you know i never worry 'bout myself
Prayer: Lord, may the words of my lips and the meditations of all our hearts receive your blessing. Amen.
Today is Ascension Sunday. Today we remember that day when Jesus ascended into heaven. Today is that Sunday when we remember that Jesus has gone to heaven; the goal of the Christian life…
The goal of Christian life… Yeah, that’s it; to make it to heaven.
But wait, wasn’t it just last week that Pastor Carol preached about the lack of any rapture theology in John?
If the rapture is not in the Bible why does Jesus go up into heaven to get ready for the end then?
I mean, it seems pretty clear that heaven is the goal. I mean Luke ends his Gospel by depicting Jesus going off to heaven. That has to be the goal then, right?
Heaven must be the goal, and that is why Jesus ascends their after his resurrection.
But, if heaven is the goal why didn’t Jesus just suck up all his disciples up to heaven with him? Hmm.
Okay, okay. Obviously there are many troubles with the idea that heaven in and of itself is the goal.
See, that’s the thing, despite all our heaven fixation; heaven is not the goal of the life of those who follow Jesus. I think you all show that so strongly with your mission here.
The goal of our lives is something much different than staring heavenward. In fact, given how clear Jesus is about the goal, it is a surprise there has been so much heaven-focus.
Jesus clearly states the goal before the ascension; “you are witnesses of these things.” We are witnesses of Jesus’ life, suffering and resurrection. The goal of the life of those who follow Jesus is not to be waiting for heaven, instead we’re called to be witnesses.
Witnesses. Instead of staring, we’re called to witness to what we’ve seen.
In other words, like those angels, Jesus tells us not to bother walking around with our eyes turned to the clouds.
Isn’t that interesting though?
In our obsession with the future we, become inactive. Yet when we recall what happened in the past, we are active. When we remember the life and love of Jesus we’re called to live into the future, rather than sitting waiting for the end.
Instead of sitting on the sidelines staring, we’re called to witness.
There is a practical reason why many would rather wait for heaven. This calling to be witnesses, it can be challenging and confusing; it isn’t as clear cut as simply waiting for the end.
Being a witness can be a challenge, but it is also much more of a dynamic life. And do you want to know what? The life of living as witnessing this Jesus is also a lot of fun.
We’re not called to sit back and wait; we’re called to have fun. We’re called to dare and dream. We’re even called to fail. The goal of the life of those of us who are witnesses to Jesus incredible love that even death could not hold down, are called not to live for the end; instead we are just called to live as witnesses to this Jesus.
This means taking chances. Instead of trying to do the right thing, we’re called to try to do the thing that is faithful to the witness Jesus has given us.
I’ve seen this happen a lot during my internship:
I’ve seen people take the chance of opening a bar, with housing for veterans above it, at an old church.
I’ve seen churches dare to open their parking lots to those who live without housing, while their neighbors try to stop them.
I’ve seen people talk to their elected officials and explain how their faith makes them concerned with the support provided to people with disabilities, how their faith causes them to care that mothers and infants have the opportunity to eat healthy food.
And you all, I’ve seen you all open this church to people who need it. You’ve opened the church to the hungry, the homeless, those who struggle with addiction, and inter and after intern. Yes, I’ve seen you all clothed with power from on high to be God’s salt and light in the world.
And to tell you what, the way you think about this place, your mission, it can be a little unique. I mean, instead of worrying about whether people recite the creed, fill out a membership card, or even worship here on beautiful Sunday mornings, you just worry about that you witness to the love you’ve seen.
Yes, I’ve seen how you all dare to use this gift that you have to witness to that love you’ve seen in the life of Jesus. I’ve seen you all joyfully live out the goal for the lives of those who witness to Jesus’ love.
This life of witnessing calls us to new things, daring things; and yes, even fun things.
I’ve seen you all have a lot of fun, too.
The goal for those who are witnesses is not some threat, or some distant promise. Instead the goal is simply to turn over stones looking for that perfect one to cherish while walking along the beach. The goal is handed to us every day.
And do you want to know another secret?
When we live out this goal of witnessing, we show that Jesus is not far off in heaven. When we witness we show that Jesus is so close. When we witness to that love we’ve seen, we show that Jesus did not ascend to heaven and get stuck there.
Instead, when we witness we show that in Jesus’ ascension his love became unconfined. In our witnessing we free up Jesus’ love to be shown in the world whenever and wherever we are. And yes, that might be a little more confusing or challenging, but it is much more enlivening isn’t it?
I mean, wow, when we just witness to that love, we lose God’s love into the world again and again. Instead of being afraid of the future, we’re just simply called to live into it as witnesses. We’re called to witness to that example Jesus has given us, however the need calls and our gifts empower us.
This is our promise, sisters and brothers; we don’t have to live waiting. We get to live freely into the future. We get to engage this world. And all we’re called to do is witness to this Jesus. This call will lead many places and many people, as it already has.
All we’re called to is to witness to a word already on our lips; in love; free.
Free.
Amen.
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