+Today’s reading from John’s Gospel is the end of what’s known as Jesus’ Farewell Discourse, a long series of statements Jesus makes to his disciples on the night before his crucifixion. We’ve read from this discourse for these last several weeks of Easter.
It’s a bit confusing and disconcerting---here we are, shouting Alleluia, rejoicing in the wonder of the empty tomb for these Great 50 Days only to have our Gospel readings take us back to that sorrowful night during the first Holy Week.
And we’re reading these selections at the tail end of the Easter season, during one of the oddest ten day stretches in the entire church year. You see, this past Thursday was the Ascension of the Lord…when Jesus says good-bye to his disciples yet tells them to stay put and wait, help is on the way. So the disciples do as they are told (for once) and just stay put, looking somewhat slack jawed up to the heavens as Jesus ascends, waiting for something more to happen. And so here we are---no longer reveling in the empty tomb and also not yet rejoicing in the gift of the Holy Spirit. We, like the disciples before us stand a bit slack jawed as we linger betwixt and between endings, and beginnings, “hurry up and wait,” and not quite yet.
Where are we and what in the world are we supposed to do? Although our Gospel reading is taken from the night before Jesus’ crucifixion it’s all about what will come---the resurrection, the ascension, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the steady walk toward the coming of God’s reign in this world, on that day when, as Jesus says, we’ll all be one. The world outlined in the reading from Revelation---a world which is, according to John is “coming soon,” a world where all those who desire the water of life will be washed in it, where everyone who thirsts for justice and righteousness will be quenched, a world to which we are invited by the Holy and Undivided Trinity, One God: come they say, come and enter through the gates, take your seat and be refreshed. So today we’re looking behind; remembering the pain and terror, the sadness and grief of Holy Week, and we’re looking ahead to the New Jerusalem, to the promise of eternal life where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing but life everlasting. And in the midst of this looking ahead and looking behind, of thinking about what was and what will be, Jesus gathers us, much like a mother bird gathers her brood under her wings, and prays for us.
Prayer is an amazing, powerful, mysterious and incredible thing.
Five years ago I experienced a health crisis and as a result lots and lots of people were praying for me. Now, I am a priest and as such I am a big proponent of prayer. I highly recommend it and for years----even before I was a priest---I spoke glowingly about the power of prayer. I had certainly done my share of praying and I intellectually knew that research shows and people repeatedly speak about the power, the effectiveness, of prayer. But truly, it wasn’t until I was the recipient of extensive, intensive, pointed prayer that I understood---really felt deep in my bones, my heart and my soul---the power of prayer. I was, and remain incredibly humbled by my prayer warriors and have seen again and again and again that same intentional intercessory prayer work absolute wonders for others. Prayer works.
Not only does prayer work, prayer is, in my opinion, not optional for any of us who long for that New Jerusalem described in Revelation or that world where we all—everyone everywhere—will be one as Jesus prayed for in the Gospel. Now maybe this sounds ridiculous, that I’m stating the obvious, but hear me out. My charge to you, each and every one of you here today, is to pray.
Diligently, regularly. And not just for those you know but especially for those you don’t.
Pray for peace and for wisdom the world’s leaders is always good. Praying for our planet, praying for seasonable weather and successful crops, all very important.
It’s also important to pray for our enemies. And that? That’s really hard. But it’s important. Pray for your enemies.
It’s also important to pray for this, your church, and for your priest, and your vestry and wardens. And pray for St Mark’s (St Paul’s). And please. Please pray for our diocese, pray for me, pray for Bishop Bill. Pray that all 58 of the churches in this diocese will live into the task that has been given to us. To be the hands and feet, the eyes and ears of Christ in this world and to seek and serve Christ in all whom we meet. The stronger we are as a diocese, the more work we can do for our Lord.
On the night before he died, our Lord prayed for his friends, he prayed for the world and he prayed for us. Today as our focus moves from the empty tomb to being the church in the world, let us pray for him, let us pray with him. For through prayer, the world is changed. Amen.
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