Easter 6

May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you, O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

SEASON: Easter 6
PROPER: C
PLACE: St. John's Parish, Kingsville
DATE: May 17, 1998

TEXT: John 14:23-29 - 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. . . . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.'

ISSUE: The passage reflects the time when many of the earlier Christians were afraid for the future of the early church and for their future as well. Many of the eye-witnesses, the original disciples and apostles were dying off. John's Gospel assures them of God's Spirit, the Advocate will prevail and "call out " (i.e. Advocate) God's purposes from his people. The very Spirit of God will indwell, strenghten, and support them.
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I want to keep my remarks brief, as we are celebrating Rogationtide, by going outside today for prayer, and planting, as we rejoice in the wonderful world that God has given to us. (At 8 a.m. we are practicing a few songs to get ready for Pentecost.) But let's take a look at the Gospel reading from John today, because it is an important reading leading up to the Pentecost experience we'll celebrate at the end of the month.
Last week I had mentioned that John is writing at a very difficult time in the life of the very early church. There was a dissention within the ranks in terms of what Jewish practices were to be retained. The Romans had completely destroyed the center of worship at Jerusalem in 70 A.D. What's more, the early disciples and apostles of Jesus by the time that John is writing, 90 A.D., were dying off. There was a belief that Jesus Christ would come again, but that had not happened even with the destruction of the Temple. So here are these Jews with leanings to the teachings of Jesus in small diverse groups with a hostile secular world bearing down on them.
John's message for these people is that God simply will not abandon his people. Jesus proclaims in the passage that the Spirit of God will come upon them, The Spirit will move into the neighborhood. So cling to, and embrace the ways and teachings of Jesus as Lord, and the Spirit, the Advocate will prevail and be with them. The word "Advocate" means in a legal sense "one who will stand with you, at the side of a defendant." "Advocate" means also to call forth. Thus, the Spirit of God calls forth God's puposes from within us.
In John's very difficult world comes this message to embrace the faith, to accept Jesus as Lord and to be open to the Spirit of God's love endwelling, standing by, and living through his people. "Do not be afraid, and don't let your hearts be troubled," were comforting and strengthening words to the troubled world.
We know there are miracles in the Bible that we love and cherish: Feeding of the 5,000, Wedding Feast at Cana of Galilee, Healing the Blindman. There is still another profound hope and miracle that we often fail to appreciate. Inspite of people and all their shortcomings, the Church of God by virtues of God endwelling presence has brought the church down through the ages for 2,000 years. God's presence is still with us and valued.
Out time is not terribly unlike John's early church. There are still dissentions within. The church today is still persecuted, and with the collapse of Christendom we struggle in the midst of great secular and seemingly overwhelming powers. Yet, the message continues: God in Christ is with us in the Word and Scripture. God is with us in the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. The prevailing Holy Spirit continues to work through people who believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
As we approach the great Feast of Pentecost, celebrating the coming of God's Spirit upon and among his people, may we all continue to be open to trusting the power of the Spirit to touch, embrace, standby us, and live-in, and be the outward expression of our lives.