|
First
Reading
|
Psalm |
Epistle |
Gospel |
| Acts
1:15-17, 21-26 |
98:
1, 5-10 |
1
John 5:9-13 |
John
17:6-19 |
For
about a decade of my life, I was a camper and then counselor at
a summer camp in Maine, where every year in August, towards the
end of the season, we would take an annual hike up Mount Washington
in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. At the base of the trail,
the woods would still be moist with the humidity of late summer.
In numerous places, especially where thousands of footprints had
mashed the duff of leaves and needles into a brown mousse, the route
turned into a bog. After a while the young campers got the message
that it really was wiser to go around the mud rather than slurping
through it. Happy campers and biting bugs never went together; hence
moans began to mingle with the slapping of arms from the ears on
down.
As we climbed, the bugs were fewer and a hint of a breeze offered
the promise of cooler air ahead. The oaks and maples gave way to
spruce, and soon there was open sky above and we knew that we were
above the timberline. The trail became a path through an alpine
meadow with nothing taller than one to two feet evergreens. Finally,
we would arrive at a place called Lake of the Clouds. It was a small
pond really, not any larger than the floor area of the parish house,
and usually some characters from Dartmouth would have stocked the
pond with gold fish and erected a large “no fishing” sign.
By the pond was a bunkhouse with wood bunks and a kitchen-dining
area for backpackers who were taking overnight trips over the Presidential
range. It was a perfect place to stop, rest on the porch, smell
the fragrance of the plants of the meadow, and eat lunch.
The breeze turned into a wind, and we began
to put on our sweaters and jackets that had been tied around our
waist. Ahead the summit peeked in and out of the clouds. To go
on meant leaving the shelter of the porch and climbing through
a cold mist that the clouds wiped across the mountain.
At this point trip leaders became morale boosters.
To encourage the hikers, I would point out that at the summit
of the White Mountains one could get a spectacular view of four
states and on an exceptional day even see the Atlantic Ocean.
Sometimes I shared my never to be forgotten experience of not
only seeing the ocean, but also a few great blue whales spouting
off shore. Reality would soon set in as we began the assent of
the headwall and read the large sign that announced "Mount
Washington has the worst weather in the world. Turn back if there
is a sign of storm," Soon we were walking not only through,
but above clouds, at first with only the trail markers showing,
but then through breaks in the clouds and between the mist, we
saw the sun shining on a slice of land below and realized how
high we actually were.
Reaching the summit, we rarely saw a 360-degree
panorama, but it didn't matter. For the more you looked between
the clouds, the more sensational the views became. On a few occasions
maybe some of us did see what we thought was the ocean and perhaps
into at least two states. Nonetheless, we were in awe. Mountain
top experiences do change us, but often the change is subtle and
deep.
Ascension Day is behind us and in the first lesson today we read
of the appointment of Matthias to take Judas' place. In one sense
neither Jesus’ ascension nor Matthias’ appointment were
large-scale media events. They didn't draw a large crowd. Yet
they revealed in some way the enduring influence of Easter. The
greatest sign of the resurrection among those early followers,
was that out of fear, came courage; out of confusion, came confidence;
and out of hesitation came a renewed commitment. Nothing is known
about Matthias, except he persisted. He had stuck with Jesus and
had exhibited an unshakable faith. He was the type of person who
quietly and reliably does his job without fanfare or complaint.
In point of fact, he is the backbone of any parish of any size.
The appointment of Matthias, Ascension Day,
and climbs to Mount Washington go together for none really contained
the loud splashy thrill of an amusement park ride. Yet, each in
its own way had considerable influence in the lives of those who
were there. The workings of the Holy Spirit, more often than not,
occur in events and people who lead us to discover deep slices
of reflection among cloud covers and truly bestow upon us, a sense
of awe.
And I offer this to you in the name of the
Risen Lord, Amen
