UP and OUT

Scripture:  Acts 1
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’  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.’

Observation:
 Luke's gospel closes with this story and the book of Acts opens with it.  Like brackets--this event marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another chapter in the story of God, Jesus, and the the new community of disciples.  It is a kind of coronation event.  Jesus is revealed as the true Lord of earth and heaven (not Caesar), as he rises above to the heavenly realm of God. And a graduation, too.   For the disciples must begin a new life without Jesus' physical presence and leadership, living out the radical way of love he taught them.  What will happen to this fledgling body of believers in resurrection miracles and divine justice/mercy?
There are also two promises made:  1.  He will return.  2.  The Holy Spirit is coming.

Application:
Where did he go?  No other gospel answers this question well.  After death and the grave, Jesus continues to live on.  But where?  Real history, myth, speculation---how do we receive this ascension story?  Did he literally float off to "heaven"?  And where is that?  Beyond space and time?  This is an unsolved mystery that is filled with significance and meaning for church.
Absent its founder and teacher, how will this "school of faith-active-in-love" continue? I think this is the key question.  Jesus is viewed quite early on by the faith community as a person of great authority and power.  As Lord, King, Savior, Messiah, in some deeper union with God.  This ascendency is tied to his resurrection from the dead, a miracle that vindicates and affirms his identity as the restored Son of God.  But, he does not remain present to them after some time.  He departs.  His departure marks a turn in history.  For it is after this that the church will emerge, called out of their former lives to a new way of life--the Jesus way.  They will become responsible for the perpetuation of the love revolution.
What do we take away?  Jesus handed over power to his followers. Great leaders know when to get out of the way to let others take over.  Jesus created a culture with reproducible habits and practices given away to his followers to imitate.  Then he left.  They will do what he did. The revolution will spread like wildfire out of control.  Because the message and the ministry are exactly what the world needed.  And still needs.  Mercy.  Forgiveness. Economic justice.  Shared abundance.  Servant love.  So now, its our turn.  With spiritual guidance and courage beyond ourselves, we are called out.                 
Prayer
 Lord, here we are.  Send us.  We'll do what we can.  Our neighbors need us to do so.  You command us to love like you love us.  And you love us to death, to life, from beginning to end.  More than we can imagine.  Help us to follow you UP and OUT.  Amen. 

that we may be one

Scripture: John 17

 [Jesus prayed:] ²⁰“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, ²³I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
  ²⁵“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Observation:

That all may be one.  Unity.  Communion.  A shared life of love. Jesus prays for the people who receive faith by hearing the message his first disciples bring.  Basically, he prays for the next generations of His people, which includes us.  Not for materialistic needs.  But for our inner selves to be connected to God through His love.  I in them and you in me.  God is in us. That does not mean that I am God or you are God.  It means that the goodness and love out of which we are made dwells in our minds, hearts, spirits.  We are spiritual beings. We breathe.  We connect.  We pray.  Jesus intends for his followers to experience divine love---a powerful,redemptive, healing love--the force that binds all things together.  Jesus' anticipated your and my participation in His life.  He prayed for us, because he wants us to know his love and his peace.     

Application 

Connection, authentic loving relationships. This is the heart of Christian spirituality/religion.  If your practice as a Christian person does not involve love, you are missing Jesus' point.  Christianity is not a program. It is not entertainment.  It is not a rock concert.  A lot of what churches do today to attract people has nothing to do with Jesus or a sense of communion with God.   In fact, we may be doing a lot and forgetting ourselves and God in the process.  This is why prayer matters.

Prayer is the inner ear, the inner voice, the moment of silence in which one becomes reconnected.  I have experienced this kind of communion sitting on a mountain above Lake George in the ADK.  Eating with close friends.  Being with my wife and kids on a quiet day. I experienced God this morning.  I was waiting for someone for an appointment we had together.  She didn't show up.  Turns out, we both needed a way out of that appointment so that we could stop, breathe, remember that God is in control, surrender our need to get things done and abide in the Word.  Today, I say yes to God, who speaks.  In the passage above, I hear God say to me:  I am inside, close, near.  You are loved absolutely.  You are being sent to the world I love with good news.  But let it be good news for you too.  Rest in my grace.  Nothing you do or fail to do today will change what matters--life in me. Perfect love.  Joy.  Peace.  Calm. 

So, in my mind I am going to Lake George.  To my mountain.  To warm sun and fresh air and silence and the presence of the God who loves me.  Wanna come with me? 

Pray:

Lord, I want to surrender myself to your presence, your love, your peace.  I want to experience oneness, unity, communion with you and all of life.  Help me to stop and breathe and trust you.  Amen. 

     

soil, roots, seed

Scripture:  Matthew 13
‘Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.^* As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’

Observation:

What is the "word of the Kingdom?" It is the good news that Jesus brought through his powerful teachings.  He healed, fed, and welcomed outcasts.  He confronted evil, racial prejudice, and sinful abuses of power and wealth. He promised merciful justice for all,especially those at the bottom living under the yoke of oppression.  He criticized bad stewardship that damaged lives.  He called people to a higher law, love of God and neighbor (enemy and friend alike).   
What prevents this word from growing and spreading?  1.  A failure of understanding.    2.  Shallow roots + Trouble, hardship, persecution.  3. The cares of the world and the lure of wealth.
What causes growth?  Hearing and understanding.  Deep roots. 

Application

Learning how to love and forgive and serve like Jesus (aka discipleship) is a kind of maturation process.  And the soil matters.  I have seen all of these soil descriptions played out.  Even in my own life!  I have failed to seek understanding.  I have retreated in the face of challenges, trouble, or personal attack.  I have been overcome by busyness and anxiety about money. I have failed to trust in God's abundant love.  I have tried too hard to force growth.   I have seen new hearers of the good news tempted away. I have seen doubts emerge when new faith faces ongoing challenges or troubles.  They say, "Why hasn't life gotten easier since I've found faith in God? Doesn't God care?"
Soil matters.  God is, not only a sower of seeds, but a cultivator of good soil.  God prepares hearts to receive the word.  Timing is everything.  Kairos moments are like the Rototillers of the heart and mind.  And roots are important.  Roots are the faith community digging deeper together.  We need each other to grow.  But there is nothing at all without the seed and the sower.  God is planting love and peace and joy and grace and mercy in people's hearts and minds.  What happens after that?  "Part mystery, part soil science." Theologians call it "faith". 

Prayer
Lord, make my heart be good soil attentive to your word of love and grace.  Amen.