Letting Go

sermon preached by the Rev. Sue Judson Hamly on May 24, 2009 at Faith United Church, UCC, International Falls, MN

Texts;  1 John 5:9-13 and Acts 1:1-11

Pentecost is only a week away, but the disciples didn’t know that. So many things had happened—and kept happening. I can almost imagine them coasting along in a daze, never having a clue what might happen next.

Jesus died and then he was with them again, teaching them like old times, even eating fish for breakfast on the lake shore. And then the ascension, but first the admonition not to leave town. What next?!

Just imagine how the disciples must have felt after hearing the resurrected Jesus ordering them not to leave town, but to wait there for God’s promise, “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

How do you wait for this? What is the Holy Spirit? And baptized—that means “immersed.” What will it be like to be immersed with the Spirit? Not many days from now—how imprecise! How do you wait for a promise like that? Do you wait on the edge of your seat? Probably, you’re anxious, feeling awkward, puzzled, maybe even afraid.

Jesus has been appearing to them for 40 days. Whether it was really 5+ weeks or some other amount, The 40 days are scripturally symbolic. Forty days were required for both Moses and Elijah to be prepared to see God and be witnesses to Israel (Ex 24:18; 1 Kings 19:8). 40 days was the length of the flood Noah, his family and all the inhabitants of the ark had to survive in order to be God’s new beginning. 40 days was the length of time Jesus was in the wilderness after baptism, before beginning his mission of restoration.

So regardless of the actual number of days, the disciples did have plenty of time with Jesus after the resurrection. I suspect they needed that time to absorb this new reality—the reality that there is more to life than death.

But how confusing it must all be!

First there was the terrible grief. Then Mary Magdalene (a woman, of all people!) brought them the good news that he had risen. Then he walked through locked doors and showed his wounds to those who weren’t sure. Then he even ate fish for breakfast! How amazing! But why can’t it go on like this?

Imagine how the disciples must have felt. Once again, Jesus has left them. Sure, he’s promised them something—a great gift—a gift of the Holy Spirit, but how much consolation is that?

And WHAT is that?

I can imagine the hapless, frightened disciples, staring up into the sky. What next? Jesus had filled that space in their lives. His energy fed their energy, his charisma gave them enthusiasm, his manifest power gave them courage, his teaching gave them direction, and his confidence gave them hope. One commentator writes, “Once Jesus left, the little circle seemed vacant, tattered, needing to be repopulated and reenergized. What had seemed so vibrant with Jesus present, now seemed cold and lifeless with Jesus absent. Doubt and fear rushed in to fill their hearts.”[1]

Did you notice that they STILL really don’t get it? After all they’ve been through… after all Jesus has told them… they still ask if this is the time when he will “restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Don’t they realize YET that a political overthrow of the Roman government is not what Jesus was ever about? I suppose it’s going to take being baptized by the fire of the Holy Spirit for them to finally understand. So Jesus tells them they will receive the power of the Holy Spirit and they will be his witnesses “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

And what does that mean for us? We too are called to be witnesses, you know! Do you feel ready to meet the challenge or does it cause you to slump back in fear, frustration or resignation? Is it exciting, or it too much work?

The reading from 1 John might seem to be another of those texts that are used to claim that Christianity is the only “true” religion. There are those who have no qualms about telling you that if you don’t believe in Jesus Christ you’re doomed forever and they will pray for your soul. But I think what’s important in this passage is that Jesus gives life—regular life and eternal life. But it’s not a question of whether or not you “have Jesus in your heart,” as if being Muslim or Buddhist or Hindu or even Unitarian isn’t good enough, it’s how you live WITH Jesus in your heart that makes you a witness to the world—a witness testifying to God’s love for all people of all faiths.

But the disciples aren’t quite there yet. First they need to let go. Jesus told Mary Magdalene on that first Easter morning not to cling to him because he has not yet ascended. So she has to let him go, and of course she has plenty of work to do, notifying the others and all that.

Now, as Jesus is lifted up into the cloud and the disciples are standing there, probably staring into space with their mouths wide open in shock and confusion, the time has come for them to let go. This is it. He won’t be physically present with them any longer, but they must wait and prepare … something exciting is about to happen!

Here we are, in between the time when we remember Jesus' return to God and the day of Pentecost when we commemorate the gift of the Holy Spirit’s birthing of the church. Perhaps this can remind us of our empty spaces and call us to attend to how they will be filled. In letting go, we make room for possibilities!

Will we welcome this Pentecost, embracing God's Holy Spirit so that it may renew us again as church, letting that presence fill the vacancy in our lives, feed our energy, spur our enthusiasm, encourage and direct us, give us confidence and hope?

Once the disciples let go, the work of ministry was spread out before them and they, thank goodness, accepted the tasks of caring, healing, teaching, dealing with conflicts, suffering, sacrificing, story-telling and recruiting. They couldn’t just follow Jesus as before. They themselves had to embrace the Holy Spirit, as he did, to fill the space he once occupied.

The Spirit did not fashion a nest for the disciples where they could feel safe and comfortable. The Spirit set them on fire. The Spirit drove them into the wilderness and into the streets. The Spirit called them to tend to the needs of others and preach the good news of God’s love. And that call is still our call today.

Years ago there was an Episcopal Bishop who, at the end of the service, would stand at the altar, pronounce the closing Blessing, pause for a moment... and then, in his great, booming voice, literally shout at the congregation—“Get up! Get out! And get lost!”[2]

That’s our call as well, now that we know we must BE Christ to all the world. We’re called to get up from our every-day activities, get out into the world, rub elbows with ALL God’s people and get lost in the joy of sharing and living the love of Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Endnotes:
[1] Lane Denson, “Out of Nowhere” Vacancy OoN 25v06.
[2] Ibid.