THE MYSTERY OF THE ASCENSION

Lectionary Text: Acts 1:9 -  When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

When it comes to Christ’s ascension,
I don’t want too much detail.
All that matters is to know that he’s with God.
When one speaks of the ascension,
cynics hasten to assail
a belief they think is primitive and odd.

For sophisticated people
to believe that anyone
could rise up and disappear into the sky
is too much for them to swallow,
even if it was God’s Son,
and to change their minds I wouldn’t even try.

For the “how” of the ascension
doesn’t have to be explained.
What’s important is our faith that Jesus reigns
as eternal Lord and Savior
with his Father as ordained,
though the mystery of how he rose remains.

A WORLD TO BE WON

Lectionary Text: Acts 1:8 - . . . and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

There’s a faith to be lived,                                                                              
there’s a task to be done,
there’s a truth to be shared,
there’s a world to be won!

Q AND A WITH JESUS

Lectionary Text: Acts 1:8 -  But 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."
                   
Jesus:                                                      Would-be disciple:

You will be my witness! ........................Who, me?
Yes, you!.................................................Not me!
You, too!.................................................Who says?
I do!........................................................Why me?
You'll do.................................................Who else?
Too few...................................................It's hard!
What's new?............................................I'll goof.
That's true................................................Can I?
Not you....................................................Then how?
We two!...................................................I see.
You do?...................................................I do.
Then do!

EMPOWERED

Lectionary passage: Acts 1:6-8 -  So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But 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."

When they met together the apostles said to Jesus, “Lord,
is it your desire at this time that the kingdom be restored?”
The apostles’ question showed that they did not yet understand
what the nature of their mission soon would be throughout their land
and beyond, as they fulfilled the Great Commission they’d receive
to be witnesses to Jesus that the whole world might believe.
But they had to be empowered to discharge their mission role.
Till the Spirit came upon them that was out of their control.

TRANSFORMING MOMENT

Lectionary Passage: Acts 1:3-5 -  After his suffering (Jesus) presented himself alive to (the apostles) by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Jesus ordered the apostles not to leave Jerusalem
but to wait there for the gift from God that had been promised them.
They had heard their Master speak about this gift before he died,
but it’s likely they did not yet comprehend what was implied,
when he said they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit soon.
The once fearful little band would then march to a diff’rent tune!
For their lives from that key moment on would never be the same,
as they felt themselves empowered to go forth in Jesus’ name.

TO THEOPHILUS AGAIN

Lectionary Passage: Acts 1:1-2 -  In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

In his Gospel Luke announced his purpose at the very start
was to write a clear and orderly account,
so Theophilus could know the truth of Jesus on his part,
in regard to those things that were paramount.
In the Acts of the Apostles, though, Luke does not tell us why
he is writing to Theophilus again.
One surmises that the purpose which herein must also lie
was to nurture this distinguished citizen.
What became of him would certainly be int’resting to know,
but no further mention of his name is made.
That he was someone of prominence is obvious, although,
   in the story one can’t tell what part he played.

THE IMPACT OF ACTS

Lectionary Text: Acts 1:1 -  In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning. . . .

I remember my reaction when the truth first dawned on me
        that the Bible was not just a myth but holy history.
I was reading in the Acts of the Apostles at the time,
        and the feeling that swept over me was, I should say, sublime.
So excited and inspired was I that, leaping from my chair,
        I went racing all around the room (nobody else was there).
“Thank you, God!” I kept repeating, for I knew what had occurred
        was the Holy Spirit speaking to me through the written word
in a manner that I never had experienced before.
        From that moment on with new elation I began to pore
over every page of Scripture, starting with the Book of Acts,
        which, although it is a book of faith, is also full of facts
of historical significance that make it come alive.
        Ever since that revelation I’ve been able to derive
inspiration and new insights from the Bible, for I find
        that it speaks not only to my heart but also to my mind.
Through the Spirit I have found that what the Bible writers say
        can illumine me in the most relevant and timely way.
Looking back on that experience I now can clearly see
        that the reading of Luke’s book was transformational for me.
It would be pure speculation, for there’s no way one can tell
        if the book had such an impact on Theophilus as well..

AN ADMISSION

Leectionary Text: Romans 5:3 (RSV) - More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. . .

AN ADMISSION

I wish I could say honestly, O Lord, that I rejoice                                          
in suffering, but I admit that if I had the choice
I would not choose to suffer just to learn how to endure
the kinds of tribulations that St. Paul did, that's for sure!

REJOICING IN SUFFERING

Lectonary Passage: Romans 5:3-5 (RSV) - More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

We Christians can rejoice in suffering, with heart and soul,
because we know that ultimately God is in control.
We don't, of course, rejoice in others' suffering but ours,
        and that we can do only by God's providential powers.  
In faith we therefore understand that suffering can build
endurance that a Christian needs to live as God has willed.
Endurance builds one's character, and character builds hope,
and we will not be disappointed ever by that hope,
because we know that God can work for good in everything;
and that is why we can rejoice, even in suffering.

"SINCE WE ARE JUSTIFIED"

Lectionary Text: Romans 5:1-5 (RSV) - Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

Since we are justified by faith,                      
        Paul then goes on to say
we have, therefore, the peace of God
        through Jesus Christ, the way.
Our sins have been forgiven and
        we have been reconciled
to God, who pours his grace on us
        and calls each one his child.
Through Christ we have attained access
        to God's amazing grace,
rejoicing, for we hope to share
        the glory of God's face.
And more than that, we can rejoice
        in all our suffering,
because of the endurance which
        our suffering can bring,
and with endurance, character,
        which then produces hope,
and hope will never let us down,
        because we know the scope
of love which through the Spirit God
        into our hearts has poured,
as demonstrated on the cross
        in Jesus Christ our Lord.

THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT

John 16:8-15 - “And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
        "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT (I)

Nowhere in the New Testament is there more clearly seen
        the nature of the Spirit’s work than here in John 16.
The Spirit will convince, convict, reprove the world of sin,
        of judgment, and of righteousness.  Thus has it ever been.
Of sin, “because,” as Jesus said, “they don’t believe in me.”
        Rejecting Jesus makes one’s sinful nature plain to see!
Of righteousness, because of Him whom he was going to;
        his resurrection and ascension proved his claims were true.
Of judgment, for the devil has been judged once and for all;
        that fateful day on Calvary he saw his kingdom fall.
And every time another soul is saved beneath the cross,
        the erstwhile ruler of this world is dealt another loss.

"GOD RAISED HIM UP"

Lectionary Text:  Acts 2:24 -  But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.

Across the ages there have been and there are those today
        who’ve tried with arguments unfounded to explain away
the fact of Jesus’ resurrection, and we’ve heard them all.
        The substance of their arguments there’s no need to recall.
The only explanation that makes any sense to me,
        accounting for the sudden transformation we can see
in all of the disciples’ lives, is this:  Because they knew
        that everything their Lord had said would happen had come true!

PETER’S PREACHING

Lectionary Text: Acts 2:14-36 -  But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' 22 "You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know-- 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him, 'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.' 29 "Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, 'He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.' 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool."' 36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."

Empowered by the Spirit, Peter then began to preach.
He raised his voice so that he could be heard
by all the people who were there, and whom he hoped to reach
with his clear proclamation of the word.
Identifying with his hearers, as all preachers should,
he quoted from their own scriptures to show
that what they’d seen had happened just as Joel said it would,
reminding them of things that they would know
about the deeds and wonders and the signs that God had done
by Jesus, who according to God’s plan,
was handed over to them. They had killed the Holy One,
about whom David wrote. This was the man
whom God raised up.  “Of that we are,” said Peter, “witnesses.
To Hades God did not consign his soul,
or let him see corruption, as the psalmist David said;
his life and death were under God’s control.
The promise of the Holy Spirit having been received,
he poured out this that you both see and hear.
That God has made him Lord and Christ can surely be believed.”
Now Peter could preach Jesus without fear!

THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT

Lectionary Text: Acts 2:4 -  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

[Author's note: This is one of my few unrhymed poems, but it has poetic structure, as all lines have 14 syllables. To be more technical, the lines are iambic heptameter, meaning each line has seven two-syllable feet (iambs), with the accent on the second syllable. The poem can be read with that rhythm, although the accent of two or three of the iambs in normal speech would not fall on the second syllable ("Jesus," for example, in the second line). But I find that to be true of most poems in this meter. You can get the "feel" of the poem by reading it aloud.]

Who is this one that came on Pentecost to dwell with us?
Jesus called him “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom
the Father will send in my name” (John 14:26).
The word could be translated “Comforter” or “Advocate.”
The corresponding Greek verb means “to call to someone’s aid.”
It is a great encouragement for us who follow Christ
to view the Holy Spirit as the one called to our aid.
Note that the Holy Spirit is a Person not an it ---
not masculine or feminine.  The Spirit has no sex,
but one must use a personal pronoun to make that point.
So of the Spirit Jesus said, “He will teach you all things
and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”
and “he will guide you into all the truth. . . he will declare
to you the things that are to come. . . He’ll bear witness to  me.”
The Spirit has an intimate relationship to Christ.
The two are perfectly identical and yet distinct.
“I’ll pray the Father and he’ll send another Counselor
to be with you forever,” Jesus then went on to say.
“I will not leave you comfortless; (for) I will come to you.”
But in that same passage in John, Jesus also declared:
“Those who love me will keep my word; my Father will love them,
and we will come to them,” he said, “and make our home with them.”
This is the basis of the doctrine of the Trinity.
It is a mystery to be declared but not explained:
God in three Persons ---Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Each
is God and yet they are distinct, even as they are one.
“I and the Father (we) are one,” Jesus proclaimed.  So, too,
the Spirit and the Son. Said Jesus: “I will come to you.”
We’re also told the Holy Spirit glorifies the Son,
“For he will take all that is mine and make it known to you.”
The Spirit’s work, then, is to bear witness to Jesus Christ,
to make him known to human hearts, and to apply his work
to people’s lives, not just the man Jesus who lived and died ,
but Christ who reigns eternally with God.  On Pentecost
Christ’s life and death, his resurrection, and ascension, too,
as well as Jesus’ living presence were imparted to
his followers in their full meaning, power, and impact,
imparted in a way they’d not experienced before,
not even while their Master was still with them in the flesh.
The gift that had been promised them had been received at last.
The symbol of that gift Luke has described as “tongues of fire,”
as powerful a symbol as there possibly could be.
It stands for light, for warmth, for power.  That’s what they  received:
new understanding, zeal, and power for all who believed.

THE PROMISE FULFILLED

Lectionary Text: Acts 2:3-4 - Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

One can’t explain what happened on that Pentecostal morn.
What matters is that on this day the Christian Church was born,
the gift (as promised) of the Holy Spirit was received,
and after hearing Peter preach, three thousand more believed.
The highest promise ever made to mortals was fulfilled.
The Holy Spirit now had come, as God the Father willed.
“I’ll pray the Father,” Jesus said before his death, “and he
will send another Advocate, who will forever be
with you. This is the Spirit, whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees nor knows him.”  But we can believe,
because he does abide with us, as Jesus said he would.
If Pentecost had not occurred, I wonder if we could.

WHERE’S THE FIRE?

Lectionary Text: Acts 2:3 -  Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.

Where’s the fire?  Where’s the power?  Where’s the vital fire                              
       that caused the apostolic Church to win Rome’s great empire?
Where’s the flame that burned within the Christian martyr’s heart,
even as the body burned and limbs were torn apart?
Where’s the ardor with which Christians sang their way to death
in the Roman Colosseum with their dying breath?
Where’s the passion with which they proclaimed the word of Christ,
even though for doing so they would be sacrificed?
Where’s the faith that shook the world and turned it upside down,
without the force of arms, or wealth, or people of renown?
Where’s the fire, the Spirit’s flame, within the Church today?
Where’s the fire the world should see in people of the Way,
a world that needs to be redeemed and the good news to hear,
a world aflame with hate not hope, and not with faith but fear,
a world in which so many people seek not righteousness
but put first their own int’rests, out of greed and selfishness?
What impact has the Church today on people such as these,
and on a world in which there are such inequalities? ---
of plenty in the midst of want, of wealth and poverty,
of crime, corruption, violence, and immorality?
This is the world in which we live. If it’s the Church’s aim
to make it better, she will need a Pentecostal flame.
So fill us your Spirit, Lord. Make that our heart’s desire,
so that the world will never have to ask us,
       “Where’s the fire?”

PENTECOST

Lectionary Text: Acts 2:1-13 -  When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" 13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

When Pentecost arrived, they were together in one place,                          
and suddenly a roar that seemed to come from outer space
was filling all the house where they were gathered. Now the sound
was like that of a mighty wind, as on each one was found
what best could be described as something like a tongue of fire.
The Holy Spirit filled them, and with power did inspire
them all to speak in other tongues. Now in Jerusalem
were godly Jews from many lands, who heard the sound of them.
They gathered in bewilderment, because all of them heard
their own languages spoken, and they understood each word.
“Are not these Galileans who are speaking?” they inquired.
They didn’t understand that the disciples were inspired.
“How is it that we hear in our own languages this way?
For Jews of many lands are represented here today.”
Amazed and puzzled, they were wondering, “What does this mean?”
But some there had a negative reaction to the scene.
They sneered and said, “These people have been drinking too much wine.”
I wonder, of these two reactions which would have been mine?

TROUBLE IN PHILIPPI

Dictionary Text: Acts 16:16-34 -  One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17 While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." 18 She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20 When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 29 The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34 He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

        Once when they were going to the riverside to pray,
Paul and Luke and Silas met a slave girl on the way.
Having a divining spirit by which she could tell
what would happen in the future, she was doing well
for her owners, telling fortunes.  This girl followed Paul
and the others who were with him, shouting out to all:
“These men here are servants of the Most High God, and they
are proclaiming how to be saved. So heed what they say.”
        She kept doing this for days, till Paul at last became
so annoyed he exorcised the spirit in Christ’s name.
When her owners realized their income source was lost,
they resolved to muzzle Paul and Silas at all cost.
Seizing them, they dragged the men into the market place
to the city magistrates they wanted them to face.
        “Our whole city’s in an uproar because of these Jews,
who are advocating customs we Romans refuse
to accept, because they are unlawful.” The crowd then
joined the slave owners in their attack against the men.
        After they’d been stripped and beaten and thrown into jail,
orders were then given they be guarded without fail.
So the jailer put them both into an inner cell,
with their feet securely fastened in the stocks as well.
        About midnight as they prayed and sang, a strong earthquake
caused the whole foundation of the prison cells to shake.
All at once the doors flew open and their chains came loose.
Seeing the doors open caused the jailer to deduce
that the prisoners had escaped.  The jailer drew his sword
and he would have killed himself, if Paul had not assured
him, by shouting “Do not harm yourself!  We all are here!”
        Calling for some lights, the jailer rushed in, full of fear.
Then he brought them out and asked them, “Sirs, what must I do
to be saved?”  “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you
will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word
to him and the others in his house.  So they all heard.
Then the jailer took the men, cleaned up their wounds, and he
and his family were baptized immediately.
        After that he set before the men a home-cooked meal.
O what joy the jailer and his family did feel!
They were now believers and they knew what God can do.
Would that we who bear Christ’s name could show that same joy, too!

WHAT JESUS PRAYED FOR

Lectionary Text: John 17:20-21 (NRSV) -  "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

To read Christ’s prayer in Chapter 17
of John has always made me feel that I
am eavesdropping upon a sacred scene,
like some unfit intruder or a spy,
who overhears our Lord himself in prayer.
As Jesus poured out what was on his heart,
what was the impact on those who were there?
They heard him say to God right at the start,
                 “The hour has come, Father; now glorify
                 your Son so that you may be glorified.
                 By finishing the work you gave me, I thereby
                 did glorify you here on Earth.”
Not pride
but purpose did these words of Christ reveal
to those who were there with him as he prayed.
They heard this intercessory appeal
on their behalf by Jesus being made:
                 “I’m praying now for those whom you gave me,
                 for they are yours, all mine are yours, and they
                 are mine, and glorified in them I’ll be.
                 Protect them, Father, in your name, I pray,
                 that they may be one, even as we are,
                 and that my joy may be in them fulfilled.
                 I also pray for all those near and far
                 who will believe in me, as you have willed.”
This is the most amazing thing of all:
our Lord was praying here for you and me!
Of all the passages one can recall,
not one includes us more explicitly.
And what did Jesus ask concerning us?
                 “That they may all be one, as we are one,
                 you in me, and I in you, and they in us.”
Just think: one with the Father and the Son!  
Fantastic, what our Lord has prayed for here.
He draws us right into the Trinity!
The purpose of his prayer is very clear:
                 “So that the world believes you have sent me.”
His prayer has an evangelistic thrust.
Our oneness is a witness to the world.
And Christians have betrayed this sacred trust,
when barbs of hate and schism they have hurled.
When all of Jesus’ mandates we discuss,
there’s no more awesome warrant anywhere
than having Jesus pray to God for us.
May God help us to answer the Lord’s prayer!

ANSWERING THE LORD’S PRAYER

Lectionary Texts: John 17:13-14, 19, 22, 26, NRSV - “But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. . . 19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. . . 22  The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one. . . 26  I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

In his great high priestly prayer of intercession,

Jesus said, “The world has hated them because they do not belong to the world.”
        Who of us is being persecuted by the world today for righteousness’ sake?
Jesus said, “I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves."  
        Why in the world does it not show in us?
Jesus said, “I have given them your word.”
        What in the world have we done with it?
Jesus prayed “that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me.”
        Where in the world is the church demonstrating that kind of oneness today?”
Jesus prayed “that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
        When in the world will it happen?
Jesus prayed “that the love with which you have loved me may be in them.”
        How in the world are we expressing that love?

Who?  Why?  What?  Where?  When?  How will we answer our Lord’s prayer?

THE RULER OF THIS WORLD

Lectionary Text: John 14:28-30, NRSV - “You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me. . .”

“You heard me say I’ll go away
        but I’ll come back to you.
If you loved me, you would rejoice
        that I am going to
the Father, for he is greater
        than I.  And now I’ve told
you this before it all takes place,
        so when it does unfold,
you may believe. Satan will come
        and when he does, you’ll see,
the ruler of this world does not
        have power over me.”
I know that Jesus’ words are true,
        but it is plain to see
the ruler of this world still has
some power over me!

NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES

Lectionary Text:  John 14:27, NRSV - "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

“My peace I leave with you,” he said.
        “My peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give
        the peace I give to you.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled, then,
        nor let them be afraid.”
To grieving souls what peace and calm
        Christ’s promise has conveyed.

“Not as the world gives do I give
        the peace I give to you.”
The peace of mind and heart Christ gives
        are trustworthy and true.

Not as the world gives does he give
        the peace he promises.
The eyes of faith will always see
        he fulfills all he says!