The day has been long anticipated. The papers have been written and graded. The finals have all been taken. The graduates line up in matching robes and ill-fitting mortarboards. The programs have been printed and dean of students has practiced pronouncing the names. With solemn music and wise words from the commencement speaker, the graduates are sent off into the world. Almost as soon as the diploma is in their hands, the questions is asked, “Now what are you going to do?”(Or more likely, “Did you find a job yet?”)
It seems we have no time to rest. Each accomplishment leads to another place of beginning. We graduate, we move, we get a job, but always there is a new start, and the need to make sense of it. There is a part of us that would like to rest: to be done. But we know that is a fantasy. Life keeps changing and we have to keep up or stop living. As a Christian community we wonder what we will do next. We know that we cannot rest on the accomplishments or glory of the past (as much as we’d like that.) We can’t live off of memories or spent endowments. We have to live into an uncertain future. There’s no more delay. It’s time to move on.
The disciples were already changed by the resurrection of Jesus. They had been hiding in their upper room. Now they are walking around the temple with boldness. However, they are in an in-between time. Jesus has ascended into heaven and the disciples are waiting for what will happen next. One of their number – Judas, has betrayed Jesus and killed himself. They do not ignore his loss. They do not remain stuck in their feelings of betrayal. They look to the work that needs to be done as they know it to be done and they discern that they need to complete their numbers. They choose another to replace Judas.
They do not yet know what the church will be. They have no idea what kind of work they will be called to do. They only know that Jesus chose twelve, and they would still need twelve. This is not a major theological issue, but there is an important principle. When we are in times of uncertainty and we seek to be faithful, sometimes the best thing to do is the little we already know how to do.
We’re worried about money and members. We could wait for specific directions from on high: from God, from the bishop, from your brilliant Priest-In-Charge. But we already know what we should do. We know that we have to pay our bills – and we are. We know that the church will grow as we seek to grow in our own faith and as we invite others to join us – and we are doing this.
Our anxiety is heightened because we have yet to see familiar signs of success. We tend to count the things that are most important to us. We count our money and the numbers of people attending – because these things have traditionally been the marks of health and vitality. In a world that no longer values religious participation (or participation of any kind) maybe we need to measure different values. I count it as a success that most of the good things that have happened in the past few years have been done by all of us. There are individuals who have gifts of leadership among us, but all our acts of caring, or helping, or planning, or giving, or singing – have been contributions of many to the whole. Our success has been together.
When Jesus is finishing his last meal with the disciples, before he is about to be arrested and crucified, he prays for them. He prays for their unity – that they remain connected to God and to one another. He prays for their protection – not that they can escape from the dangers of the world but that they might be free to act in the world. Jesus prays for their joy – that they might have the joy that Jesus has to face suffering to find resurrection. Finally he prays to send them out to do the work that Jesus has begun – to reconcile the world to God.
Jesus does not pray for our comfort. He prays for our work. He prays that we will do what God desires for us to do. Because of this prayer, there are some things we should expect. Jesus prays for our unity – we can expect unity to be hard work. Jesus prays for our new life. The new life he promises comes through resurrection and it isn’t easy. Jesus prays for protection from evil – we can expect to face evil in our work. Jesus prays that God will send us out just as God sends Jesus out. It is a glorious calling. It is a wonderful and blessed vocation to share God’s good news. Just remember how Jesus was received – it’s not easy work.
We can’t know the future. We know the work to which we have been called. It is good work but difficult work. We will never know who we reach or what impact we make on those around us. We can’t even be sure that our work will lead to the continuation of this worshipping community – but we do the work anyway.
We are like that graduate who crosses the stage and receives a diploma. We’ve been given responsibility along with our blessings. We don’t know how life will unfold for us just yet. Unlike that graduate, we are not alone. God acts in our lives more powerfully than any alumni association. We are given God’s Spirit to guide and strengthen us. We have been given to one another in this community of faith. We walk with God together as we share our gifts and seek to share God’s love.
We do not know the future. We know that God has been faithful to the disciples in the past. God has been faithful to us in the past. God will be with us as we live into the future.
It seems we have no time to rest. Each accomplishment leads to another place of beginning. We graduate, we move, we get a job, but always there is a new start, and the need to make sense of it. There is a part of us that would like to rest: to be done. But we know that is a fantasy. Life keeps changing and we have to keep up or stop living. As a Christian community we wonder what we will do next. We know that we cannot rest on the accomplishments or glory of the past (as much as we’d like that.) We can’t live off of memories or spent endowments. We have to live into an uncertain future. There’s no more delay. It’s time to move on.
The disciples were already changed by the resurrection of Jesus. They had been hiding in their upper room. Now they are walking around the temple with boldness. However, they are in an in-between time. Jesus has ascended into heaven and the disciples are waiting for what will happen next. One of their number – Judas, has betrayed Jesus and killed himself. They do not ignore his loss. They do not remain stuck in their feelings of betrayal. They look to the work that needs to be done as they know it to be done and they discern that they need to complete their numbers. They choose another to replace Judas.
They do not yet know what the church will be. They have no idea what kind of work they will be called to do. They only know that Jesus chose twelve, and they would still need twelve. This is not a major theological issue, but there is an important principle. When we are in times of uncertainty and we seek to be faithful, sometimes the best thing to do is the little we already know how to do.
We’re worried about money and members. We could wait for specific directions from on high: from God, from the bishop, from your brilliant Priest-In-Charge. But we already know what we should do. We know that we have to pay our bills – and we are. We know that the church will grow as we seek to grow in our own faith and as we invite others to join us – and we are doing this.
Our anxiety is heightened because we have yet to see familiar signs of success. We tend to count the things that are most important to us. We count our money and the numbers of people attending – because these things have traditionally been the marks of health and vitality. In a world that no longer values religious participation (or participation of any kind) maybe we need to measure different values. I count it as a success that most of the good things that have happened in the past few years have been done by all of us. There are individuals who have gifts of leadership among us, but all our acts of caring, or helping, or planning, or giving, or singing – have been contributions of many to the whole. Our success has been together.
When Jesus is finishing his last meal with the disciples, before he is about to be arrested and crucified, he prays for them. He prays for their unity – that they remain connected to God and to one another. He prays for their protection – not that they can escape from the dangers of the world but that they might be free to act in the world. Jesus prays for their joy – that they might have the joy that Jesus has to face suffering to find resurrection. Finally he prays to send them out to do the work that Jesus has begun – to reconcile the world to God.
Jesus does not pray for our comfort. He prays for our work. He prays that we will do what God desires for us to do. Because of this prayer, there are some things we should expect. Jesus prays for our unity – we can expect unity to be hard work. Jesus prays for our new life. The new life he promises comes through resurrection and it isn’t easy. Jesus prays for protection from evil – we can expect to face evil in our work. Jesus prays that God will send us out just as God sends Jesus out. It is a glorious calling. It is a wonderful and blessed vocation to share God’s good news. Just remember how Jesus was received – it’s not easy work.
We can’t know the future. We know the work to which we have been called. It is good work but difficult work. We will never know who we reach or what impact we make on those around us. We can’t even be sure that our work will lead to the continuation of this worshipping community – but we do the work anyway.
We are like that graduate who crosses the stage and receives a diploma. We’ve been given responsibility along with our blessings. We don’t know how life will unfold for us just yet. Unlike that graduate, we are not alone. God acts in our lives more powerfully than any alumni association. We are given God’s Spirit to guide and strengthen us. We have been given to one another in this community of faith. We walk with God together as we share our gifts and seek to share God’s love.
We do not know the future. We know that God has been faithful to the disciples in the past. God has been faithful to us in the past. God will be with us as we live into the future.
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