Acts 1:6-14; 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11; John 17:1-11
We are in Lectionary Year A, with most of our
readings from Matthew, sprinkled with a fair amount of readings from John. The Easter
season this year is intended to prepare us for the coming of the Holy Spirit,
as most of the readings have mentioned in one way or another. Over the last few
weeks, we have spent significant time with Jesus and the disciples and other followers
in the upper room, where the last supper took place.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus is very much in charge
of what happens. It seems he often plans out the people he will speak with, the
healings he will do, the resources he will use – for example the boy’s lunch.
Here at the end of his physical life, he is very much in charge of preparing
the disciples for what comes next, in the next few hours, and in the next few
months.
I believe that at this last supper, Jesus wanted
the closest disciples and closest followers to hear what he had to say. So, in
the room were not just the Twelve disciples but a few other men and women, Mary
his mother, perhaps Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Who knows? Maybe even Nicodemus!
Tonight, Jesus is wrapping up his teaching. Over
the last few weeks, the lectionary has given us several passages from John 13 and
14, and today, the last Sunday before Pentecost, the reading is from Chapter
17. They have been at had supper; Jesus has washed their feet, and tried to
explain the importance of servanthood. He promises the coming of the Advocate,
the Holy Spirit, who will be his presence on earth with them in the future.
Now, in this last moment, Jesus says, “Listen
as I pray. Father, I have done everything that you sent me to do and I know
that my death will be to your glory. Be now with these followers, so they will
know you and understand that eternal life is a relationship with you. As I
return to you, give me back the glory I left behind to be here with these
people.
“And I ask on behalf of these people that you
would help them know the truth, that you and I are one and the same. I am in you
and you are in me. Protect them, as they continue in the world, now that I will
no longer be with them in this way.”
We know that soon after this, Jesus leaves the
room, goes to the garden and is arrested, tried, and crucified. As John tells
the story, Jesus then appears on the third day to the gathered, grieving
disciples and followers. He says, “My peace I give to you. Receive the Holy
Spirit.” We’ll read that story next week.
… But Luke tells the story differently. Luke
says that after the resurrection, Jesus continues to appear to the disciples
for 40 days, popping up here and there as they go about their lives. In this
reading, Jesus has called the disciples together for one last time, and is
preparing them for his departure. They will see him no more in the same way,
but he will soon send the Holy Spirit to help them continue the ministry he
began with them.
They watch as Jesus rises into the air and
disappears. Suddenly, two men in white robes – we assume they are angels,
messengers – appear. They say, “This Jesus will come again in the same way as
you saw him leave.” And, 10 days later, Jesus appears as a powerful wind and
fire on the day of Pentecost. We will read that story next week, too.
… The future, as the disciples discover, will
not be easy. Peter’s letters highlight some of the struggles faced by those who
chose to follow Jesus in the earliest days of Christianity. Our struggles today
may be different, but they are no less struggles. People are still being persecuted
for their faith in Jesus, and for not participating in the preferred local
faith.
With the percentage of people who participate
in faith communities dropping around the world and in all faiths, there are
people everywhere who need to know about God’s love for them. They need to know
that the tomb is empty and death is not the last word for their lives. They
need to know God forgives them and wants a relationship with them.
Fortunately, we have the guidance and wisdom and
power of God’s Holy Spirit with us at all times. Spirit always invites and
challenges us to speak about our faith in Jesus, if we open our ears and
hearts. Jesus often said, “Let those who have ears, listen!” And now, we have
Jesus praying for us, just as he prayed for the disciples and followers in the
room that last night.
I spoke recently with a person who said her prayer
list was quite long. She gets up earlier in the day than she used to, in order
to get through her list. My friend knows that when she prays, God hears her
prayers and will respond in some way. Trusting God with our concerns is a sign
of strong faith.
It’s also important to listen for God, to hear
what God is saying to us. There are many ways to pray:
·
We pray by meditating –
reading a portion of scripture and listening for God to speak to us through the
text.
·
We pray when we let God guide
our hands and bodies and minds as we express our faith in God through music,
dance, architecture, scientific exploration, feeling the presence of Spirit as
we move and create.
·
We pray when we use our hands
in service to others, and pay attention to finding Jesus in the people we serve
and in those among whom we serve.
·
We pray when we are present
with our family members and friends, offering hugs and listening ears as they express
pain and fear and grief, or joy and celebration.
·
In all these ways, we can
discover that Jesus prays with us and for us.
A quick story. I eat lunch with some friends on
Wednesdays. It’s a mixed group, several women and one man. It was just a women’s
group until Judy invited Hans. His wife died a year or two ago, and he still
misses her dreadfully. Joining us for lunch gives him a reason to get out of
the house and talk with people.
Last week, we women were talking about hairdressers
and changing hair styles. Hans wiped away some tears as he mentioned that his
wife used to cut his hair. I am sure Jesus prays for Hans, that his grief will
lessen over time.
Prayer is our way of connecting with Jesus, no
matter how we pray. But we won’t know Jesus is there unless we stop focusing on
what we are doing and saying, and instead turn a listening ear and spirit to
search for his presence. I hope you will do that this week. Amen
