Sermon - 7th Sunday of Easter - Year A

Acts 1:6-14, John 17:1-11       

                                Rather See than Hear Tell of It

"I'd rather see it than hear tell of it."  That is the reaction my father-in-law gives when he hears something that he either doesn’t believe or can’t find it in himself to trust.  Now, he is very good about not repeating this phrase in response to things I tell him, or things that I might include in my sermons.  At least he doesn’t say it out loud, or in my hearing.  But I do hear him - and his daughter - commenting "I'd rather see it than hear tell of it" as a way of expressing skepticism felt toward those who are always promising the world and never delivering.

I imagine you know the type.  They come up to you and inform you, "Oh, I meant to come by and help you paint those handrails­."  Or perhaps their comment is "I remembered your birthday and was thinking to myself, 'I should pick up some flowers and drop them by'".  In all our lives, there is at least one person who fits the type.   Always saying what they intended to do, but never really getting around to doing it.  From them, you are constantly hearing tell of it, but never seeing a thing. 

I found myself thinking this might have been the thought going through the minds of the disciples as they stood on the mount called Olivet.  They were not nearly so free with their thoughts as my father-in-law, at least not out loud, in the presence of their master.  But, as they stood there, struggling to accept the fact that Jesus was about to leave them, I wonder if they would not have wanted to say to Jesus how much better it was to see him than to hear him tell of the wonderful things that he was about to do for them. 

Remember that this is a post-resurrection appearance.  Jesus has already died and been raised from the dead.  He has made occasional visits to them, allowing them to see his wounds and touch the imprint of the nails.  During these visits, he has continued to teach them.  He has instructed them on matters which he knew would be particularly bothersome.  The disciples ask questions, ­trying to find answers to that which troubled them.  In speaking to them Jesus provides texts for future study right up to the very end.  Jesus finishes speaking and while they are still watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 

For a while, the disciples stand there, watching the place where he had disappeared.  Possibly they were hoping for some additional glance, one last opportunity to see him.  

It wasn't as if Jesus had not prepared them for these events.  He had told them, repeatedly, that he would be taken from their midst.  Our Gospel readings for the past three Sundays have been taken from that part of John’s gospel in which the very much alive Jesus tells the disciples that he will be leaving.  Referred to as Jesus’ Farewell Discourses, Jesus tells them "I go to prepare a place for you."  He comforts them by telling them, "I will not leave you orphaned.  He tells them ... (God) will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever."   Jesus had told them that the day was coming when he would be taken from them.  He had told them farewell, but he had also tried to reassure them.  He wanted them to be ready.  He wanted them to learn to trust in what they had heard tell, even when they could no longer see.  He wanted them to be ready to let go of him and to begin to trust in the Spirit.

In his remarks, Jesus had made it clear that this Spirit was nothing to be taken lightly.  This Spirit would never be taken from them; this Spirit would guide them into all truthfulness; this Spirit would be with them constantly; this Spirit would lead them to the place where God reigns.  The Spirit, the one promised to them, the one who could only come after Jesus left, was no small thing.  It was a wonderful gift indeed.

And yet, as they stood on the mount called Olivet, they look toward the heavens, trying to see Jesus.  They could not find it in themselves to trust in the unknown; they longed for that which was familiar.  They had rather see it than hear tell of it. 

What was true for them is also true for us.  If you listen carefully, if you observe what goes on in worship, you soon begin to realize that much of Christendom concerns itself with a dead Jesus.  Rather than living in relationship with the Spirit, too much of the Church devotes itself to the one who has died.  This is evidenced by our avoidance of the Day of the Ascension.  It passed last Thursday and unless you have strong Roman Catholic roots, you probably didn't even notice it.  We ignore the day set aside to mark Jesus' assent into heaven.  I wonder if we think by not honoring it, the day will pass without anyone noticing.  It seems we don't want to be without Jesus.

Think of how much energy and talk is devoted to uncovering and memorizing Jesus' sayings.  Consider the writing of Jesus' disciples and how we have over-glorified their importance.  Examine the way in which we carry out the so-called Great Commission of making disciples of all nations.  We go about it by making sure they follow every step Jesus ever made.  Is worship an opportunity to come and discover the ongoing activity of God in our lives -or- is it simply a chance to come together and talk about what a wonderful guy this Jesus was?  Too often it is "Jesus this" and "Jesus that."  Too infrequently do we strive to leave ourselves open to the new thing God wills for us.  Too infrequently, we turn to and trust in God’s Spirit to lead and guide us.

New stuff is unclear.  Newness is nearly impossible to follow or comprehend.  We had much rather hold on to Jesus, even a dead Jesus, than to place our lives in the hands of an unseen Spirit.  We prefer that which we can see to that which is promised.  No matter how wonderful the promise may be, in our minds it is no match for that which we know.

Like the good folks of Galilee, we remain looking up toward heaven. 

We are told that two men in white robes come and point out the disciples' pre-occupation with that which they could no longer see.  These two men in white robes remind them that they are not to spend their days looking after the one who had departed.  Instead they are to return to the city and there carry out the work which had been assigned to them.

The story of Jesus' life is important.  From his teachings we learn how God would have us live our lives; we understand the lengths to which God will go in order to reclaim us as children.  But, at some point, the enterprise we refer to as Christian faith demands that let go of the one who came among us and embrace the one who will never be taken from us.  We must live in the Spirit and trust this Spirit with our lives.

"I'd rather see it than hear tell of it."  It is easier to hold on to that which is known than to trust in that which has only been promised.  But if we do not turn loose, we might just squeeze the life out of that which has seemed so precious to us. 

"Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?"   Return to Jerusalem and there you will discover where it is that the Spirit intends to lead you.

Amen.