Jukka Paarma
"We
have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power
belongs to God and not to us" (2 Cor 4:7).
The diocese of
Lapua has chosen as its new bishop Simo Peura, D.D. As the fourth bishop of Lapua, he will continue the work of his
three predecessors - Eero Lehtinen, Yrjö Sariola and Jorma Laulaja.
The diocese of
Lapua, like other places, has its own special features. It includes parishes in Ostrobothnia,
Central Finland and north Satakunta. Spiritually, too, the diocese is varied.
The spiritual climate of this area has been profoundly influenced by our
traditional revival movements, whose vitality and influence still enriches the
life of the parishes.
Besides well-rooted
popular religious movements, new religious trends, Christian and non-Christian,
are at work in the parishes or outside them. And, of course, in this area, as
throughout the country, there can be seen contemporary religious individualism
and privatization as well as secularization and alienation from the Church and
religious values in general.
The diocese to
which you, Simo Peura, are now called to be shepherd or bishop, lives in the
midst of such trends. Since you have a profound knowledge of Lutheran theology
and are acquainted with the diocese, you have good qualifications to tend the
flock like a good shepherd. For this you need not only theological learning and
sound judgment, but also spiritual wisdom and faithfulness to God's holy Word.
These things the congregation assembled here today in Lapua cathedral, together
with radio and television listeners and viewers, pray that Our Lord will give
you.
The Finnish word
"bishop" comes from the Greek word usually translated into Finnish as
'guardian'. According to the dictionary, synonyms are, for example, 'caretaker'
and 'director'. In the Bible it is used of the person who tends a flock, a
shepherd. This picture indeed illustrates the work of a bishop: the bishop is
there to take care of his flock and guide it.
The constitution of
our Lutheran Church describes the office of bishop as follows: "The
bishop, each in his diocese, is the supreme shepherd of the parishes and
clergy." Then follows his tasks in more detail. First and thus of greatest
importance is this: "His task is to maintain church unity and promote the
Church's mission in the diocese". Using the image of a shepherd I can say
that the bishop's most important task is to indicate the direction in which his
flock should go, and to take care that it stays together. Both important,
relevant tasks, but not easy ones. Both are closely related.
The most valuable
legacy of our revival movements has been faithfulness to the spiritual heritage
of the fathers. They have done great work by passing on from one generation to
another the same uplifting and comforting faith that has sustained their
mothers and fathers. At the same time they have spoken, so to say, the
vernacular like the common people. This has meant taking seriously contemporary
ways of thinking and conditions. Types of ministry, the way of speaking, songs
and language have all had to be renewed to be intelligible to the new
generation. Only then can children and grandchildren make their parents' and
grandparents' legacy their own.
The same need for
renewal applies to the Church too, if it wishes to preserve its message as a
living and relevant one under new circumstances. The Lutheran tradition has
been: "Ecclesia semper reformanda", 'the Church must always be
reformed'. Only then can it be faithful to its task. The old German revivalist
leader Count von Zinzendorf said the following about the same matter: "No
community can endure or prosper that cannot within its limits constantly change,
go forward and improve in line with the times".
Church renewal can,
of course, only mean that it fulfils its mission as well as possible. The
commission is found in the words of Jesus to his disciples recorded in the
Gospel of Mark: "Go...and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who
believes and is baptized will be saved". This gospel of what Jesus Christ
did and taught is called a treasure, the Church's real treasure, by the Apostle
Paul. Keeping this treasure on display and offering it to others, is the task
of the Church and the bishop. It should not be forgotten, and it is nothing to
be ashamed of. This treasure is entrusted to the Church and its servants.
The church unity
that the bishop should maintain is not the unity of clay vessels, but that of
the treasure, the gospel. His task is to indicate the direction in which food
can be found. Those who live by the treasure and by grace make their way to the
same source of nourishment.
The Apostle Paul
said something about this treasure that is important to remember. "We have
this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs
to God and not to us". A clay vessel is weak and fragile, it cracks
easily. It is cheap. Its value lies in the fact that it contains something more
valuable than itself, a real treasure. The Apostle Paul reminds us that
preachers of the Word, church employees, the Church itself is all too human. It
contains the unworthiness, fragility and faults that are part of the human lot.
This community gains its worth, even holiness from the fact that it houses the
greatest of treasures, the most holy gospel.
The treasure is in
earthen vessels. That is why we need those who will indicate the direction to
take, and lead the flock where they can live by the bread of life.
Translated by Michael Cox