New directions
Commentary
Note: Charting The Course and illustrations are provided for both Ascension Day/Sunday and Easter 7. Clergy may choose which material to use on Sunday, May 15.
The aftermath of the ascension event leaves the question for believers, "Now what? Where to?" This particular Sunday's texts create the same effect as the twist of a kaleidoscope; words by and about Jesus are taken from chronologies different from that of a strict post-ascension sequence in order to emphasize elements of importance which such a great event has for God's people.
Three genre make the same general point: Acts offers us a piece of significant discipleship history; John's words come in the form of a epistolary admonition and clarification, and John's Gospel offers a part of the Holy Week prayer by Jesus for the disciples. All texts demonstrate that this Seventh Sunday of Easter speaks textually of unity.
It is not a unity encouraged by the physical presence of Jesus and a continuation of things as they were, but a unity that looks to the future based on God's promises.
It is clear from all three texts that unity comes at a price. In the Acts account, the disciples must re-focus their communal life and mission after the central event of Judas' betrayal and subsequent death. John's letter urges a new look at life in the Lord due to the pressures of non-belief which confront Jesus' followers. And the words of Jesus' final prayer on the night preceding his death emerge from a great subterranean agony of the soul, the contours of which the disciples are barely aware.
The issue of unity which each text speaks of may link them all together sermonically as well. Unity today among Christians is, as always, an embattled topic. This is true whether one speaks of friendships, congregational life or the overall ties of the church in many places and times.
OUTLINE I
Are you with us?
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26(All four lectionaries)
A. vv. 15-17: Peter speaks the unspeakable history in the presence of the believers about one disciple who was formerly among them -- Judas. Peter speaks of Judas within the greater scope of salvation history. Even Judas' betrayal is pre-figured with God's relationship with humanity.
B. vv. 21-22: Peter begins the process of choice of a new disciple by setting up the criterion. He does not choose the successor to Judas himself, but depends on the Spirit moving through the community. The ground rule, however, must be that the chosen had been part of the disciples' ministry and witnessed Jesus' life, death and resurrection.
This passage raises significant issues concerning leadership in today's church. Based on this passage women have often been excluded from ministry, despite the fact that in the earlier verses of Acts 1 reference is made to "certain women" who were together with the disciples. The preacher is here called to do intense study of Lukan theology and terminology, so that contemporary proclamation builds on inclusive ministry rather than blocks it.
C. vv. 23-26: The decision to choose a new disciple is based on two words. First the choice begins with prayer that consensus may emerge in the community through the work of the Spirit. Then the disciples "cast lots" and the choice falls on Matthias.
Indeed this passage shows that new forms of ministry continue to emerge and bless the church. What was is not necessarily what will always be in terms of leadership and personality. What is central is that the unity of mission and ministry be preserved for the sake of Christ's presence in the world.
OUTLINE II
Together in belief
1 John 5:9-13(Revised Common, Episcopal)
John's epistle shows evidence that the unity of the believers with their God and one another is in jeopardy from those who challenge what they do and the forms of their faith.
A. vv. 9-10: John focuses on the issue of testimony. It is not human verbiage which asserts that God is God. In fact human testimony in and of itself can dismantle what God has proposed in Jesus Christ. Instead, God speaks, God testifies on God's own behalf, through Jesus.
B. v. 11: This verse is remarkable for a clear, single-statement version of the gospel: we have received eternal life and that is in Jesus Christ.
C. vv. 12-13: John's simple and profound gospel truth shows that this is a life-and-death matter. Jesus as Savior and Lord means eternal life. Anything else means death. John states this as the purpose of this letter: he urges its recipients to choose life through the truth of his words. Unity with God comes only through acceptance of God's works in God's Son, Jesus.
OUTLINE III
United with Jesus
John 17:11b-19(All four lectionaries)
A. vv. 11b-13: In Jesus' prayer for his disciples, he enunciates the clear and bitter reality that they require protection from the evil which surrounds them. The stakes are indeed high. Jesus expresses his faith in God who will keep them now that he must leave them. These verses speak eloquently of the reality of "guarding one's soul." Yet, in the midst of evil, Jesus yet dares to speak of the joy of blessedness which he asks for them.
B. vv. 14-16: Jesus establishes the disciples' relationships with their environment. They are and are not part of it; just as Jesus lived with this tension, so they, too, are bequeathed a double vision of reality.
C. vv. 17-19: By the use of the word "sanctify," a "making holy," Jesus points to the reality of the spiritual journey which the disciples have been on and must continue. They will not be removed from the world but rather will grow in the truth and grace that God gives through their daily experiences of it.
Jesus' prayer indicates that unity in God through him is a process, not an instantaneous occurrence.
The aftermath of the ascension event leaves the question for believers, "Now what? Where to?" This particular Sunday's texts create the same effect as the twist of a kaleidoscope; words by and about Jesus are taken from chronologies different from that of a strict post-ascension sequence in order to emphasize elements of importance which such a great event has for God's people.
Three genre make the same general point: Acts offers us a piece of significant discipleship history; John's words come in the form of a epistolary admonition and clarification, and John's Gospel offers a part of the Holy Week prayer by Jesus for the disciples. All texts demonstrate that this Seventh Sunday of Easter speaks textually of unity.
It is not a unity encouraged by the physical presence of Jesus and a continuation of things as they were, but a unity that looks to the future based on God's promises.
It is clear from all three texts that unity comes at a price. In the Acts account, the disciples must re-focus their communal life and mission after the central event of Judas' betrayal and subsequent death. John's letter urges a new look at life in the Lord due to the pressures of non-belief which confront Jesus' followers. And the words of Jesus' final prayer on the night preceding his death emerge from a great subterranean agony of the soul, the contours of which the disciples are barely aware.
The issue of unity which each text speaks of may link them all together sermonically as well. Unity today among Christians is, as always, an embattled topic. This is true whether one speaks of friendships, congregational life or the overall ties of the church in many places and times.
OUTLINE I
Are you with us?
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26(All four lectionaries)
A. vv. 15-17: Peter speaks the unspeakable history in the presence of the believers about one disciple who was formerly among them -- Judas. Peter speaks of Judas within the greater scope of salvation history. Even Judas' betrayal is pre-figured with God's relationship with humanity.
B. vv. 21-22: Peter begins the process of choice of a new disciple by setting up the criterion. He does not choose the successor to Judas himself, but depends on the Spirit moving through the community. The ground rule, however, must be that the chosen had been part of the disciples' ministry and witnessed Jesus' life, death and resurrection.
This passage raises significant issues concerning leadership in today's church. Based on this passage women have often been excluded from ministry, despite the fact that in the earlier verses of Acts 1 reference is made to "certain women" who were together with the disciples. The preacher is here called to do intense study of Lukan theology and terminology, so that contemporary proclamation builds on inclusive ministry rather than blocks it.
C. vv. 23-26: The decision to choose a new disciple is based on two words. First the choice begins with prayer that consensus may emerge in the community through the work of the Spirit. Then the disciples "cast lots" and the choice falls on Matthias.
Indeed this passage shows that new forms of ministry continue to emerge and bless the church. What was is not necessarily what will always be in terms of leadership and personality. What is central is that the unity of mission and ministry be preserved for the sake of Christ's presence in the world.
OUTLINE II
Together in belief
1 John 5:9-13(Revised Common, Episcopal)
John's epistle shows evidence that the unity of the believers with their God and one another is in jeopardy from those who challenge what they do and the forms of their faith.
A. vv. 9-10: John focuses on the issue of testimony. It is not human verbiage which asserts that God is God. In fact human testimony in and of itself can dismantle what God has proposed in Jesus Christ. Instead, God speaks, God testifies on God's own behalf, through Jesus.
B. v. 11: This verse is remarkable for a clear, single-statement version of the gospel: we have received eternal life and that is in Jesus Christ.
C. vv. 12-13: John's simple and profound gospel truth shows that this is a life-and-death matter. Jesus as Savior and Lord means eternal life. Anything else means death. John states this as the purpose of this letter: he urges its recipients to choose life through the truth of his words. Unity with God comes only through acceptance of God's works in God's Son, Jesus.
OUTLINE III
United with Jesus
John 17:11b-19(All four lectionaries)
A. vv. 11b-13: In Jesus' prayer for his disciples, he enunciates the clear and bitter reality that they require protection from the evil which surrounds them. The stakes are indeed high. Jesus expresses his faith in God who will keep them now that he must leave them. These verses speak eloquently of the reality of "guarding one's soul." Yet, in the midst of evil, Jesus yet dares to speak of the joy of blessedness which he asks for them.
B. vv. 14-16: Jesus establishes the disciples' relationships with their environment. They are and are not part of it; just as Jesus lived with this tension, so they, too, are bequeathed a double vision of reality.
C. vv. 17-19: By the use of the word "sanctify," a "making holy," Jesus points to the reality of the spiritual journey which the disciples have been on and must continue. They will not be removed from the world but rather will grow in the truth and grace that God gives through their daily experiences of it.
Jesus' prayer indicates that unity in God through him is a process, not an instantaneous occurrence.
