2026 05 17 Easter 7 A
Acts
1:6-14 Psalm
68:1-10, 32-35 1
Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 John
17:1-11
Our readings today involve a bit of sky gazing. In our Gospel reading we have the account of
Jesus’ prayer that he made before the passion of the cross. Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed. His prayer seems somewhat mysterious, but it
highlights some super important facts; At a time the world might perceive as
the low point, that is, the crucifixion, Jesus counts this as the hour of
Glory. The only reason can be that
finally Jesus publicly stands as the Messiah.
In all of Jesus time on earth, he was secretive about his true identity,
not claiming to be God or equal to God, but waiting for people to see for themselves
and come to this conclusion. Also, in
this passage, we see the eternal nature of the Son of God – of Jesus, when he
says; “Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in
your presence before the world existed.”
Jesus also speaks of his authority and affirms that the only way to God
the father is through the Son. These
facts are central to Christianity. We
have many denominations, but we are the answer to Jesus’ prayer that we may be
one, as we have unity in our acceptance and proclamation of these facts.
Our reading from Acts also has some sky gazing, but this
time it is the disciples. They had hoped
that Jesus would bring about the restoration of the Israelite Kingdom at this
time…. And were left…. Perhaps bewildered.
They still didn’t fully understand God’s plan, but the knew the prophecies
of restoration. It makes sense that they
would expect this was the time of restoration. We all long for the glory days and pray for
restoration, for God to fill our churches with people. Wishful thinking and staring at the sky
perhaps….. We raise our eyes to the
heavens, but what is the answer? God
does have an answer. We are HIS
church. We are not the boss – He is. We are not the saviour – He is. And the message of Jesus to us, is the same
that he declares to the disciples; "It is not for you to know the times
or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
The followers of Jesus were asked; “Why do you stand
looking up toward heaven?” Would the
Angels say the same to us? Let’s put
ourselves in the shoes of those disciples for a minute. They had been enjoying the fact that Jesus
had risen from the dead. They were
comforted and encouraged, being taught by him for 40 days but now he was
ascended to heaven, and they knew that something was changing. Before
their eyes he was taken up in a cloud.
They were not abandoned but it might have left them feeling that way and
somewhat vulnerable.
If you are thinking there is something significant about
that cloud, you are right. When the
ancient Israelites were escaping slavery in Egypt and the Red Sea was parted,
they were led and protected by a fire through the night and a cloud through the
day. Here in our story of Jesus, we see
him lifted up in a cloud. Throughout the
scriptures there are instances of the “cloud”, and the people of God knew what
it meant. The cloud is the presence of
God.
When the Temple was built, the presence of God was there
as a cloud. In the book of Ezekiel there
is a very definite parallel to our story today as the glory of God departs the
temple in a cloud that moves to the mountain east of the city. Guess which mountain is east of the city? Mount Olivet!
The very mountain where the disciples were when they saw Jesus ascend. It is no coincidence. We are told that Jesus will come back in the
same way that he was seen to go.
Before Jesus left he answered their question about
restoration by saying that it is not for them – or us – to know the times. In other words, it isn’t our role to know,
but it isn’t that we do nothing. These
readings that we have been enjoying between resurrection Sunday and Pentecost
are purposefully placed to teach us and to prepare us. In the early church, in the 3rd
and 4th century, there was a two -step initiation process. resurrection Sunday was the time when new
believers were baptised. Then they
would have this intensive time of teaching them to prepare them for the feast
of Pentecost and the receiving of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. The tradition evolved to have many baptisms
at the feast of Pentecost, such that it became known as “White Sunday” – or “Whitsunday”. For us, baptism has moved to happen at any
time and the laying on of hands for the Holy Spirit, is what we celebrate at
our confirmation.
Part of being a Street Chaplain means having an up-to-date
first aid certificate. Each year we have
to re-do our CPR as well as some general first aid. Every 3 years we all re-do full first
aid. Why? Because we forget. Each year in the church, we celebrate the
feasts, especially Paschal tide and Pentecost, because the teachings about
these are vital for our faith. These
teachings focus us to remember and stir up the gift of the Holy Spirit.
At the time of our Baptism we become a child of God and
we chose to belong to God and in doing so we become born of God’s Spirit – Born
Again - which is one of the reasons this
happens in water, because water is a symbol of life – just like we begin before
birth, surrounded by water, so this water of baptism is a sign of the new birth
in the Holy Spirit. However, there is a
differentiation from being born of the Spirit and receiving the gifts of the
Holy Spirit. In one case in the New
Testament, the believers received the gift of the Holy Spirit first and then
they were baptised, to signify, celebrate and seal what God had already done. Through baptism we have ALL the Holy Spirit,
but scripture makes a differentiation in the laying on of the hands for the gifts
of the Holy Spirit. Also - having a gift
and opening and using it are two different things.
Those disciples looking into the sky had been told that
they would receive power to be the witnesses of Jesus when they received the
Holy Spirit. We too have received this
power if we’ve been confirmed and had the laying on of hands at our
confirmation, but often we haven’t had the chance or the knowledge to utilize
this gift…. And in this “in between time” between resurrection and Pentecost,
we are encouraged to stir up that gift.
The power that the Holy Spirit was to bring, was the
power to be the witnesses of Jesus. When
Jesus told his followers that it wasn’t for them to know the times, but they
would receive power when the Holy Spirit came, he was telling them the same
thing he tells us now; “YOU will receive power to complete all that I call you
to, through the Holy Spirit. You can not
do any of this in your own strength”.
Right now we are trying and striving, but wondering what
we need to be effective in this modern world.
It isn’t that we don’t have correct theology. It isn’t that we don’t have engaging
services. It isn’t that we need the
latest tech gadgets…. It IS that we need to rely on the power of the Holy
Spirit.
We need to go to Jerusalem – figuratively…. The place
Jesus tells us. Wait and Pray! Everyday – wait and pray and be unified in
our need for God and sure about the limits of our own efforts, but confident in
the limitlessness of God’s Power. This
week lets commit to every day in prayer.
Let’s travel the journey to Pentecost with the disciples by being
constantly in prayer asking God to send that Holy Spirit to give us courage to proclaim
the Gospel truth, the message of Jesus, expecting the power of the Holy Spirit
to convict the listeners….
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