (Philip),” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said, “how long have you walked with me, and still you do not know me? How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? The ones who have seen me have seen the Father. 10Do you not believe that the Father is in me and I am in the Father?
“The words I speak to you are not my own. It is the Father speaking in me. 11Trust in me, for I am in the Father and he is in me. Or at least trust in the works my Father does through me.
12“I speak from my heart. The ones who trust in me will do the same things I do, and even greater things, for I am going away to my Father. 13-14When you ask the Father for anything, ask it in my name, representing who I am. When you ask for anything in this way, I will do it to bring honor to my Father.
Nota(ble) Be(n)e 