Veszteségünk - Karl Koloman Ludwig

 Szomorúan tudatjuk,

hogy a gyülekezetünk tiszteletbeli tagja,
istentiszteleteink elmaradhatatlan részese,
bibliaóráink rendszeres résztvevője,

Karl Koloman Ludwig,
nyugalmazott püspök,
2024. november 16-án elhunyt. 

Őszinte részvétünket fejezzük ki családjának és barátainak. Isten vigasztaljon mindannyiunkat úgy, ahogyan csak Ő tud. Püspök úr évtizedeken át jó barátja volt gyülekezetünknek, és minden vasárnap interneten keresztül vett részt istentiszteleteinken Indianából. Nyugodjék békében. Monda néki az Ő ura: Jól vagyon jó és hű szolgám, kevesen voltál hű, sokra bízlak ezután; menj be a te uradnak örömébe. -- Máté 25:23

We are very sad to announce that Rt. Rev. Koloman Karl Ludwig Bishop Emeritus, Hammond, Indiana, passed away. We express our sincere condolences to his family and friends. May God comfort us all in the way that only He can. Püspök úr was a good friend of our church for decades and for years, participated in our worship services every Sunday via internet from Indiana. May he rest in peace and may his soul be woven into the souls of the living. His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’   -- Matthew 25:23 NKJV

Tai Chen playing Aloha 'Oe (Farewell to Thee) in remembrance of Bishop Koloman Karl Ludwig

A Los Angeles-i Első Magyar Református Egyháznál 2021. nov. 14-én elhangzott igehirdetés a gyülekezet 95 éves fennállása alkalmából.

Good Samaritan 

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? " He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:25-37) 

I read a story of Albert Einstein when he was touring the United States. He was on a lecture tour, going from university to university, giving lectures on his new “theory of relativity”. His chauffer was an intelligent young man. Near the end of the tour the chauffer, who had been present at each of his lectures, said to Einstein: “You know, you give exactly the same lecture every time, and I have heard your talk so often, I bet that I could give it.” So Einstein, who had a great sense of humor, said “OK, if you want to try, go ahead.” The chauffer then said “Well, I can’t very well go on the stage in a chauffeur’s uniform: how about if we swap clothes?” 

Einstein agreed, and the chauffer appeared on stage the next evening at a University in New York, and Einstein sat on the stage dressed in the chauffeur’s uniform, listening. And indeed, the chauffer pulled it off. Using Einstein’s notes, he successfully delivered the lecture Einstein had written and given over twenty times, explaining the “Theory of Relativity” to an auditorium full of Scholars from the universities.

Following the presentation, there was a time for questions. One professor stood up and said, “Professor Einstein, I have been working on a difficult mathematical problem, and I am glad you’re here. Here’s my problem,’’and he explained the problem he had been unable to solve. Einstein’s chauffer, dressed in Einstein’s clothing, had no idea what the man was talking about, but being quick on his feet, said: “Oh that, it is so simple, I will have my Chauffer explain it to you,” and he called Einstein to the microphone to respond to the question. 

While this is probably not a true story, it illustrates a truth: We can know many things, we can even learn and repeat things we have heard many times, but that doesn't mean we understand what they truly mean. 

We just finished the celebration of the Birth of Jesus - the coming of God's Son into the world. Do we really know what that means? Do we understand why he came? Do we understand the intent that God had when he sent his Son as a living example of what he wanted us to understand, how he wants us to live, how we should treat each other? 

This is very succinctly presented to us in Luke 10. Jesus asks, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" Like the young man, we all know the answer. Then Jesus tells the story of the "Good Samaritan" - which we all know - and he says, "Go and do likewise." 

There are times when we know the "story", we know all the words, we can repeat things, but that doesn't mean we know what they mean in our own personal lives. 

Jesus came to teach us God's desire for the way we should live our lives. Do we understand that if we do not make his teaching part of our lives, then the Christmas we just celebrated is, in fact, totally meaningless? We can explain the meaning of Christmas and Christ's coming to our children, to others who might be unfamiliar with what the message is, but words do not, in fact, convey to others what this really means. Our actions convey to our children, to other church members and to strangers what Christmas truly means to us. 

What kind of message should our lives be teaching? The message is shown and exemplified by Jesus in the Gospels. 

In Luke, he tells us: "Judge not...condemn not...forgive... " Later he says: "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness....he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." And he cautioned us about being prideful: "When you are invited do not sit down in a place of honor... But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place..." And in John he tells us "...go, and from now on sin no more." 

And there are positive commands on how to live our lives - again from Luke: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." "And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them." "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." In the story of the Good Samaritan he tells us that every person is our neighbor, and we should show mercy on all. And later, a lesson on how are we to deal with others who are not of our community? "...when you give a feast, invite the poor..." 

Truly understanding that these are the things that the Birth of Christ - Christmas - introduced into the world as the way God wants us to live with others means that they become the way we live. In as much as Christ lives in us, so will his teachings. 

Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, Bishop
Amerikai Magyar Reformátusok Lapja Calvin Synod Herald, 2016 (117. évfolyam 2016-01-01 / 1-2. számban megjelent karácsonyi írás