Sunday, May 24, 2020

Seventh Sunday of Easter

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:

First Reading: Acts 1:6-14
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
Second Reading: I Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11
Gospel Reading: John 17:1-11

The text for the Feast of the Ascension (Thursday, May 21) are:

First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47:1-9 or 93:1-5
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
Gospel Reading: Luke 24:44-53

The liturgical color for the day is: White

It is appropriate to preach from the given texts for the 7^th Sunday of Easter or use the texts from the Ascension of the Lord.

The Ascension of the Lord is one of the festival days that occurs on the liturgical calendar that does not fall on a Sunday.  The day has been on the liturgical calendar since the 4^th century, and by tradition the day has been celebrated on the 40^th day of Easter—this year that falls on Thursday, May 21, 2020.  (Recall that the season of Easter lasts 50 days.)

As most congregations will not hold a special Day of Ascension service, it is appropriate to celebrate the ascension of the Lord on the Lord’s Day and use the reading from the festival day.

This far into the season of Easter, and the Sunday before the Day of Pentecost, the dynamic movements in the story of the ascension are worth noting and could form the outline of a sermon.  Notice what happens: 1. Jesus is blessing the disciples out on the high mountain where he has taken them.  He continues to bless them even as he his ascended.  2. The disciple’s response was worship. There on the mountain they worshiped him.  3. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

From blessing to worship to great joy—those movements are gifts to us.  Just at that moment when we don’t feel any joy…when we can be about to pull our hair out in frustration (enough of this isolation!) …or when the blahs come along…stop.  Here is what we are to do—stop right in our tracks.  Lift up your head.  Lift it up.  Look up.  See that Jesus is blessing you.  Even as you continue to sit home with sanctuaries closed.

See that Jesus is blessing you and allow that joy to inhabit you.  Just look up and worship for a moment and allow that blessing of God to fill you.  It is there…

In the Gospel Reading for the 7^th Sunday of Easter we hear Jesus, in the High Priestly Prayer say: “I am asking on their behalf.”  Perhaps this is the message of the ascension—that we ought hear Jesus intercede for us.  Yes even here—even here—locked away in our homes, waiting and expectant, we need to hear again the good news that Jesus intercedes for us.  Unlike any other time in our history, we experience the great waiting as those first disciples/apostles. 

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk