Sermon: "Between Ascension and Pentecost"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

At this time of year, some very important events take place in many lives. For instance, this is a favorite time for weddings, as most parish priests know quite well. Also, high school seniors are graduating and anticipating significant changes in their futures. At a different phase of life, college seniors find themselves in the midst of graduation and of new experiences entirely. Then, finally, a high percentage of moves take place at this time of year, and for those individuals and families, life changes from familiar to unfamiliar territory.

As we notice significant landmarks like these along our way, we remember again the perspective of life as a journey … as a process of traveling from one place to another - physically, emotionally, spiritually. As Christian people, we are familiar with such a perspective - that is, life as a journey.

Having spent a good deal of my life near the coast, I find one analogy for the journey of life to be especially attractive. That is, the distinction between sailboaters and motorboaters in this regard appeals to me. Someone who spoke to me years ago was convinced that people who prefer sailboats really differ in significant and basic ways from those who like motorboats. Let me add that I imagine the idea was not original with him, so this may well not be a new concept for you either.

In any event, this person observed that sailors enjoy the process of getting from one place to another. They are usually "out for a sail," as they put it, rather than out to get somewhere in particular. It's the travel that matters to a sailor, much more than the destination. And that's a good thing, as anyone who has been becalmed on a sailboat knows all too well! On the other hand, a motorboater has the means to get from one place to another quickly, and that usually is his or her primary concern. According to this theory, then, it's the destination that the motorboater concentrates on most of all.

I hasten to add that this distinction is not completely fair to either group, and so, it probably does not do justice to either one. Sailors who race, for instance, certainly concern themselves primarily with their destination. But, in any event, you understand the distinction here, I hope.

To the extent that the analogy is accurate, we Christians are sailors in this life. Certainly we have a destination in mind - or, at least, I hope we do. But it is the journey that concerns us primarily - at least for most of this life. We travel from place to place, from one significant marker to the next, or simply, from day to day - and, at our best, we do so aware of the example of Jesus on this course before us.

Some markers on our journeys are more prominent that others - for instance, graduation, marriage, moving … and we might add confirmation to that list. The popular press these days directs our attention to life passages … those markers on our journeys that indicate special meaning and significance. Such markers hold particular prominence and importance along life's way.

On Jesus' life journey, one marker of significance that we often overlook is the Ascension. And, if we do remember it, we probably confuse it with the Resurrection. However, the Ascension exists as an event of special importance on its own.

As I hope we have celebrated especially for the past seven weeks, the Resurrection indicates Jesus' victory over death. Life triumphs, as Jesus is raised from the dead. The resurrection appearances - times that Jesus was seen following his resurrection - these authenticate the truth of the victory of Jesus and of life, over the powers of sin and death.

However, the Ascension is different. In our collect today, we prayed, "O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven…" That exaltation of Jesus, the bringing of Jesus to God's right hand, that is the event of the Ascension.

That Ascension marks a significant moment in the journey of Jesus and in the spiritual journey of the Christian Church. Things are not to be the same ever again. Jesus is not present any more, as a person or as the resurrected Christ - at least, not until his Second Coming. Rather, following the Ascension, the presence of God that we await is that of the Holy Spirit. And, of course, that promised presence we will celebrate next week, on Pentecost.

The light of the Paschal candle is only a flicker today. That light represents a memory of Christ's presence and an anticipation of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Liturgically, we stand between the times … the times of the presence on earth of God the Son and of God the Holy Spirit. Thus, the collect today continues, "Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before…"

Indeed, in our liturgical year, now we do stand between the times. We have the example of Jesus in memory, prior to the Ascension. We hold the expectation of the new life of the Holy Spirit to come, on Pentecost. And, in the meantime, we watch the flickering flame.

I suspect that describes much of our lives, on all of our journeys. We often feel that we stand between the times - the times of previous example and of personal fulfillment, the times of fear and of hope, the times of disappointment and of satisfaction, the times of new life and of certain death, the times of preparation for confirmation and of confirmation itself, to name only a few. Do we not live there, in those times? Are those not our times? The flame flickers for us, too, in this time between the times.

What we count on and believe in during these times is a God who loves us. God loves us so much that He sent His Son for us - to be born, to live, to die, to be raised, and to ascend, on our behalf. In today's Gospel, we read part of the prayer that the Son prayed just before his death. It is a prayer of love - of unity, of loving concern, and of hope. Jesus prayed for his disciples, "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one." Then, Jesus continued, in his prayer to God the Father, "so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." It's a prayer, you see, of love. It involves Jesus' disciples in his day, and it involves us as well.

By means of this prayer, then, Jesus puts us in good company. This may be the time between the times - but it most certainly is God's time. Through the disciples, we find ourselves in the company of Jesus. And through him, God the Father accompanies us also - in this time and in all times.

And, so, wherever our life journeys take us, we are not alone. We are not comfortless, even when our flame flickers. Christ is here. Through Christ, God is here. And we travel the journey of our lives with each of them in our day, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, for the constant presence of God - even now, even in this time - thanks be to God!

Copyright © 2007 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee