What? Me a priest?

What?  Me a priest?

Martin Luther introduced the concept of the priesthood of all believers into Lutheran theology.  He taught that each of us reflects and connects God to others.  We model generosity in spirit and in things.  We offer grace and forgiveness just as we have received it.  We make choices for the betterment of life for all and not just for our personal gain.  We look to God to guide our decisions.

I know many think of being a priest as wearing those long white robes with those nicely designed stoles.  It requires talking in 4 syllable words and somehow gives a person entrance into the mystery of God, most especially around the sacrament of Holy Communion.  There is some expectation that ordination keeps a person from having unkind thoughts or nasty days.

But what if we defined a priest as a person who helps others connect with God.  You do that.  Don't you?  Martin Luther wrote that each of us is called through our baptism to be little Christs to one another.  You do that.  Don't you?  You reflect love through serving others.  You seek reconciliation.  You show others the power of forgiveness to grant life. Even if you haven't done it today, or you don't think you do it well, you work at being the face of Jesus to others.  Don't you?

When you carry a hot cassarole to a neighbor's house, you are the one bringing our Lord's table close to another.  When you care for the unloveable ones, you, like Jesus, are kneeling to wash another's feet.  When a portion of your income is given away to ease the pressure on a struggling stranger, you are the one who facititates the multiplying of the loaves and fish.  You are being priest in the world, and to the world.

 We all serve Jesus by being 'little Christs' to one another.

  Only some of us have to write sermons.