“Looking Up, or Looking Out?” – Sermon on June 5, 2011
June 5, 2011
Scripture Lessons
John 17: 6-11: Jesus, raising his eyes in prayer, he said: Father, I spelled out your character in detail, to the men and women you gave me. They were yours in the first place; then you gave them to me, and they have now done what you said. They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that everything you gave me is firsthand from you. For the message you gave me, I gave them. And they took it, and were convinced that I came from you. They believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I’m not praying for the God-rejecting world but for those you gave me, for they are yours by right. Everything mine is yours, and yours mine, and my life is on display in them. For I’m no longer going to be visible in the world; They’ll continue in the world while I return to you. Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life that you conferred as a gift through me, so they can be one heart and mind as we are one heart and mind.
Acts 1: 6-14 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “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.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Sermon: Looking Up, or Looking Out?
by Reverend Doreen Oughton
These are quite some stories we have today, aren’t they? The first is in the Gospel of John, and the second is from the Book of Acts. It is believed that Acts is written by the same person who wrote the Gospel of Luke, so the story of the Ascension does not really follow the first reading. The first reading is part of Jesus farewell talk with his disciples on the night before he was arrested. He had not yet died, and yet he was trying to prepare them for his departure, his ultimate departure, not just his bodily death. The setting for the Acts passage is after Jesus has died and been resurrected.
The Acts story of the ascension called to mind some of the things we were hearing just a few weeks ago, when some predicted that the world would end, and those who were righteous believers would ascend, like Jesus did, floating up in a cloud to the glory of heaven. It’s a little fantastical. Now I personally don’t believe that the stories in the bible are necessarily historical, though I leave room for the possibility that I am mistaken. I think that especially in the oral tradition, which was how these stories were passed along for hundreds and hundreds of years, creating a good story was crucial to getting one’s point across. So I’m not sure about the exact way that Jesus was resurrected, and then left the disciples, but I believe that he was, and he did. They understood that things were different, that they would not have him in their lives the same way he had been. So this is one point the story wants to make – Jesus left, he would no longer walk this earth as a human being.
And according to this story, as the disciples were looking up as Jesus was swept to heaven in a cloud, two men in white robes, angels?, stood beside them, and asked, why are you looking up to heaven for him? He has gone, but will come to you in the same way. Mysterious stuff, no? I wasn’t sure what was meant by that. They advise against looking up to where he went, but say he will come back the same way. The second part doesn’t really help us look away, does it? If we are waiting for Jesus to come back in a cloud, the same way he went, wouldn’t we look in the same direction he went? But I wonder if it is not the ascent, the being swept up in a cloud that will be the same, but instead the mystery of all that. Jesus’ return will be as amazing and baffling to us as was his resurrection and his final departure. We won’t understand it, we can’t anticipate the concrete, physical reality of how it will happen. We are to simply believe Jesus’ words, his assurance that he will be with those who love him always.
So what are we to do? We are to pay attention to what Jesus talked about in his farewell to the disciples. He wanted to comfort them that everything would be alright after he was gone, even if it didn’t seem it would be. He wanted to assure them that they would not be left orphaned. He wanted them to know the life they were meant for, the life he came to give them, the life God wanted for them. Listen to the prayer he offered to God for the disciples in the passage from John – “my life is on display in them. I will no longer be visible to the world, but they will continue in the world, pursuing the life you conferred on them through me.” Jesus came to bring life, full life. Not a life spent looking upward waiting for Jesus to come down in a cloud and bring the righteous to heaven. Not a life spent worrying and wondering if, as the disciples asked in the Acts reading, if this is the time that Jesus will restore the kingdom for Israel. As Jesus told them, it is God’s time, God’s authority, and not for them to know. They are to be his witnesses and his workers. And that doesn’t mean getting more people to worry about the end times or stare up at the sky waiting for them.
How are we to be witnesses and workers for God? By coming to worship, studying the scripture, praying? Perhaps, but I suspect that those disciplines do more to sustain and fuel us for the work than serve as the work itself. Could it be that we witness and work for God simply in the way we live our lives, the ways we interact with others everywhere we go, even without mentioning a word about God or Jesus or faith? I believe so, and I hope that you believe it also. My husband and I watched the film adaptation of the book Eat, Pray, Love the other night. The book is about a hundred times better I think, but there was one line that the movie pulled out that I hadn’t remembered specifically from the movie. The storyteller said, “God dwells in us as we are. God works in us as us.”
One of my favorite scripture bloggers suggested that most people who come to church don’t make this connection. They think that God has certain expectations or standards about how we ought to witness and work, and they don’t make the grade. Maybe they never read the bible, or can’t get to church as regularly as they’d like. Maybe they can’t contribute much financially to the church or charity, and between the job and the kids and the house, can’t sign up to volunteer anywhere. And so I asked people via e-mail to reflect on the question of how they serve God in their day-to-day lives. What an uplifting few days it has been to receive the responsive, so thoughtful and moving. I won’t use names as I share, but you might easily guess who some of these people are. And if you are surprised, well so much the better. Look around you. Whether they replied to my e-mail or not, each person near you is a blessing to this world. See it in each other, see it in yourself.
I was touched by the reflections that voiced the doubt, the concern that they weren’t doing enough. Here these words from a mother of young children. I have a magnet that says “Life is a gift from God, what we do with that life is our gift to God.” I try to be kind to others and treat others the way i would like to be treated.
I know my children are a gift from God and I don’t want to upset Him by taking his gifts for granted! Iguess it really does take a village! I don’t feel I contribute anything positive lately, I’m too tired and stressed out to see the brighter side.
The next had the same doubts, but had an experience that shed some light. Some days I feel like I can’t do enough to make myself or even my family happy. I know my children appreciate all that I do but sometimes it doesn’t always seem that way. During yesterday’s tornado warnings I was watching my two nephews at their house, along with my 6-year old son. By the time the actual warnings came on tv we had about 15 family members at the house, all hanging out in the basement hallway. I was holding my two month old nephew and my boy was close by sitting with his cousins. I was pretty worried because my other son was home with his father and we weren’t with them. As I looked down the hallway fearful of what could happen, my son came over to me and wrapped his arms around me and said (in the most caring and sincere manner) “Mom, why don’t you move over here with me, you’ll be safer.” I just wanted to cry. It was that moment that put things back into perspective for me. I am a good mother and I am raising two wonderful boys!
Others, I’m pleased to know, have considered this and hold in their minds that the seeming small things they do matter. – I play Scrabble daily with my mother-in-law. I feel it is as much of a calling as was my trip to Zimbabwe to arrange for a water system for the area. – When we provide for a child at Christmas or just ask someone if they need assistance in the grocery store I feel I am doing something God would be pleased with. – I have tried to impress upon my granddaughter that it is her duty to preserve the God given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. – I try to do God’s work in every aspect of my life. I parent my children and volunteer at their schools, scouts and activities.
Many understood the holiness of their so-called secular work. – I feel so blessed to have been able to work in activities for so many years with people with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia, giving them some dignity in their lives and loving them for who they have become. Recently I started driving a special needs van for the schools. Everyday I thank God for the healthy children in my life. The parents and teachers who care for these children deserve to be put on the highest pedestals. – I work at a hospital caring for people and I try to treat each one as though they were my family. – I make a difference every day in the lives of 17 first graders! I help them grow not only academically, but socially and emotionally. I have such power over them and sometimes this is intimidating ~ if I say or do the wrong thing it could be a memory they never forget and on the other handI can say and do amazing things to help them grow into wonderful people!
And someone else talked about a way of working that is pleasing to God, no matter what the work is. – On the job, I make myself available to others, at times over my own work needs. For example, always trying to respond to people at work when they come and ask by putting aside what I am doing. Also, if I have people working for me, I try to always work as hard as they do, and always give them credit for the work done. I try to always help people who come to me with computer problems. This is what I do for a living , and I consider it a gift given me to support myself and others. Ditto with cars or other areas or skills I might have. I also try to walk the talk. I want to be a person who practices what he preaches. So, since I believe you can never know when someone sees you as a role model, walking the talk might be “teaching” in a way. I sort of think of this as part of the “teach them how to fish” lesson… teaching how to fish, or allowing people to see / learn how I fish while we fish together is perhaps the best.
And many people called out the special nature of volunteering when one is able to do so. I was struck by the joy found there, which doesn’t come when someone isn’t being true to themselves. I believe t is important to volunteer in activities that truly call to you, not out of obligation, or an inability to say no. – For me, it is working with the Worcester Fellowship. I have been a volunteer for 3+ years, providing spiritual care and community. I also was a volunteer for Stand Up For Kids for a year who offer avenues of resources for kids living on the streets of Worcester. The most important thing, besides helping others, is the good feeling I have deep in my heart when I leave. What I give is so small compared to what I receive and I think this is the essence of volunteerism. – I try to guide the children of our church in their search for how God shines in their lives and how they too are doing God’s work by giving me the gift of their joy and love. – Teaching the little ones in Sunday school has strengthend my faith and helped me to be a better mom, to extend my faith to my children and the children of the church is an awesome feeling. I know that God is at work in my life, I feel it every day.
And others talked about doing something just because it needs to be done, without concern for personal gratification. – Supporting my family is good, and many times easier than a total stranger. But perhaps that is the holy grail since there is generally no payback. However, these no payback moments are perhaps the time when people are mostly doing work exclusively for God. – God wants us to help others without the expectation of any returns. Our return is compounded by God’s Grace and knowledge that we are expanding his kingdom here on Earth.
And I love the sentiment expressed here. I have been blessed with so much love in my life and I feel that I have to share it. There you have it, holy people in our midst doing sacred work, as themselves. I know it to be true of those who didn’t get the e-mail, and those who did not respond. I know there are those who please God by going to recovery meetings to share not only experience, strength and hope, but also the ongoing struggle to live in this world and mistakes made. I know those who are a blessing by bringing a beloved church member to services, and those who bless by accepting help, but the simple acceptance of the reality that we need each other. Receiving can be a blessing to the world as well as giving.
I feel so blessed to be on this journey with you, not looking up, wondering when Jesus will come. Not trying to prove in some way that we are worthy of heaven in our beliefs or actions. But looking out, trying to see the world with God’s eyes, witnessing and working to be Christ’s hands and feet and voice just as we are. May we, in doing so, find heaven has indeed descended.
