Seventh Sunday of Easter June 1, 2003. (Preaching Helps).

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Psalm 1

1 John 5:9-13

John 17:6-19

The reading from Acts comes in the lull between Jesus' ascension and Pentecost. Verse 12 informs us the eleven disciples "returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet... [and] went to the room upstairs where they were staying." It was not a time of inactivity. It was a time for in reach. The time for outreach would soon come, but just now it was time for in reach. They devoted themselves to prayer. Beginning with the first verse of the reading appointed for this day Peter preaches to those who believe. He is preaching to the choir, as we say. If we can trust Luke's headcount, it must have been a mighty big upper room, or they have rented the Elks Lodge down the street to accommodate the 120 of them. Peter continues to do what Jesus did on the Emmaus road and in the upper room the night of his resurrection. Peter explains the Scriptures to them. He explains them, however, not as these Scriptures attest to Jesus but as they regard Judas. What Judas did was foretold by Scripture and had to be fulfilled.

There is much speculation about what motivated Judas. A variety of opinions are offered by plays and novels such as "Jesus Christ Superstar" and The Last Temptation of Christ, and movies like "King of Kings," "The Shoes of the Fisherman," and "The Greatest Story Ever Told." Most of these can still be seen on TV during Holy Week. We are warned away from psychologizing Judas' motives, importing modern categories and concerns back on a text and a time that did not know about such things. But we can't seem to help ourselves. Was he trying to force Jesus' hand to bring about the kingdom of God? Did he think that if Jesus continued Rome would intervene and destroy the nation? Was he just greedy? The Bible simply says Satan entered him (John 13:27). Nevertheless, John sees it as part of God's plan (John 13:31-32). Luke wants to make sure we know none of this is arbitrary or happenstance. It was all foretold in Scripture. God is in control.

Under God's control the disciples de. voted themselves to in reach: prayer, preaching, Scripture study, and filling out the ranks. They filled the vacancy, the unexpired term left by Judas. This they did by a combination of careful consideration and casting lots. Both elements continue to be present, it seems, when church assemblies choose leaders. What underscores the disciples' decision-making process is the appeal to reason and trust in the Holy Spirit to make good of their choice.

These disciples will soon be called from in reach to outreach. The Holy Spirit of God will call them and empower them to testify to the world. That testimony is John's concern in the second reading. Testimony is the vehicle the Holy Spirit uses to create faith in us. Those who believe, John says, dc not have human but God's testimony in their hearts. God's testimony is that God gave us eternal life and this life is his Son. So, how do we know we have eternal life? We have such confidence, John says, because we believe in Jesus Christ. He writes to impart such confidence. That is reason enough to preach as well.

Jesus' high priestly prayer goes on for far longer than the fourteen verses that we have in the Gospel reading. Jesus sounds worried in this prayer. We might expect him to be worried for himself. He knows that his arrest and execution are about to take place. But he doesn't worry about himself. He worries about his disciples. What will they do without him? It is the prayer pastors hear sitting at hospice bedsides. Those dying do not worry about themselves. They worry about those they leave behind. It is also a parent's prayer. "Dear God, these children you gave me are growing up, and I can't be with them to take care of them all the time. You, please protect them. Keep them safe as they travel. Bring them back in one piece. Guard them from any who would hurt them and take advantage of them. May they remain faithful and believers in you in the face of all the world throws their way." That's how parents pray.

This worried prayer is not fatalistic or anxious. One author referred to a woman "worrying" her rosary beads as she prayed. This prayer is that kind of worrying. Jesus' worried prayer forges a link to God. He links his disciples to God by praying for them in their hearing. That is an important detail for us who wish to pass on the faith. Jesus' worried prayer forges a link to God that will anchor them as he sends them out. The disciples will hear his words whispered over their shoulders and echoed in their heads. The Holy Spirit will remind them.

Jesus' prayer suggests that some inreach is necessary before outreach and at appropriate intervals along the way. Some inreach is necessary so that the Holy Spirit will have something to remind us of. We send out our youth with spiritual formation that has stopped at age 13 or 14. Their religious vocabulary and understanding is at a level that is inadequate for the challenges thrown at them in the world. We need to provide those we send out with a biblical and theological understanding of the world and their place in it. We cannot do so unless we have it ourselves.