Sermon for Easter 7B
Judy
Dear Friends,
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Up, Up, and AWAY!” and deals with the Acts lesson (Acts 1: 1- 11). Here it is:
Today is Ascension Sunday. If you look at our cross over the altar, it’s an ascension Christ-figure. At first glance, it’s easy to see it as a crucifix, but there is actually no cross. We see Jesus, arms outstretched as if on a cross, ascending to heaven to take his place of honor and glory after his victorious triumph over death. And in the first Bible lesson from Acts (1:8-14) we heard the account of what happened. Remember, the disciples had been through a roller-coaster ride of what looked to them like huge tragedy (Good Friday and the crucifixion) to the glorious high of the Christ’s amazing resurrection. Here they were, just getting used to having him back, when he took off again with a promise- he would send the Holy Spirit to strengthen them. They knew from past experience that Jesus expected them to stick together, so they went back to the upper room to encourage each other, plan, pray, and “Do this in remembrance of me”- i.e. receive Holy Communion. They didn’t understand the significance of Jesus’ leaving them, but we do. If he were still a person on this planet, how would we access him? Telephone? Can you imagine the busy signals just when we’re desperate? Email? “Sorry, this box is full; please send your message later.” To be accessible to all of us all the time, Jesus had to return to heaven- thank God he did!
That’s what happened to them- now what’s it to us? How do the ascension and the disciples’ roller-coaster experiences inform and strengthen our own lives? Did you notice the thought for the week: “Tough times never last; tough people do (Robert Schuller). True, but how do we outlast the tough times? I’ve got five key words which I first heard from the Rev. Bob Stump (Delville United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania) that to me really answer this question. They are: DREAM, SCHEME, TEAM, LEAN, and BEAM.
DREAM! This reminds me of the Collect for Purity- our first prayer every Sunday. It goes, “Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid.” Dare to dream! A word of warning: parents- don’t dream for your children if you don’t also dream for yourself. God doesn’t expect us to live through our children. God expects us to life a full life for him, to search for God’s will for our own lives, and then to struggle to achieve it. Don’t just tell your children what to do- show them in your own lives. You set the example for your children and then help them do what you did. Help them search for God’s will for their lives and then struggle to achieve it. Remember, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I have a dream!” So DREAM!
SCHEME- not in the negative, manipulative sense; but in a positive planning way. You know the old gospel song, “Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.” That’s just another way of saying what St. Paul said, “I press on!” Don’t be surprised when you encounter obstacles to your dreams. Do you remember St. Peter’s warning to his people (I Peter 4:12)- “Don’t be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire.” If you’re never frustrated as you try to focus and achieve your dreams, your goals- you really need to be sure you’ve figured out God’s will for your life. You’ve heard the phrase, “No pain; no gain.” For the Christian walk, it’s really true. God’s will involves struggle. If life is going too smoothly, you’d better wonder why Satan isn’t testing you- why he’s just letting you go about your own convenient, easy way. So plan, focus, stick with it, SCHEME!
TEAM! We’re not intended to go this alone. Remember, what did the disciples do right after Jesus AGAIN left them alone this time by ascending to heaven? Did they each go to their own houses and worry? Actually, probably Thomas did that, and he missed Jesus first resurrection appearance to the others and then wasn’t sure he could believe that Jesus really did rise from the dead. What did they do? They all went back to that upper room to encourage each other, talk, pray, and “Do this in remembrance of me”- i.e. receive Holy Communion. Two Sundays ago, we heard Jesus proclaim that he is the vine and we are the branches. Did you notice- not a single branch, but branchES. And St. Paul reminds us that we are the Body of Christ and individually members of it (1st Cor. 12). So- don’t try to go it alone. Be in church at least once a week and do what Jesus said- TEAM!
LEAN! Lean on Jesus. You know the song, “Learning to Lean.” Lean on him. You know this stole that I must put on before doing any priestly acts. Do you know what it symbolizes? A yoke. You’ve seen videos of oxen yoked together to share the load. When I wear this stole, I represent all of us. Do you know who we’re yoked with? Jesus. Remember when Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). So LEAN!
Finally- BEAM! Look at the ascending Christ figure over the altar. Where is Christ looking? Where are his eyes beaming? Sure- right on the altar. So beam in on God’s wisdom at the altar. Beam in on God’s power at the altar. Beam in on God’s love at the altar.
Let us pray. Lord, we thank you that the tough times only seem to last forever. We thank you that tough times really do pass. We ask you to help us to live today and every day to dream, scheme, team, lean, and beam in on you so we may be one of those tough people who really do last. Amen.
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan