Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10,33-36; 1 Peter 4:12-14,5:6-11; John 17:1-11
This is the final Sunday of Eastertide. So, it is appropriate to speak of final things in the scripture we have read this morning.
In our letter from the Acts of the Apostles, we have Jesus speaking his last earthly words to his remaining 11 Apostles. Jesus reminds them that, even though he will not be physically present with them any longer, they remain under the care and authority of God the Father, who alone will decide the future of the world. Jesus reminds them of the gift of the Holy Spirit which he is leaving them to join them on their journey. Jesus reminds them that they are now his ministers to the world, and that they will preach the Good News to the ends of the earth. And then he leaves them to their journey.
In our letter from Peter, we have Peter telling the disciples of Jesus that their ministry will not be an easy one, and that they are to wear their suffering for the Gospel with gladness and joy. Peter reminds them that the Holy Spirit is with them in their suffering, and that they are still under the care and authority of God the Father. Peter reminds them that evil remains all around them, and that temptation of the world must be resisted. And then Peter’s letter ends.
In our Gospel reading from John, Jesus speaks with God the Father about final things before his ascension. Jesus speaks of the power the Father has given him to bring salvation to the earth. Jesus speaks of the faith of his disciples to continue his ministry after his departure. Jesus speaks of the continuing care and authority the Father has over the disciples. Jesus speaks of the oneness that he and God the Father share, not only with each other but also with the disciples. And then Jesus speaks of his pending ascension.
Even our liturgical calendar reminds us of a journey traveled, beginning with Advent and ending with Eastertide. In the span of 21 weeks we have experienced: the wonder of Jesus’ birth at Christmas; the revelation of His identity and mission during Epiphany; the whirlwind 40 days of Lent that laid bare His 3 year ministry; His triumphant and then agonizing final days in Jerusalem during Holy Week; the shocking and scandalous and dark night of Good Friday and Holy Saturday; His astonishing resurrection on Easter Sunday; Jesus’ 40 days preparing his apostles for their ministry without his physical presence during Eastertide; and finally His Ascension back to the Father this last Thursday. Sitting here at the end of Eastertide we can now think back on the rollercoaster journey of the last 5 months on our liturgical calendar and finally catch our breath.
In a way, the earthly life and ministry of Jesus is not that different from Greek and Roman tales of the life of a hero in their cultures. Jesus’ short 33 years of life on our small, blue planet are the architype for cherished heroes’ lives and times in literature, theater, and cinema. Jesus’ journey is the hero’s journey:
1 – An entry into the world that was foretold by seers and feared by those in power (Advent and the Incarnation).
2 – An early life that is at the same time routine and remarkable (Epiphany).
3 – That “aha” moment when a stand must be taken that will begin a dangerous journey filled with conflict and hard choices (Lent).
4 – An ultimate confrontation with powers that enforce the status quo with an iron fist (Holy Week).
5 – A moment when it appears all is lost (Good Friday).
6 – A surprising and joyous victory that brings an end to violence and suffering (Easter Sunday).
7 – And finally, the high cost of victory results in the departure of the hero, who leaves those who have journeyed with them behind to bring about the new life that was won at great cost to many (Ascension and Pentecost).
Of course Jesus’ journey does not result in earthy kingdoms won and earthly glory achieved. Jesus’ journey is the story of bringing about a different kind of kingdom and a different kind of glory. Where earthly glory is about wealth and political power and celebrity worship that benefits the hero, God’s kingdom is about sacrifice and self-denial and love that benefits others. Where earthly glory is about fighting battles with swords and chariots and taking the spoils for oneself, glory in God’s kingdom is about ending battles using tolerance and truth and peace and love that benefits all, especially those who are suffering. Where earthly glory is about popularity and hierarchy and class, glory in God’s kingdom is about doing what is right even if it’s not popular, and everyone being equal despite their limitations, and everyone being one despite their otherness.
The Good News today is that speaking about final things is not speaking about the end. Jesus’ death on the cross was not about death but about an empty tomb three days later. Jesus’ resurrection was not about his own salvation, it was about our resurrection and our salvation to come. Jesus’ ascension did not result in the end of his Kingdom on earth, but rather the permanence of his Kingdom on earth with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Good News today is that our journey from Advent through Eastertide is not about an ending but about preparation. Advent through Eastertide is about building us up for the journey after Pentecost. Advent through Eastertide is about teaching us how to live in the Kingdom through the rest of the liturgical year. Advent through Eastertide is about preparing us to pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus out into the harvest we call the world. Advent through Eastertide is about taking all that we have learned from Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, and Eastertide, and witnessing to the world that there is a better way to live – and that better way is to love and to be loved. That is what we are called to be and to do – gifts of pure love to all the world.