Those among you who sometimes or even regularly preprare sermons might know the phenomenon.

As soon as Saturday comes (at least in my weekly schedule) the adrenaline-level in my blood goes up. Because the sermon for Sunday has to be prepared.

I read the suggested passage. Sometimes an idea about the sermon or a theme comes into my mind fairly quick.

In fact, then the whole sermon somehow grows in my head and just wants to be put on paper.

But most of the times I have no clue. Or maybe an idea but no real idea how to put all the thoughts that occur together to get a proper sermon.

I sometimes spend a whole day (or even more if I start early enough during week) wrenching my brain, doing all bits and peaces like cleaning, shopping, cooking but always with my sermon-to-write in my mind. Thinking it over and over.

As soon as early afternoon comes I usualy start writing. Trying to get some order in the sermon-jigsaw-puzzle in my mind and later on on my laptop.

Sooner or later I kind of give up. Being happy that there are at least some words (and sufficient words to fill at least 10 minutes which are the absolute minimum for a lutheran sermon) on the paper. But quite often I regard these words as mere stuttering than an elaborate sermon.

When Sunday morning comes I climb the pulpit- with my heart beating and my knees trembling-and preach the sermon.

And quite often something amazing happens.

I see how people´s faces clear up, some do even start smiling. Some nod their head every now and then - probably saying: „Yes, I totally agree“ or „Well- I wouldn´t say that.“

Anyway- there is a kind of interaction between them and me. 

And when the sermon and later on the service comes to an end quite a few people make a comment on the jigsaw-puzzle I presented to  them.

They say how the sermon made them think about various issues. Or how the sermon encourages, comforts or even challenges them.

This makes me humble- because I do not regard myself as a splendid preacher. Most of the time I think I have very little to say and defenitely not a theologically elaborate sermon as some might expect.

But my words do reach the hearts and minds of my congregants.

I really have no other explanation: This must be the holy spirit. There must be something that helps my words reach other people. That works as a link between them and me.

Come Holy Spirit!