|
First
Reading
|
Psalm |
Epistle |
Gospel |
| Acts 1:6–14 |
Psalm
68:1–10
|
I Peter 4:12–14; 5:6–11 |
John 17:1–11 |
A major conflict among the ancient tribes of Israel, as they were in transition from a nomadic, herding society to a settled agricultural one, was whether the primary place of worship and the symbols of God's presence on earth should be sheltered under a tent and make the rounds, moving from one tribe’s sacred place to another, or whether a permanent central shrine should be built. The traditionalists, of course, wanted a tent and they eventually lost out to those who constructed Israel's first Temple in Jerusalem. Yet there was more at stake than simply the conflict between a nomadic and a settled civilization. The tent was a powerful reminder that the Spirit of God goes forth and is portable, wherever people of faith live and will not be confined to a certain city or any worldly political, social, or religious structure. The idea of the Holy Spirit bring able to pitch a tent among us wherever we go, is continued in our day by the popularity of summer camp revival meetings held by the hundreds, predominantly in rural areas and down back roads in every state of our land.
The church year was not set up with Ithaca’s climate or the secular calendar in mind. Yet the last weeks of the Easter season, Ascension Day and Pentecost Sunday, tie in beautifully with Ithaca's calendar. Before the end of the month, several thousand students will receive diplomas from our area colleges and university, and then a few short weeks later, the ceremonies will be repeated for students from our high schools. At some level they will all be reminded that from now on, they take a piece of that institution with them where ever they go. They will have graduated, and they are deemed ready to travel on. Others of us over the summer will experience the transition to a new apartment, a new job, a new family member, or adjustments pertaining to our health. Many in our community will likely have to say farewell to friends, and prepare to welcome new members who have come here to reside.
At Ascension, Jesus reminds his disciples that the Gospel is not confined to the shores of Galilee. Pentecost will further confirm that the Gospel will not be limited to the structures of Judaism. God is able to travel, too, and the Gospel will spread to the ends of the earth among all cultures. During these fifty days from Easter to Pentecost we are being prepared, in some manner, to go forth, to take new paths. We also are reminded that the Holy Spirit is portable and will pitch a tent alongside of us as we go.
St. John's was not able to obtain an adequate number of tents to give out, nor are we empowered to grant degrees, so attached to your bulletin today you will find a packing peanut. You will be pleased to know they have already been recycled. It's a graduation gift for all of us. It's a reminder that God is always packing and unpacking, and is always moving us in some way. The peanut is very light reminding us that there is wisdom in traveling light rather than heavy. Take the good memories of experience with you, but leave the heavy garbage of the past behind. It only weighs you down and there is never any good use of it.
The small peanut is also symbolic of a resilient piece of our hearts that will always hold treasures from the past. Packing peanuts are pretty tough; they never seem to be destroyed or cease to be useful, whatever they are protecting, just like the Holy Spirit that not only survives, but also flourishes in new situations. Lastly, let the peanut be a token reminder that the Holy Sprit is not being taken from us in times of transitions, and that God will continue to seek and to bring forth our full potential as witnesses and disciples wherever life takes us.
And I offer this to you in the name of the Living God, Amen.
