It is hard to believe that today is the seventh and final Sunday of the Easter season. Eastertide is winding down; the great feast of Pentecost is just a week away. Change is in the air. Graduations abound in May and June. The Wedding season is soon upon us. It seems we here at OSLC is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel – our interim pastor – Rev. Dr. Julius Carroll – is starting at the beginning of June. As one church member has put it – we must now move from survival mode to revival mode. How do we do this? Our readings today remind us – it is prayer that greases the wheels of positive change.
In our lesson from Acts today, the apostles use prayer as a tool to determine the replacement of the slot left empty by the betrayal of Judas Iscariot. They pray for wisdom and guidance saying, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart, show us whom you have chosen.” Ultimately the disciple Matthias is selected – through the power of prayer.
In our Gospel lesson, we see Jesus praying the night before his death. It’s the longest prayer recorded in the Bible. In fact for the past two Sundays, we have been reading snippets of this powerful prayer Jesus uttered the night before he died. Jesus faced his death praying. Jesus continued praying throughout his passion. Later that night in the Garden of Gethsemane, remember the prayer of Jesus? “Let this cup pass from me – yet not my will but your will be done.” Jesus, on the cross prayed from Psalm 22: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
Prayer got Jesus through the worst time in his life. Prayer in the upper room would get the disciples ready to receive the Holy Spirit – the major event we call Pentecost. So, it is worth noting that for us, as we prepare to face significant change – as we prepare for the coming of the spirit among us – as we move from Pastor Bob’s pastorate to embracing Pastor Julius-it is prayer, prayer -we that will see us through the changes ahead of us.
Remember how Jesus taught us throughout his ministry to face change with prayer. Jesus prayed for 40 days in the wilderness before taking on his public ministry. When the pressures of the crowds became too much, Jesus retired in prayer. Jesus taught teach parables of perseverance in prayer, like in the parable of the widow who demands and gets justice from the corrupt judge through perseverance (Luke 18: 1-7). Jesus prayed before the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (Matt.14:13-21). Jesus constantly encouraged those around him to pray. He gave us the most famous and well-known prayer in the Christian world– what we call the Lord’s prayer. He encouraged his disciples to “Ask and you shall receive” (Matt. 7: 7-8) Jesus reassured them – and us- it is the Father’s desire to do good things for those who ask (Matt.7:11).
So, on that fateful night, the night before he died, Jesus prayed in depth, saying to God, "I say these things" or perhaps the better translation is “I pray these things.” Jesus prayed many things. He prayed that his disciples, including us today, would be in the world but not of it – that the cares of the world would not taint our spirit. Jesus prayed that we would be one, as he and the Father would one. That we would be united in ministry. Jesus prayed that the disciples would be protected from the Evil One, that they would not fall into temptation. And Jesus prayed that his disciples in spite of it all, would know joy.
Yes, Jesus prayed these things, as he prepared to face death. As we face enormous change, in our individual lives, in our life together at Our Saviour church, it is important that we pray these things -like Jesus did. We are to pray that the ways of the world does not lead us or take hold of us in this critical time. We pray to be one with Jesus and each other as we embark on a new journey of faith with Pastor Julius. We pray to not fall into temptation-not fall into the snares of the evil one as we face the uncertainties of life. We pray that we know joy as we begin a new chapter.
Yes, we need to pray these things as we prepare to begin a new journey with Pastor Julius next month. What will get us off on the right step? What will make that journey with the new pastor successful? Prayer, my friends, prayer. We must overcome the temptation to be complacent. To think the work is over now that Pastor Julius is coming on board. Nothing can be further from the truth. More than ever, prayer is needed.
Now is the time we must switch into high gear. We must pray these things, like Jesus. We must not let our guard down when it comes to prayer. Now, it is more essential than ever -to pray.
. So Jesus prays these things for us. That we be in the world but that the cares of the world not taint us. With Pastor Julius starting, the reality truly sinks in that Pastor Bob is gone. He is retired. Now is the time to develop a relationship with Pastor Julius. A different pastor. Who will probably do things differently, see things differently, react differently. He will need time to figure things out. So, what do we do about it? We pray not to be tainted by human thinking – that the old ways were the best ways. So we pray for ourselves to give Pastor Julius time, the grace he needs to get to know the congregation, the neighborhood, to figure his way around.
So, we pray these things, that we may be one. To overlook the minor stuff, the differences that don’t matter in the long run. We ask God to unite us to a common vision, a common focus – that we all will invest our energy and resources into the welfare of Our Saviour. We pray that we be protected from the Evil One, because you know what? The Evil One wants this all to fail. The Evil One wants us to develop grudges. The Evil One wants us to be judgmental. The Evil One wants us to stay away, to hold back, until things are just so. So, we must pray these things along with Jesus to keep temptation at bay and keep love and the need for grace up front. To give Pastor Julius as much space as he needs, for us to have open minds and hearts. We pray for the grace to get used to a new Our Saviour. We pray for the grace to accept Pastor Julius as the servant-leader the Holy Spirit wants to give us now, to enable us to take the next step on the journey. And finally, Jesus wants us to pray these things so we will experience joy. Joy in getting to know someone new. The joy of trying new things. The joy that knowing God is with us- has planned all this, has worked through all things to bring about what is best for Our Saviour at this time.
So my friends, let us look ahead to a new leg of the journey with hope. As we enter Pentecost next week, we open ourselves to the workings of the Holy Spirit. We pray these things so that we will be prepared. So that even if we might struggle, or feel pain like Jesus did – or be frightened or confused as the disciples were- we know God is working through it all to bring about the greater good. Even if we feel the death of a life that once sustained us, we are reassured that resurrection follows death. And God is true to his promises, and he will raise us up to his glory.
So like Jesus, let us pray these things. And if we do, the world will not touch us, evil will not prevail, we will be one, and we will know joy – and that joy, as the prophet proclaims, that joy of the Lord will be our strength – that will see us through the next stage of our life together and beyond. Amen.