March 2024 Sunday services are at our Haddam Campus
An Open & Affirming Congregation

Let’s Get Busy

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 towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards 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.

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

I believe that our readings today are about height and depth…
Jesus ascends and promises the Holy Spirit— tasking the disciples with carrying on… he passes on the baton, so to speak

Jesus is no longer on the earth. He has ascended.
But this is no cause to abandon our planet.
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.”
We have work to do.
Jesus’ ascension and his passing the baton is an opportunity to take our place as Jesus’ companions in creative transformation, in bringing beauty and healing to this good Earth.
God is in us and with us, and is calling us forward toward new adventures in faithful discipleship.
Jesus told the disciples—You will receive power from the Holy Spirit!
What might that mean to us on Earth?
We don’t need to wait for heaven to experience God’s presence and live out God’s good news.
Heaven is for real – and it is right here as well as on the far shore of mortality.

Throughout time there has repeatedly been lots of speculation on the Second Coming and the last days of planet earth.
If you look you can find something about the last days in recently-released books and movies.
The main thing these predictions have in common is that have been universally wrong or rescheduled to later dates.
Don’t they read the bible?…End times prophets would do well to remember Jesus’ own words: “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.”

I believe that what’s most important in the Acts passage is that we will receive power from God’s Spirit and that our task is to become both heavenly minded and earthly good.
“Why are you staring at the sky? Why are you abandoning my work on Earth?” the angelic messengers ask.
“Your work is here on earth. Your calling is to spread good news and embody Jesus’ ministry of hospitality and healing in your time.
God will give you the power you need to transform the world.”

This same call is given to us: we have work to do right here responding to global climate change, praying for the liberation of the oppressed, working for equality for all persons, closing the gap between the abundantly rich and the poor, ensuring health care for the vulnerable, and bringing wholeness to our daily relationships.
I know that most of us often feel unable to take on the challenges of the day.
I also know Jesus’ first followers had misgivings about their ability to carry on Jesus’ mission once he had passed the baton.
They and we might want our problems to be solved in a heavenly realm.
Surely we want to escape presidential scandals, global climate change, the constant rantings of politicians, threats of foreign dictators and the daily acts of terror and violence happening near and far.
It is overwhelming… enough already.
But, church, we are not helpless and alone. God’s Spirit is with us, and God has given us power to be agents of healing and wholeness, to be creative and transformative in our time.
The passage from Acts focuses on God’s initiative in our ministries, but it also affirms that we can prepare for bursts of creative power through devoting ourselves to prayer, individually and as communities.
Prayer is not an escape from the world, or passive acceptance of God’s will, letting God do the work while we sit on the sidelines. Prayer is an active process of aligning our lives with God’s vision, discerning our calling, joining with neighbors in common cause, and getting to work.
Prayer is essential to acting on God’s behalf, and inspires us to take creative risks and leave our comfort zones to fulfill our vocation in this time and place.
We are not alone. The One who ascends to the heavens is also as near as our next breath and upcoming encounter.
God is with us…

The words from I Peter also invite us to a solid spiritual life.
We know there are are so many threats in our world and they can overwhelm us, if we lose our focus and surrender to apathy, fear, and temptation.
Faithful mindfulness, as well as prayer, keeps us aware of God’s presence, the dangers at hand, and the power available to us.
isn’t there something to be said for being ready each day for whatever comes, including being at peace in our relationships and “right with the world”?
From our comfort zones of privilege, we can often act as if life is safe and secure.
But, deep down, we know differently.
When we take the time to ponder it we know that we are in the fight of our lives.
We may try not to choose sides or to define others as enemies, but in reality the future of our planet is at stake, as well as the economic well-being of millions of people;
we know there are those who hate, exploit, and destroy in the name God and to gain or protect their personal prosperity.
We know that there are those who limit God’s love to a select few
They view God’s sovereignty as license to destroy villages— by rising waters, as well as abandon the inner cities and impoverished, backwoods, while they line their pockets with gold, and destroy the environment of this earth for short term financial gain.
God knows we struggle to face our own complicity and fearfulness.
Each of us, when we admit it, want to avoid the reality that we may have to sacrifice so that others will live,
But in sacrifice, we share in Christ’s own willingness to share our burdens so that we might find wholeness and salvation.
The baton has been passed… we are to carry on the work of Christ… right here and to the ends of the earth.
God is with us, let’s get busy. Amen.

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