S is for Swap

Bob Bertram is a man who carries himself with dignity. I took many classes with Bob during seminary and grew to love the theology of the Cross, which he taught us. I also grew to respect his dignified demeanor that carried us through some heated discussions that might have devolved into less than useful arguments without that respectful distance with which he shapes his classrooms.

And though I have never had any reason to doubt Bob's confession of faith in Christ through all these years, if I had had any doubts, last Friday night would have set them to rest.

ELCA Lutherans in the St. Louis area gather for an Advent hymn fest each year and this year, last Friday night, we gathered to sing about and to anticipate the coming of our Lord and to honor Bob for his many years of service to the church. The evening was well organized and well attended, the music was lovely, but it was the last few minutes that grasped my heart in a way I will never forget.

After the last hymn, Ron Neustadt, who presided at the service, asked Bob if he would like to say a few words. Bob rose from his seat next to Thelda and made his way to the lectern with his usual dignity, but also with the struggles of these last months clearly on his shoulders. He stood before us, as he so often has, and spoke in words that have rung through his classrooms for many years, but this time it wasn't as a teacher trying once more to pour vital information into his students. It was as one brother confessing the essence of his being to his siblings, dear ones on the same road, if a few steps behind, whom he loves and will love forever.

Remember this as you read his words which follow.

robin morgan

Bob, Thelda, and daughter Sarah at the Advent Hymn Fest

For an old, brain-damaged Christian, especially someone who has had to learn all over again tonight that Advent is adventure, for such a one, there is really only one thing left to say. And that is simply, Come, Lord Jesus. And when You do come this next time, why not bring along the whole family, all the sisters and brothers? For surely this time when You come, there will be room enough in the inn -- in the inn of our hearts -- considering all the unfinished business that is still left to be done in those hearts. For instance, when You come Lord Jesus, think of what all will be there of ours for You to deal with. There will be all the clutter of what we have left there of ours -- our sin, our sickness, our anxieties, our self absorption, our complaints. You are welcome to all of those things. You offered to us that You would assume all this as Your own.

We urge You, please to do just that. Make all that is ours Yours. And then what of all that is Yours, that You bring to our hearts? That, we urge You, dear Lord Christ, as You promised, leave that for us to replace what You have taken away of ours. In place of our sin leave Your righteousness. In place of our anxiety and our joylessness, leave Your joy. In place of our dying, leave Your life and Your resurrection. We know it is not at all fair of us to ask such an exchange. But how did we sing in the hymn a moment ago? "You make for us a great exchange." "You bear upon Yourself our frame, and in return, give us Your realm, Your glory and Your name." It is what Martin Luther called,"the delightful exchange." The Old Testament prophet had said, we receive double for all our iniquities. Sisters and brothers, where can we find a better rate of exchange than that, double for all our iniquities? The great exchange.

And so when we say tonight, as we say in the program, "He's Coming!....And Aren't You Glad?" Yes, we are glad, but we are glad not only for His coming as such, we are glad for His takings and His leavings. His taking what is ours and His leaving what is His, in its place. Speak of adventure! So meanwhile, Lord Jesus, fill our hearts with hope and with eagerness for Your coming, for Your takings and Your leavings. And make our hearts ready for Your coming and for the great exchange. Even so, Lord Jesus, quickly come. This we ask in the name of the Great Exchange, the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

robert w bertram