Sermon by Bishop Matti Salomäki at the Church Day

Today’s Gospel passage begins with an overwhelming promise. A promise is like a fairy tale, where a child can ask for anything and his wish will come true. Oh, if only that could happen in this world! In the film ”Evan: A Gift from Heaven,” the main character receives the gift of granting all the wishes and prayers of the people he desires, but the result is chaos everywhere. It’s not easy to be all-powerful; at the same time, one must be fair, just, and responsible.

The texts for Prayer Sunday address what prayer is and the promises it contains are. In the biblical accounts, Jesus makes many promises about prayer and the answering of prayer. What was new was that requests to the Father had to be made in Jesus’ name. He promised not only to answer them, but also to give them complete joy.

Creation

This year’s theme for the Church Days was ”Create and Preserve.” This, too, is a prayer, but the title contains a play on words, depending on whether the words are read together or separately (Create and preserve/protect or Creator, preserve us!). The title reminds me of three creations.

The first creation is recognized in the Nicene Creed as follows: ” I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.”  Why do we exist and how do we exist? According to our faith, behind everything is the Creator, who in his love created this world with all its beauty, meaning, and wonders. And he never rests, but continually creates new things. This spring proves that. The greenery around us is suddenly in full bloom. It was impossible not to notice this when coming to this Mass. The old, dried, and withered leaves and grass were replaced by new growth and a new spring.

Likewise, new people are born into our ranks. From the love of two people, a new life arises. God creates something new. You and I are created by God, immeasurably valuable, and infinitely loved in God’s eyes. For we believe in the Creator, not in chance or fate. Everything has a purpose, and behind it all is God’s love.

However, the title song says: ”You created something beautiful. You asked me to protect it, but I listened to my needs, not your will. You created something beautiful, but I destroyed it.” The first creation was followed by the Fall, which left a profound mark on this world. Disregarding God’s will led to expulsion from paradise and the consequences we see every day in this broken world. Therefore, we too must pray: ”God bless us!” Protect us from our own evil, the evil of others, the destructive forces of nature, and all evil.

The theme of the Church Days invited us to reflect on a responsible future. Amidst the changing values ​​and the many challenges of our time, how can we build a sustainable future and promote justice? How do we preserve the precious and beautiful things that God continues to create among us? Do we consider our responsibility in our everyday decisions? Our task is also to protect what God has created.

(Last paragraph also in Swedish)

Second Creation

After the fall in the Paradise, the world was severely damaged. What is said about the consequences: the harshness of labor pains, the pain of childbirth, a land full of thistles, the expulsion from paradise, the first fratricide and other acts of violence, and at the end of it all, death? Today, the plagues are somewhat different, but very serious. Our work may not be physically demanding, but many of us are spiritually exhausted afterward. Today, there are effective remedies for relieving labor pains, but for many people, infertility causes immeasurable pain. Deforestation and climate change are a stark reminder of the impact we humans have on creation. Creation groans; humanity bears guilt, searches for meaning, and fears death. Why did God create a world that could fall into such a state?

But soon, the Creator revealed a plan to repair what was broken. He promised to crush the serpent’s head, that is, to destroy evil. Over the centuries, the promises have been repeated again and again: ”I have plans for you, declares the Lord, plans of peace and not of evil, plans to give you a future and a hope.”

Over time, this promise began to be fulfilled. However, in a completely different way than anyone could have imagined: through the birth of a little child. In the dark night, the angels delivered the message: ”Unto you a Savior has been born; he is Christ the Lord.” Something new and unique happened. The Son of God was born in our image to set us free and bear our judgment. With the death of Jesus, a new life began. Hidden in the defeat of death on the cross lay the victory over sin, death, and the devil. The first Adam was followed by the second Adam; Eve was followed by Mary; creation was followed by a new creation. What was broken after the first creation is like a broken clay pot from which the great potter can make a new pot. A broken vessel is worthless. When it is repaired, it has a purpose again.

Through the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God began a new creation. Paul states in his letter to the Corinthians: ”If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17). The cross became a turning point in world history, from which the entire chronology is divided into two parts. Jesus began his ministry by proclaiming the vision of his kingdom: ”The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18). We must continue this task. Who are the poor around us who need good news? Who are those who need our encouragement and relief from their worries? Who are the burdened who need our helping hand? We are still living in the Easter season and may proclaim the message of victory and hope. The hymn states: ”Create in me the spirit of Christ himself. Give me a new and more beautiful language that agrees with the words of reconciliation.”

Spoken in English:

God’s work of creation was perfect in Paradise. But then something went terribly wrong, as we humans took over the rule. Today we face outcomes of sin in new and challenging forms. They cause pain and struggle among us. Who are those who need our encouragement and relief from their burdens? Who are those who are weary with their burdens and need our helping hand?

Third Creed

There is still darkness and evil in this world, even though the Easter light already shines among us. But we have hope, for a third creation still awaits us. The Nicene Creed states the goal of the journey in its final sentences: ”We await the resurrection of the dead and life in the world to come.” God will one day create a new heaven and a new earth in which there will be no more evil. Together we can rejoice in God’s eternal love.

The mission of the Church is to proclaim hope. This is what this world longs for amidst wars, discord, and all the horror. The fact that we can help the needy and encourage the depressed brings hope into this life. But the ultimate fulfillment of hope takes place where the vision described in the Book of Revelation becomes reality: ”I saw a new heaven and a new earth. … And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ’Behold, the dwelling place of God is with men! He will dwell with them, and they will be his people. And God himself is with them, and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away'” (Rev. 21).

Concluding Words

Dear Christians! The theme of the Church Days gives us the task of continuing, creating, and preserving the work that God began. Today, too, on Prayer Sunday, we can ask him: Create and protect, Creator protect! Protect us from evil, protect us in faith and in our unity with one another and with you, protect us until we reach our heavenly home, the Father!

We now confess our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed:

I believe in one God,

the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,

born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,

and rose again on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead

and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come