When It All Falls to Pieces ~ Acts 1:6-14 ~ Seventh Sunday of Easter

Image courtesy of ze-pOr-ex / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

To say that Jesus’ disciples had been on a spiritual roller coaster ride over the last eight weeks would be an gross understatement.  There was the shock and horror of his death, followed by unbelievable news that he was alive.  Once they finally came to believe, there was joy and hope once again; perhaps even more than before.  But the events of Acts 1 bring another unprecedented turn of events…

It all begins with a question: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”  This was the single greatest hope shared by all the Jews who’d believed in Jesus: that Jesus was going to drive the evil, pagan Romans out of the Holy Land and rule over the world.

But Jesus tells them what surely comes as a disappointment: “that time isn’t now—and that time isn’t for you to know.”

Then Jesus commissions them: “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  They will carry on Jesus’ mission—while facing head-on pretty much everything they’ve ever feared.

Then Jesus ascends into heaven.  He’s gone from their sight.  Now, they face the future without him.

This could very well have felt like Good Friday all over again.

How often do you find yourself feeling like this?

How many of us feel like our lives have fallen to pieces?  How many of us feel like the Church has fallen to pieces?  How many of us struggle to hold onto hope in these times?

One of the most difficult truths of life is that the passing of time takes away so much of what we build our lives upon, to give us happiness, purpose, peace, and security.

This is happening right now in churches all across the Kiski valley.  Just consider how has been lost: all the people who’ve died, moved away, or simply stopped coming…  Once upon a time, the Church was the center of community life.  Its influence and authority reached into nearly every aspect of people’s lives.  There once was a time when we didn’t have to worry about finances or wonder how much longer the doors will be open.  But not anymore.

Doesn’t it feel like we’re losing everything that we build our lives upon?  Doesn’t it feel like we’re losing everything we need just to survive?  Is there any hope for the ministry of Jesus Christ in this valley?
This question takes us back to the Ascension moment.  Remember: Jesus promises them the Holy Spirit, who will give them the power to be his witnesses.  Even though they lost everything that had given them comfort, confidence, security, and purpose—God gives them the Holy Spirit.

Let us bear in mind that these people weren’t super-human.  These were the same disciples Jesus chastised again and again for their lack of faith.  These were the same disciples who ran off in fear of their lives when Jesus was arrested.  They know they will face violent persecution and even death if they continue Christ’s work.  But God will use them to build the Church that will reach across the globe, to reclaim it as God’s own, and fill it peace, justice, forgiveness, and love.  This is a gargantuan task—but by the Spirit’s power, they do it.  They will be the face of the living Christ in all the world.

What we are about to see as we enter the Pentecost season is the power of God springing forth in the most impossible circumstances.  Amid all the doubts and disappointments, in the face of unspeakable evil, with the most unqualified of people, the Holy Spirit comes—and God’s will is done.

We all will inevitably find ourselves stripped of nearly everything we’ve built our lives upon.  We’ll come crashing down like the Tower of Jenga.  But it is in these times that we will know the awesome power of the Holy Spirit.  When we cling to other things, we don’t really know the Spirit’s power.  But when Christ in the Spirit becomes all that we have to claim, this is when we’ll be lifted by the by Christ’s resurrection.  Jesus may very well be all that you have—but he’s all you need.  When we lose everything, Christ will be our everything.

When tomorrow looks bleak, Jesus will meet you there.  When life and circumstance force us to where we would not wish to go, we can cling to Christ with the confidence that Christ’s resurrection will revive and sustain us.  There can be peace and rejoicing amid the most bitter pains.  There can be confidence in the face of death.  This is God’s will.

And this congregation can go out into the community and be the face of Christ—and lives can be transformed by the work we do together.  We can baptize more new believers than ever before.  The Lutheran witness can be stronger in the Kiski Valley than ever before—because the Holy Spirit is upon us. Our community belongs to God—and God is determined to claim it and transform it

Life in Christ is about hope; and God’s perfect love driving out our fears.  It is about God’s will being done in us and throughout this world, in bold defiance of all evil.  It begins with prayer—and God will take you from there.  And there’s nowhere else any of us should be other than with Christ bringing resurrection to the world.