So, this Sunday we’ll be hearing from Paul Tillich.
For John Cleese fans who may recall this line from the short-lived comedy Fawlty Towers, I add, “You’ll love it! He’s German!”
He’s also dead, so I’ve volunteered to channel him from the Great Beyond. By which I mean, I will be reading his most famous sermon, entitled, “You are Accepted,” from a book.
It’s a beautiful sermon, very theological and existential and Tillichian (which is a word, I didn’t make that up), but also, extremely moving. As I’ve practiced it this week, I’ve teared up nearly every time at the crucial paragraph that gives the sermon its title. I hope I don’t on Sunday, but you all are forewarned. It’s powerful stuff we’re dabbling in here: Tillich wants nothing less than to create a moment for his listeners in which they experience God’s grace.
I’ve experienced those rare moments of grace many times in the unlikely setting of the PS 261 cafeteria. I anticipate yet another astonishing and unlikely moment this Sunday, as we listen to the words of this member of the communion of saints who now, I can only trust, lives eternally in the experience of that grace which is still for the rest of us so rare and momentary.
It was in high school reading this sermon from his collection of sermons The Shaking of the Foundations that I came to faith. Powerful time in my life, and I’ve been indebted to Tillich ever since. Hope it went well!
Krister, that’s awesome. Thanks for sharing that.
for clarification, in case both Steven and Krister are wondering, that comment was really from me. Sorry guys. (forgot I was logged in as sjbaird while sjbaird was still reeling from his vertigo.)