Ascension Day - Year A
June 1, 2014
Luke
24:44-53
The Ascension of Our Lord
It came to my attention that my
offering in this week’s e-news might have created some confusion. If you don’t get the e-news (you can ask to
be added) or if you haven’t read it, don’t worry about finding a copy. I am going to tell you everything I said
there, this time (hopefully) with a lot more clarity and precision.
The confusion arose over my
comments regarding visitors. I suggested
(no, I stated) that the 40 days between Easter and Ascension are NOT the season
for visitors. I suggested (I guess I sort
of stated) that during these 40 days we might need to set aside our typical
interest in identifying and inviting the visitor to come with us to God’s
house. These 40 days may be better spent
(I hope that doesn’t create another opportunity for confusion), these 40 days
may be better spent making sure that those of us who are so eager to do the
welcoming are ourselves actually ready to continue with what comes after we
have passed through those initial welcoming stages.
What comes AFTER those initial
welcoming stages isn’t nearly as inviting as what comes during those first
couple of years. What comes AFTER those
initial welcoming stages is a bit more difficult to comprehend than the messages
offered to the general population. What comes
AFTER those initial welcoming stages doesn’t comfortably align itself with the
way of the world and the world’s value systems.
What comes AFTER is not as easy.
Okay. That was a bunch of teaser sentences. Hopefully, I have gotten you interested in the
whole notion of what comes “before” and what comes “after.” Understanding the difference between “before”
and “after” is the whole point of this sermon.
First, look with me at your
bibles, so we can understand that this isn’t simply a wild idea emerging from
my brain, but is actually what the bible says.
The critical time is the time
AFTER Jesus is resurrected from the dead.
During that period of time, there are no new persons invited to
participate. The only actors are those
who had already responded to Jesus’ invitation.
Turn first to the last couple of
chapters of John. Over the past couple
of Sundays, we have considered these stories.
Long Gospel lessons in which Jesus comes to the disciples and shows them
his hands and his side (all except Thomas).
He comes to the disciples who are together in the upper room, with the doors
locked, out of fear of those who had put Jesus to death. Fear prevented them from inviting anyone into
the room whom they could not trust.
Now turn to Luke. In Luke we get the story of the trip to
Emmaus. Do you remember that story? Help me retell it to those who don’t: Two disciples have fled Jerusalem, heading to
Emmaus. As they travel, Jesus himself
comes and walks with them. But they don’t
recognize him. The travelers plan to
stop, but Jesus says he is going on. They
convince him to stay with them. At dinner,
he takes the loaf of bread and breaks it, and suddenly their eyes are opened
and they recognize Jesus. They go back
to tell the others, and while they are there, Jesus shows up, again.
There is one really sort
post-resurrection appearance in Matthew.
It is a well recited one. It contains
the “Great Commission” – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations……
There is nothing – literally nothing
– in the oldest versions of Mark’s gospel.
Over the centuries, two differing endings were added by differing
congregations. You can easily recognize
these stories as shorter re-telling of the material found in John and/or Luke.
During the days between Jesus’
resurrection and his ascension, he ONLY interacts with those who had already
(at least once) made it through those initial welcoming stages.
Here is the first significant
point of what I want to share with you this morning: It was easy the first time – to get them to
follow his lead. In one account, all he
does is look at them and say, “Follow me.”
And they do it. They got out of
their boats and followed him.
Nathaniel follows Jesus simply because
Jesus says he saw Nathaniel standing under a fig tree.
It was easy the first time. And it was fun! It was exciting! Jesus feeds the 5,000 with a few loaves and a
couple of fish. Jesus casts demons into
a herd of swine and they go crashing down into the sea. Jesus spits on a man and restores his
sight. And then Jesus spits in the eyes
of the righteous elite by telling them that his mangy band of followers are
likely to enter the Kingdom long before those with impressive titles and
beautiful robes.
It was easy the first time.
But this time. It takes a bit more convincing.
What comes AFTER those initial
welcoming stages isn’t nearly as action packed as what comes during those first
couple of years. What comes AFTER those
initial welcoming stages is a bit more difficult to comprehend than were the messages
offered from a mountain top or while walking along some dusty village path. What comes AFTER those initial welcoming
stages doesn’t comfortably align itself with the way of the world and the world’s
value systems. What comes AFTER is not
as easy.
Time for the test. Let’s see if I have managed to clear up the
confusion and explain why the events which come after Easter are reserved for
those who had already (at least once) thrown their hats into the Jesus ring. What is different now? Why is it more of a challenge?
In those initial stages of
welcome, we talk about things that make good sense, about the things which (if
you choose to do them) won’t really adversely affect your life and your
interactions with others. “Do unto
others as you would have them do unto you”?
Hey – they teach that in every elementary classroom. Only they don’t calling Matthew 7:12, they
call it the “Golden Rule.”
“Love your neighbor”, good advice
for those who want to avoid senseless squabbles over where to plant a hedge row. But we give it out as good advice, not a
command, found in 1 John 4:7-8.
That is what Jesus and the disciples
did BEFORE. But AFTER? You got this whole thing about some “leader”
who won’t even open his mouth in defense of his own cause. The one we want to call “Lord,” refuses to
accept the loyalty of subjects willing to draw the sword on his behalf. After, we have the improbable and impossible
story of a dead man come back to life.
AND, if that isn’t enough, he leads the disciples off to some mountain top
and they watch as he is taken from among them.
Try to sell that as something fun
and exciting and commonplace.
You know, you understand, how
different it is AFTER than it was BEFORE.
Jesus spends 40 days trying to
convince those who had said “Yes” to him once before to say “Yes” to him once
again. This time is isn’t as easy. It isn’t as simple. It isn’t as safe. It won’t allow them to dabble, to stick in
their toe and test the water. They can’t
make it a side-bar to their lives, or a comfortable compliment to a
well-crafted existence among their peers.
I apologize to any visitors – if in
ANY way I have suggested that you are not supposed to be here. Of course, you realize it is a trick. We listen better when we think the person
talking doesn’t want us to hear what they are saying. That is why I whisper sometimes in my
sermons. If you shout, people ignore
you. If you whisper, they think you are
telling some sort of a secret – and they are all ears!!!
Be all ears for where I want to
end this sermon.
When Jesus is lifted up – when he
ascends into heaven – he leaves this whole shebang in the hands of those who
had responded the first time. He leaves
the continuation of this mission with those who at previously said, “Sure, I
will follow you.” It is left it to James
and John, to Bartholomew and Matthew. When
they die out, it falls to the next generation.
Which means it eventually falls to us.
Let’s admit that it is a tough
task. Let’s also admit that the handing
on of the faith will die soon, unless the general membership of our communities
resumes the task of passing it on. Hired
preachers don’t convince others to follow.
Only committed, un-paid followers can do that. I fear that sometimes we talk too much about
the fluff and the stuff that is easy and never really get around to the parts
which are likely to separate us from those who are curious from those who are
committed.
It is the most satisfying and
rewarding thing possible to move through those welcoming stages and embrace
what comes AFTER. There is nothing –
nothing – which can compare to the joy and sense of self which comes with
following Jesus. But, it isn’t easy; and
it isn’t simple; and it isn’t something that we can do alongside the other
things that we might want to do with our lives.
That is why it only took a single glance or a one-sentence invitation
the first time that Jesus asked Peter and James and John to follow him. The second time, it took a lot more
convincing.
And it is likely to take a lot
more convincing for us, too.
All four of the Gospels end
here. In each there is a note that from
here the disciples go out into the world, to bring the world on board. So, next Sunday we will return to those
wonderful, welcoming stories. And I do apologize
for any unintentional suggestion that visitors should stay away. What I won’t apologize for is stating the
truth. And the truth is that to be a
follower of Jesus means accepting some pretty incredible things. It means doing some very odd things. Before Jesus dies and rises and is ascended,
it was good advice, likely to make everyone’s life more enjoyable. AFTER – well, after is another story.
Amen.
