Up, Up, But Not Away
Ascension of our Lord, May 8, 2016 (also marked as Mother's Day)
Acts 1:1-11 with Luke 24:44-53 in b.g.
There are times when it would be helpful to have an unmistakeable sign from God. Times like - when you are facing a major decision: Should you move or not? Should you accept that new job? When something horrible is happening to you or those you love, what should you do or say to your son or daughter, your husband or wife, your friend or neighbor? Wouldn't it be great to know for sure, to have God show us exactly what to do?
I remember a congregation that was just starting to grow. But they were "stuck" in an old building. So, they had begun to explore options regarding their meeting space. They really longed for a newer, larger building. But they felt that the costs for such a building at that stage of their life were prohibitive. Then one day the local funeral home called their church office, offering to buy their old building above market price. The very next week a local Mennonite congregation offered to sell them their existing building, which was significantly larger and much newer than the building they were in now, at below market price. Now the congregation had to decide what they should it do. Who was God calling them to be in that time and place? Were they up for the challenge, the risk? During the ensuing discussions, one member stood up and announced, "If God would just give us an unmistakeable sign!" I laugh every time I think about that.
But when it's "our" decision, "our" money, "our" time, "our" future – our homes that we are putting up as collateral – such decisions require a faith that is willing to trust God into the unknown and take significant risk.
I am concerned that there may be times when we don't yearn, when we don't look for any sign, any direction beyond ourselves and our own understanding to make important decisions. We may only examine the monetary question. Or, we may only look at what we want or what may be easier for us without considering the impact of such choices upon others, without intentionally asking God for direction. We might even think that because we have worked hard, we deserve whatever "it" is. But, what does it mean to follow Jesus, the One who loves us and the world more than we can comprehend? (Pause)
Today we meet two groups of people: the apostles, those earliest people sent out by Jesus and the disciples in Luke's Gospel. In Luke's account it is Easter Sunday. It is that day when the disciples are just beginning to realize that Jesus who most certainly has been killed is now alive! They have been traumatized and are filled with fear. But now this risen Jesus seeks to move them beyond their fear to new life, both for themselves and for the world.
In the Acts account 40 days have passed since that first Easter. During that time Jesus has been eating with the disciples, teaching them about who He is as the Christ. But now the time has arrived. He must leave them. He must go to be with His Father and their Father, the Creator of the universe.
He tells them that now they must do something difficult. They must wait for the Spirit to come upon them. The task Jesus to which Jesus calls them is DAUNTING. He calls them to be his witnesses in Jerusalem where they already are and in the surrounding areas of Jerusalem. He also calls them to be his witnesses in Samaria, a place that was inhabited by people that the disciples felt were their enemies. Finally beyond that Jesus tells them that they will be his witnesses to the "ends of the earth" to places they haven't even known about, yet. Jesus promises them that soon they will be gifted with the Spirit which somehow will lend them a power beyond their understanding. (Pause)
Do you ever think of yourself as a witness of Jesus?
Being a witness means that we share with others what we have seen, heard and know to be true and important. The sharing of any and all good news is done with both joy and expectation. Imagine that today you were to win five million dollars. Whom would you call or visit? How would you share your good news with those people? Would you be generous with those you love and know and perhaps even with some people you haven't met yet, people in need?
Or, as you have been particularly blessed with a friendship, another who loves you, a child or grandchild – would you tell anyone? Would such a great blessing affect the way you treat others and this creation? (Pause)
We are deeply blessed and impacted by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. In Him we know that death, our own approaching death and the deaths of others, no longer have the final nor the lasting word. In Jesus, we know that despite our shortcomings, our fear, our hatred, our apathy, our misunderstanding, even fear and jealousy of others, there can be, there is new life, forgiveness and new beginnings with God and others. In Jesus we begin to realize that the powers which seek to perpetuate themselves by wreaking all kinds of havoc upon people and creation ARE NOT ULTIMATE. Only God is ultimate and good. So it is that we can pray to God, "Your kingdom come! Your will be done."
This is part of what's so amazing. Jesus promises the early apostles that God's Spirit will come upon them. And The Spirit does. They then become his witnesses in word and deed, to those close to them and to those far away. But such witnessing is not easy. Somehow, there is frequent opposition to such witness from both within ourselves and beyond ourselves. YET SUCH WITNESSING IS GOOD. SUCH WITNESSING TO THE LOVE, HOLINESS, MERCY AND JUSTICE OF GOD IN CHRIST FILLS US AND OTHERS WITH WONDER. The new life we have in God, the profound love of Christ transforms us and others. It cannot be quashed.
Today we celebrate the ascension of our Lord. We no longer live with a cosmology that views reality as contained in a 3 tiered universe. Many of us no longer think of God as somehow "up" there, while hell or separation from God is somehow "down" there. However, the ascension of our Lord points to a reality that is not limited by the prior cosmological understanding of those early witnesses to Jesus. Instead, the ascension of our Lord points us to the reality that Jesus is united with God the Creator. Somehow, they are one! The Ascension of our Lord also points us to the true source of any power we experience to embody the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. The power to so love, to give a clear and steady witness against all odds to the love and victory of Jesus over death and evil as imperfect as we are here and now, such power comes from God's own Spirit.
Take heart dear people. This Holy Spirit is not something we earn, deserve or ever figure out .This Spirit washes over us as a gift. This Spirit then drives us, woos us, nudges us, cajoles and embraces us with the love and forgiveness of God, with the power of God to live our lives not solely or even primarily for ourselves but instead to carry God's creative and redeeming Word, (i.e. Christ) wherever we live, move and have our being.
What a call this is! What a task! What a life to live!
May God move us beyond our fear, beyond whatever walls we erect, whatever doors we lock. May God move us beyond looking to "heaven" or anywhere that prevents us from moving out, from bearing witness here and now. May God move us to daily live with hope, forgiveness and love with all whom we encounter. These are the gifts and dream of the suffering and risen Christ. (pause)
I close with a prayer from Teresa of Avila( 1515-1582)
God of love, help us to remember that Christ has no body now on earth but ours, no hands but ours, no feet but ours. Ours are the eyes to see the needs of the world. Ours are the hands with which to bless everyone now. Ours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good. Amen.