Graduate School of C-O-V-I-D

 

Easter 7B- May 16, 2021:  Acts 1: 15-17, 21-26: prepared for ELCIC sermons by email service

Rev. Dr. Kimberlynn McNabb – Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Halifax, NS

 

Welcome to the graduate school of C-O-V-I-D; known internationally for providing a foundation in the disruption of status quo, managing constant anxiety and grief, expertise in change response, and leadership amidst crisis.  This advanced degree is taught in a fast paced environment through hands on experience. This degree is not for the faint of heart and promises to reset all your boundaries. Once in the program you can not withdraw and get your previous life back.

We are the class of 2021+ (plus).

 

The disciples also went to a graduate school of sorts with similar learnings. In the early days, after the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples find themselves in a place where the status quo has been disrupted; they are managing anxiety and grief – their own and others; they are in the midst of change as their interpretation of faith and belief shift; they are in physical danger from the authorities; they are forced into a roll to carry on Jesus’ teachings, meaning they become Apostles rather than disciples; they are in a full crisis and busy figuring out what to do next.

            THAT is where today’s story from Acts begins. Peter, whether by choice, or chosen by the other disciples, addresses the 100 or so believers who have gathered together devoting themselves to constant prayer.  Setting the stage of the story, the circumstances sound wonderful: gathered together as a people of similar beliefs to comfort and encourage each other, as you pray and worship God together in one place. Wouldn’t that be a treat?  Anyway, into this way of coping with everything new, Peter comes as a bearer of sad news. Peter addresses the crowd, sharing that after Jesus’ death, Judas – their friend and fellow disciple-  committed suicide.

            I can’t imagine how difficult that would have been for Peter to share, and for the crowd to hear. It would rest heavy on their hearts. Yes Judas did betray Jesus to the authorities, but, none of the 12 stayed with Jesus as he was arrested.  They all dispersed while Peter followed at a distance and then denied knowing him. All were carrying guilt, betrayal, and the remorse of I-wish-would-have. The disciples would remember Judas Iscariot’s zealot tendencies; his passion for participating in the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel, and his belief that Jesus was the Messiah to make this dream become a reality. The sadness was deep as the realization dawns that Judas missed the resurrection. There is grief too because Judas was unable to face his fellow companions, and the inability to reconnect with the community contributed to his decision to bring an end to his life.

            In a circumstance of uncertainty, faith in transition,  and emotions all over the map, the community devises a plan; a process to deal with loss and fill the void left by Judas. They chose two who had been witnesses to the death and resurrection of Jesus, followers who had been around since the beginning when Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan. The final decision was made by the community voting. Matthias is added to the Apostles, making the team once again 12.

 

Faith communities around the world are in a circumstance of uncertainty, faith in transition, and emotions all over the map.  Communities have been making decisions on the fly, but, as the pandemic lengthens in time, communities are devising plans – processes- as to how to continue as witnesses to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The text this morning, brings to the forefront the precarious place where we are as a church and a community of faith. With sadness and heavy hearts the truth is preached. The reality of the Graduate school of COVID is that there will be drop outs – some suicide, some death due to virus, some people not able to reconnect, there is and will be loss and grief, there will be voids.  How will we as a group gathered in constant prayer: grieve, help each other reconnect, and work with the voids that are left? How will we continue to witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus?

 

Right now, looking out at the pews in the church – they are empty; new seats have been taken up in our homes.  The church building looks like an empty nest, where everyone has gone off to new adventures, still connected, yet not sitting shoulder to shoulder at the table. It is kind of like the empty nest, when the last young adult leaves home, and parent or parents are left behind to figure out how to live into a new reality. There is grief and freedom at the same time. Forced on an empty nester is a change in responsibilities, making new routines, re-evaluating priorities, finding new passions and purpose for the next cycle and stage of life. The time is one too of figuring out new boundaries for relationship with the young adult. There is  connection, but, it is different.

We experience this in the church too. Over the years consider people who have drifted away or returned in a different relationship. Heavy on my heart are people who I know who have not returned to their faith community – those who have struggled with addiction, gone through a divorce, been fired from a job, become a widow, lived through serious illness, dropped out of school, gone bankrupt – all life changes that for the individual changed their relationship with themself and how they felt the community would see them or interact with them. Whether because of shame, guilt, not wanting to explain, feeling different, expecting looks or judgement, or incapable of receiving the concern or love of others ... people drifted away.

The graduate school of C-O-V-I-D has changed each of us. And, AS community is made up of a gathering of ‘us-s’ we can anticipate that all of our relationships will be different because we are different.

The church community has adapted procedures and rituals. In worship our relation with God and each other has been enhanced as we approach communicating with God and each other through more movement, less speech, less physical touching, more eye contact, active listening, bringing less stuff, sanitizing, using recall and memorized text,  caring more for the health of others, recreating rituals to work via mixed media and with COVID protocols. Relationships have changed.

 

At the end of today’s story a 12^th person is chosen to complete the group of Apostles -perhaps a twelfth was chosen as a show of continuance and stability; giving authority of leadership to one more. The piece of importance for us to apply this last Sunday of Easter, is that the person chosen was chosen to bear witness, because they had seen and heard and lived the death and resurrection.

As people of faith, we too live death and resurrection in troubled times. We are to be witnesses to the good news. In the process we are encourageed to be mindful of our relationships with God, ourselves, each other, creation -and how these relationships are changing while walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Hold hope, stay the course, be compassionate and patient; resurrection is just around the corner. Be prepared to embrace something completely new and  continue to be a witness to these things, so that the community ----the whole community--- with none being lost will gather together in one place, shoulder to shoulder in prayer around the table.

 

On this last Sunday of Easter, in light of the resurrection -

I invite you with Easter joy and the hope of resurrection, to commit to being a witness, through an affirmation of Christian vocation.

 

Affirmation of Christian Vocation – adapted from ELWorship pg 84

 

Friends, both your work and your rest are in God. Will you endeavour to pattern your life on the life of Jesus Christ, to proclaim the resurrection, to listen to and encourage all voices, to embrace new ways – resurrection-, in gratitude to God and in service to others, at morning and evening, at work and at play, all the days of your life?

 

If so say: I will, and I ask God to help me.

 

Almighty God, by the power of the Spirit you have knit your servants into one body through Jesus Christ.  Look with favour upon us in our commitment to serve in Christ’s name.  Give courage, patience, and vision; strengthen us in our relationship with you, each other and the community; and empower all of us in our Christian vocation of witness to the world and of service to others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!