Musings for Easter 7

Sunday, June 5, 2011
Seventh Sunday of Easter

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ken Klassen

INTRODUCTION
In these days between Ascension and Pentecost, we gather with the disciples in the upper room, waiting for the Spirit to transform the church around the world. In today's gospel Jesus prays for his followers and for their mission in his name. Amid religious, social, and economic divisions, we seek the unity that Jesus had with his Father. Made one in baptism, we go forth to live our faith in the world, eager for the unity that God intends for the whole human family.

Boniface, Bishop of Mainz, missionary to Germany, martyr, died 754
Boniface was a native of England who became a Benedictine monk and was called to missionary work among the Vandal tribes of Germany. With fellow workers, he established churches and schools, and he also worked to reform the church.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW

O God of glory, your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to your right hand.
Unite us with Christ and each other in suffering and in joy, that all the world may be drawn into your bountiful presence, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

Acts 1:6–14

Today's reading is part of the introduction to the narrative of the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost. These verses tell of the risen Lord's conversation with his disciples on the eve of his ascension.

⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" ⁷He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ⁹When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. ¹³When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 68:1–10, 32–35

Sing to God, who rides upon the clouds. (Ps. 68:4)

¹Let God arise, and let God's ene- ^| mies be scattered;

let those who ^| hate God flee.

²As smoke is driven away, so you should drive ^| them away;

as the wax melts before the fire,

so let the wicked perish at the pres- ^| ence of God.

³But let the righteous be glad and rejoice ^| before God;

let them also be mer- ^| ry and joyful.

⁴Sing to God, sing praises to God's name; exalt the one who ^| rides the clouds;

I AM is that name, rejoice ^| before God! R

⁵In your holy habita- ^| tion, O God,

you are a father to orphans, defend- ^| er of widows;

⁶you give the solitary a home and bring forth prisoners ^| into freedom;

but the rebels shall live in ^| desert places.

⁷O God, when you went forth be- ^| fore your people,

when you marched ^| through the wilderness,

⁸the earth quaked, and the skies poured down rain,

at the presence of God, the ^| God of Sinai,

at the presence of God, the ^| God of Israel.

⁹You sent a bountiful ^| rain, O God;

you restored your inheritance ^| when it languished.

¹⁰Your people found their ^| home in it;

in your goodness, O God, you have made provision ^| for the poor. R

³²Sing to God, O kingdoms ^| of the earth;

sing praises ^| to the Lord.

³³You ride in the heavens, O God, in the ^| ancient heavens;

you send forth your voice, your ^| mighty voice.

³⁴Ascribe pow- ^| er to God,

whose majesty is over Israel; whose strength is ^| in the skies.

³⁵How wonderful you are in your holy places, O ^| God of Israel,

giving strength and power to your people! ^| Blessed be God! R

SECOND READING

1 Peter 4:12–14; 5:6–11

Our faith in Christ does not make us immune from the scorn of others. Nevertheless, we are to resist the designs of evil when we experience disparagement from others, because we trust God’s grace will strengthen and guide us.

Chapter 4

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

Chapter 5

⁶Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

GOSPEL

John 17:1–11

On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus prays to his heavenly Father, asking that those who continue his work in this world will live in unity.

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ²since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. ⁵So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
⁶I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; ⁸for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. ¹⁰All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

Reflection

John the apostle's writing style is often difficult for me to grasp. Rev. David Ewart explains, "As always with John, we must allow the circling repetition and non-sequiturs to be like the swirling eddies of a whirl pool. We don't try to manage them; try to make them line up; make them be sequential and logical. We relax in them; let them swirl around us; we soak in them; we let them become an environment in which we experience the true life that comes from Jesus."

So as I sit in John's verbal whirlpool, the experience I get from this week's gospel reading is the quality of unity and oneness. Jesus is praying for believers to be of one heart and one mind with God and Him. I am called to join the oneness of God and Jesus. This calling is for now and for eternity, when time will end. You are also a believer and are called to be at one with God and Jesus. So in God and Jesus, you and I are one.

From our first Sunday at Atonement Lutheran Church, Teddy and I have felt this oneness with God, Jesus, and you our Atonement family. Each Sunday we join our family at the communion table and experience this oneness. And once again we are reminded to be thankful for God's goodness in directing our lives to Atonement Lutheran.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom and patience to understand your scriptures. Help us to internalize oneness with you and your believers. Help us to listen to your voice. We ask that your protecting hand will be on all of those who serve our country and work for peace. Teach us compassion for the sick, the suffering, and those in need.