Sermon: "A Time and a Call to Trust"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

We have arrived at a crucial moment in the story of salvation. This is a significant Sunday in the Easter season - the Sunday prior to Ascension Day. At this point, Jesus has died; Jesus has been raised; and Jesus has appeared to his followers in his resurrection body. But now the time approaches for his Ascension, his departure from earth. And we may perceive the poignancy of the moment in the way that he addresses a close follower: "Peace I leave with you…Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid…I am going away…I am going to the Father…I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe." This is indeed a crucial moment in the salvation story.

I think about those leave-taking times in life … the times of saying "good-bye." Emotions accumulate at such times - often, strongly conflicting emotions. For instance, the anticipation of death surely identifies one time of leave-taking, of saying "good-bye." Sometimes death come suddenly and leaves us all - as the Prayer Book says - "unprepared." However, most often the leave-taking of death comes more gradually, as we experience the double - and conflicting - anticipations of peace for the dying and painful separation for the living. Then, occasionally, we have some remarkable experience at the point of death, as I did following a prayer and a word of "good-bye" to a woman in a coma. She opened her eyes, smiled at me, and said, "Good-bye."

However, there are other leave-takings that we know … and, indeed, our Gospel example is one of those other types, for Jesus has died already. He prepares at this point for his Ascension to the Father.

Among those other types of leave-takings, I think of occasions of moving … of leaving friends and jobs and places that are well known, in exchange for others that are unknown. There is loss involved in such experiences - and we do well to acknowledge the loss. There are some folks who would cling to the one moving away, while others might rejoice in the moving. Also, we might point to an older person - or a couple - moving from home into an assisted living facility. Everyone involved in any way in those circumstances experiences feelings of loss at the prospect of such a change. Then, another occasion of moving includes a young person going off to college or, a few years later, leaving college or home for a first job. In fact, last weekend Annie and I experienced the college graduation of our younger son. A page in his life was turned, and along with much parental pride, we also experienced a sense of loss, as we - along with him - said "good-bye" to college and to his life there.

Anticipation, trauma, and loss all are involved in saying "good-bye" to that which has been, in anticipation of that which will be. And involved here, too, is trust … for we must have a certain amount of trust simply to go on.

At this point in the story of salvation, Jesus faces his Ascension, his departure from the earth, his final "good-byes." And, he says to a close follower, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." His words intend to convey assurance and to encourage trust, even in his own absence: "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you."

Jesus calls on his followers, therefore, to trust in the presence of God, even in spite of his own absence. At the point of his earthly departure - at that time of anticipated loss - Jesus promises the presence of God in a different form … the person of the Holy Spirit.

Thus, the time following Jesus' departure from earth - the time, that is, that we share - this time is marked by a call from our Lord to trust … especially to trust in the presence of God that we call the Holy Spirit. Early in today's service we prayed, "O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding." Such is the work of God the Holy Spirit. And that is the God in whom we may trust.

Ours is a time to trust. Ours is the call to trust. As we read in Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, so also is his observation true for us today: "Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known"(13:12).

So, in particular, those candidates who appear before us today for confirmation step forward as an indication of trust … and with a commitment to live a life of trust. We will join them in affirming our Baptismal Covenant, which is a promise to live trusting in God. That God, we believe - we trust - has prepared for us "such good things as surpass our understanding."

Ours is indeed a time to trust. Ours also is the call to trust. May we be faithful to our time, and may we be trusting of our call. Amen.

Copyright © 2001 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee