Sermon: "Life's Long View"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

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

Today I want to put before you a longer view of life and our place in this world than what we usually consider. That is, most often, an immediate and daily perspective - with its many demands - requires our complete attention. However, among other things, a long view can make us aware of those who have preceded us and those who will follow us, on the parade of life's journey. It is that view on which I encourage us to focus today.

Such a perspective certainly has become clearer to me in the past four years. During that time, both my parents have died … and in the same period, five grandchildren have been born! Thus, I am quite aware these days of my place in line … of receiving so much from those who have gone before and of passing along whatever I can to those who come after.

In this regard, perhaps you've heard the term, "the sandwich generation." I have certainly felt the crunch in the past of being between generations, as many of you have as well … although I suppose I've now become the bottom slice of bread. In any event, that terminology and understanding also relates to the message I want to offer this morning.

In addition to our family lives, this kind of perspective also makes sense in our professional lives. For instance, I enjoy a great deal the opportunities to speak with young seminary students and clergy about what may lie ahead for them. After all, I have certain ideas and experiences to share … and most of the time, anyhow, the ones I speak with are willing to listen. In those circumstances, though, I must admit that I usually am the one who gets an education!

Such a long view of life - the perspective of moving through history in the midst of a community - that view describes something about the setting of our Gospel reading this morning. The reading is part of what is known as Jesus' "high priestly prayer" - his prayer to God the Father near the end of his earthly life, on behalf of his disciples, and summing up his work on earth.

In this prayer, Jesus looks back, in the first place, to what he accomplished during his earthly lifetime. To the Father, Jesus prays, "I glorified you on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do" (Jn 17:4). But he also looks ahead, to the time he will no longer be present and to the people for whom he feels responsible. Again to God the Father, he prays, "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world … Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one" (Jn 17:6, 11).

Therefore, like any one of us, Jesus stands in time in the midst of this wonderful community of life and of faith. He looks back, in gratitude for much in the past and for what he has received as gifts in this life. And, he looks forward, in anticipation of his disciples' future needs, at the time that he himself will be absent from them.

It seems to me that the high priestly prayer of our Lord encourages us to consider the long view of life in terms like these. With such a perspective, perhaps we will appreciate more fully the contributions of those who have gone before us. At the same time, we may come to a greater understanding and awareness of our responsibilities in the present, in order to offer our own gifts to those who will follow us in the future.

We are blessed to have several candidates for confirmation and reaffirmation today. Consider for a moment these candidates and the step they are about to take. This current event marks a significant moment for them, certainly. However, taking a longer view, they appropriately are able to give thanks for the people and the experiences that have prepared them for this moment. Further, if they pay attention to their promises, they realize that there exists a future dimension to our activities today - a dimension of expectation and challenge and promise…I suggest, also, that the EfM graduates that we recognize today are in a similar moment in life … a special moment in which they give thanks for gifts of the past and look forward to opportunities in the future.

And, what about the rest of us who participate in the liturgy today? Jesus calls us also to appreciate our place in this line of life and of faith … the community we sometimes call "the communion of saints." We are part of that community for which Jesus prays in his high priestly prayer. May we, therefore, be aware of our need to give thanks for the people and the experiences that have led us to this time and place. And may all of us also pay special attention today to the promises we make in renewing our Baptismal Covenant. That Covenant, by the way, is with God Almighty … and so, we do well to take it seriously. The promises of the Baptismal Covenant relate directly to our lives now, as well as to the obligations we accept for the future.

Thus, the Gospel we read today puts Jesus before God the Father - praying in thanksgiving for the past and praying also in petition for the future. Also, in our liturgy today the candidates will be presented as people of faith who have been blessed thus far on their way, by other people and circumstances and experiences … and who accept their obligations to use the gifts they have, in the service of Christ in this world in the future. And, finally, all of us have the opportunity today to renew our Baptismal Covenant with God Almighty, confirming our participation - in time and in place - within the blessed fellowship of the communion of saints.

Copyright © 2008 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee