The Ascension -

Jesus had a grand VISION: to change the world!  Jesus’ disciples are the core of that vision because they would create change in the world.  Today I want to talk about being a community of transformation based on the VISION of mutuality and unconditional love.

Jesus sent disciples into the world not retreat from it, but to get involved in the world:  to proclaim hope in a hopeless situation, love in a loveless situation, healing where there was injury and to pass that VISION down to a new generation of disciples. By living Jesus’ VISION out in the world, the disciples TRANSFORMED the world because they dared to proclaim the Good News. In the Gospel of Mark the Good News was preached through action: curing the possessed, healing the leper and the sick, forgiving the enemy, and embracing the poor. Jesus was the Good News and the crucifixion could not stop the Good News from going out into the world.  Wherever equality and mercy were present, transformation happened. When Jesus said, “Go and proclaim” we should understand that proclaiming wasn’t about shaming people into conversion, but about restoring the world to order through peace and forgiveness.  As Church folk we ought to remember that.

As a rabbi, Jesus was familiar with the Jewish concept of “Tikkan olam,” or “healing the world.” This Hebrew phrase literally means “repairing the world.” Jewish prayers call upon God’s people to serve God and at the same time express the hope that the whole world might be eventually abandon idolatrous patterns and accept God.  Rabbis like Jesus preached that the disciples might be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6) and that they be “light of and to the nations”(Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6). “Tikkan olam" led rabbis like Jesus to promote an activist type of faith where human beings fundamentally share in the responsibility in bringing peace to the world and justice to the oppressed. 

The first generation of Christians had a strong activist faith and their communities were truly communities of Good News. The early community, as described in the Acts of the Apostles, shared their resources with one another and took special care of widows and orphans. The community was diverse and went to great lengths to be sure all voices were heard and incorporated into their activities.  These communities were made possible because new generations of DISCIPLES tried on Jesus’ VISION of transforming the world. Disciples should be strong and unafraid. “… they will drive out demons…pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.”  Disciples should be people of healing: “They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover”  Disciples should be people sensitive to other cultures and points of view: “…they will speak new languages.”

When we embrace those qualities and come from a place of hope and love, we truly are transformed and begin to live an a manner of humility and gentleness, patience and acceptance with others. We form communities - parishes where unity is found in diversity, not conformity. Our love for one another is unconditional and we embrace all people and reject no one. Our community would become a place of mutuality: where all parties come from a place of self-sacrifice not self-preservation. Our love is a love that forgives and heals, it is not not resentful: rather than blame and shame, we look to reconcile and mend.  Disciples of the Good News are drawn to one another, they are more inclined to seek the common good rather than pursue particular greed. Communities of the Good News are born out of Good News, that is a VISION of HOPE.  Jesus is THE NEW HOPE.

Jesus calls forth men and women of faith to faith rise up from the rubble of discord, jealously and violence and become new people held together by mutual respect in which all people’s giftedness are respected and honored and all stories are told, not just the ones with which we’re comfortable or that we find “acceptable” in Christian company. The Acts of the Apostles says that in the ideal community people will assume a number of roles and functions: missionaries, justice advocates, teachers, or those who care for the sick and suffering. Others will be drawn to teaching, others will be gifted in organization.  All works of ministry will be “building up the body of Christ…until we attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God…”

Communities of VISION are strong and courageous. They are bold in calling out death and darkness. They do not fear the tyrant or dictator. They stand up to bullies and hate-mongers.  Communities of love battle ignorance and prejudice with dialog and common understanding. Isn’t this the VISION we want for ourselves? Jesus entrusted this VISION to us, so we must figure out if we are willing to accept the VISION - that is, take ownership of it and run with it, or will we stand paralyzed by indecision or fear of getting involved “looking up at the sky?” When Jesus ascended to God’s right hand, he left the disciples a VISION of a mission. The Feast of the Ascension is Jesus’ promise to pray from God’s right hand for us as we do our work.  Let us embrace that VISION and change the world!