"Preparation for the a life of Discipleship" - 7th Sunday of Pentecost

This sermon was preached on 4 May 2008 (at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill), on the 7th Sunday of Pentecost, Year A.

This morning, we gather together on the 43rd day of this Easter season. Why state the day so precisely you might wonder…the 43rd day of the 50 days of Easter. I begin in this way because this past Thursday was the 40th day of Eastertide: the day we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus Christ; and this coming Sunday is the celebration of Pentecost: the culmination of the Easter season and the celebration of the Holy Spirit descending upon the disciples. As we stand in between these two important days and draw close to the end of this Easter season, we can be easily drawn toward the exciting events of Pentecost. But today; today we hear the equally exciting story of the Ascension of Jesus Christ. Today we reflect on the work accomplished by Christ as he prepared his disciples in those first 40 days; the work He works in us even today; the work that prepares us for a life of discipleship in Christ.
Throughout the Easter season our first reading has been a scripture lesson from Acts. This morning, our lesson is selected from the beginning of Acts and, not surprisingly, we hear the account of the Ascension of Christ. The lectionary begins the lesson with verse 6, but we gain additional insight by reading verse 3: “After Jesus’ suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3) In this verse, we learn that Jesus was resurrected and returned to teach and prepare his disciples for 40 days. The author of Acts wants us to understand the patient and intentional teaching Jesus provided to his disciples: 40 days holds great meaning in the Bible. Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai as he received the 10 Commandments and Jesus spent 40 days in the desert prior to beginning his earthly ministry. We, too, have spent the last 40 days of this Easter season hearing the stories of the early Church: Peter’s confident proclamation of Christ and the conversion of thousands of believers; marvelous and miraculous works by the Apostles; the tragic stoning of Stephen; and Paul’s inspiring speech to the Athenians regarding Christ’s reconciling work in the world. So, is that all we need? 40 days of careful study and we’re ready to graduate; ready for the fulfillment of Christ’s mission on earth?
If we ask this question, we are in good company. 40 days after the resurrection of Christ, we find the disciples asking Jesus, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” Interesting question. As many biblical commentaries point out, the disciples’ question does reveal that they understood the restorative nature of Christ’s mission. However, their emphasis on the time of the restoration and their failure to even wonder what role they might play prove that their understanding of discipleship was still growing. In other words, their question to Jesus was the age-old classic, “Are we there yet?”
Jesus responds to both elements of the disciples’ question: “is this the time” and “will you, Jesus, restore the kingdom.” Regarding the time, “it is not for you to know the times or the periods,” says Jesus. The English might appear to mean time, as measured by the clock or the calendar; and the periods, as measured by the changing times of the year or perhaps the passing of generations. But the Greek holds far greater meaning than the English might imply. Time or “chronos” in Greek is the chronological time of human history; and the periods, or “kairos” in Greek, is God’s time, God’s rightly ordered periods set in God’s time. These two words, taken together, mean that Jesus’ response is the ultimate, “don’t worry about it…discipleship is not measured by time.” Regarding the second element of the disciples’ question, (will you, Jesus, restore the kingdom) Jesus does not directly answer the disciples. He responds by pointing toward the empowering action of the Holy Spirit on that first day of Pentecost. Jesus tells the disciples they will be His witnesses and foretells of the great mission field that will spread to all ends of the earth. Jesus’ followers are identified by many names in scripture: disciples, apostles, and friends. But here, Jesus prophetically calls them witnesses, which is “martus” in Greek and has a range of meanings: a witness in a legal manner; a witness in an ethical manner; or a witness serving as a follower of a way of life – one who displays a genuine commitment, even to death. From the Greek “martus” we derive the English word martyr, meaning “to die for one’s cause.” Jesus called his followers witnesses because he understood the courageous and faithful life they had been called to lead. Discipleship may not be measured by time, but discipleship does require the faithful actions of a witness. Discipleship requires the power of the Holy Spirit and the strength and courage of Christian witness.
On September 11, 2001, Archbishop Rowan Williams was visiting Trinity Church, Wall Street, NY. In his short book, “Writing in the Dust,” Archbishop Williams presents some personal reflections about the fateful events of that day and the days that followed. In one particular section, the Archbishop reflects on the risks and honor that society gives to its heroes: those willing to risk everything for the success of the cause, whatever “that cause” might be. He continues his reflection with a description of the simple, yet courageous actions of the NYC police officers, firefighters, and security members throughout that frantic day; calmly providing direction to those around them, pointing people toward safety. Archbishop Williams writes, “It puts a different perspective on heroism for a moment. It tells us that heroism is not always bound up with drama, the sense of a Great Cause, but is something about doing what is necessary for a community’s health and security. For most of the time, this will be invisible.”[1] Archbishop Williams continues, “Some people, in other words, practice living in the presence of death; not courting dramatic immortality through a cause, but as part of what will or may be necessary to serve the social body.”[2] Archbishop Williams’ thoughts capture much of what we need to understand about Christian discipleship. Although there are certainly some folks who will serve in far-off places and perform difficult tasks for the benefit of others; all of us are invited to serve each other; invited to serve the community; invited to serve the world in the simple, yet courageous actions of the ordinary, which often may appear to be invisible, but are, in fact, so powerful. Williams also implies what Jesus tells his disciples explicitly: the times and periods are not for you to know…discipleship doesn’t work by the clock. In other words, take action today because action is part of your Christian witness. Take action today, because people are in need, today. Take action today because we do not know the times or the periods of God’s plan for us.
Finally, our reading from Acts closes with the entire group of Jesus’ family and followers devoting themselves in prayer. Prayer provides dialogue with Christ. Prayer forms us and shapes us and opens our hearts to others. Evelyn Underhill, the early 20th century author and mystic, reflects on the words of Christ in one of her retreats, “‘For this came I into the world: to do the will of Him who sent me.’ That is the stated purpose of Christ, His saints, and His followers. It means courage, generosity, and patience if the job is to be done.”[3] Underhill provides us insight that a prayerful life leads to continued relationship with Christ and grants the disciple what they need: courage, generosity, and patience; the practical tools for any Christian witness. Corporate and individual prayer is the practice that allows us to grow in our understanding of how to serve Christ and others. Prayer is the method of learning that takes us beyond the 40 days of initial preparation.
Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of God? Lord, are we there yet? Today, we live in the tension that we are both here and not here. We live in the now, but not yet. We live in the now because Christ has been resurrected, the first fruits of those who have died (1Cor 15:20). But we also wait, and until Christ returns, coming in the same way as he ascended to his Father in heaven, we are his witnesses. As witnesses of Christ Jesus, may we devote ourselves to prayer, be empowered by the Holy Spirit and serve God, loving and serving others as Christ has prepared us during these 40 days of Easter.

Amen.
[1] Rowan Williams, “Writing in the Dust: After September 11,” Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002, 43.
[2] Williams, “Writing in the Dust,” 43-44.
[3] Evelyn Underhill, “The Ways of the Spirit,” New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1990, 156.