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Good morning.  If you approach the great west door of Westminster Abbey and look upwards, you'll see a statue of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German writer and theologian who was born 90 years ago today.  He's commemorated as one of ten 20th century martyrs, because he put his life on the line facing up to the Nazi regime in Germany through the 1930's and 40s, controversially being implicated in the plot to assassinate Hitler.  As a result, he was executed in Flossenburg concentration camp, on the orders of the Fuhrer himself. 

Bonhoeffer once said, "Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued," which says much about his understanding of the incalculable value of human life, reflecting God’s image and likeness, yet dismissed as worthless by his killers.  Those who witnessed him go to the gallows were astonished that he did so in peace, totally submissive to the will of God. 

Bonhoeffer always strived to make sense of life viewed through the prism of faith, whether in his academic teaching and writing, his poetry or his scrutiny of a tyrannical regime.  His formative work was called ‘The Cost of Discipleship’, in which he set out his understanding of Christian faith, not as a set of ideas and doctrines that required intellectual approval, but as a vivid and dynamic faith that required personal commitment…what he called, ‘costly’ grace.

The ultimate cost of Bonhoeffer’s discipleship was total and complete.  Thankfully, very few are ever called to make such extreme sacrifices for their faith or principles.  But there can still be value in the mundane and ordinary discipleship that’s demonstrated in the simplest act of practical kindness or selfless generosity…because that, too, can be beyond price.

So Lord, may we be able to recognize the infinite worth of our service to others today; and in doing so, may we draw from your grace, regardless of the cost.  Amen.