When I first entered religious life in 2000, one sister was most responsible for my coming, and my staying. Sr. Margaret Helena was my mentor, my amma in the religious life. She was the one who had what I wanted - zeal, love of God, a lifetime of discipline that had brought her some joy. Many found her intimidating, but I found her strong and loving. She was one week short of 99 when she died, in the fall of 2003.
I had made my first vows in June. When she died, I remember thinking, “I can’t do this without you.” I would never have said that out loud to her - she wouldn’t have wanted that kind of dependence. She would have wanted to know that I could go on, that I would go on. She expected me to become superior of the community, to revive it in some way. Sr. Margaret Helena was not big on sentimentality or neediness.
And she was right - I could go on, and I did. In the end, I went in directions she wouldn’t have liked. I went out the door of CSJB. But I did go on. The lessons she taught me are still in me. The love of religious life, the love of God, the honesty and determination she showed me - I carry those in me.
I imagine the disciples were in a similar situation after Jesus ascended. They had lost him before, but he quickly returned. Then, according to Luke’s Gospel, he leaves again at the end of Easter Day. I imagine Luke felt a gap there, felt a need to make Jesus’ resurrection more convincing to readers, so in Acts he extends Jesus’ stay to forty days.
Whichever scenario we follow, the ascension and the commission agree. Jesus commissions the disciples to carry his message of repentance and forgiveness. Then he is carried up to heaven. As Elisha watched Elijah go, the disciples watch Jesus go.
And now again we have two versions of the story. In the Gospel, they return to Jerusalem with great joy and spend their time in the Temple. In Acts, they return to the upper room and begin to organize. Either way, there is a notable change in their actions.
After the crucifixion, they either hid or scattered. They were in despair. They didn’t know if, or how, they could go on without Jesus.
After the ascension, they are filled with joy and purpose. They don’t know yet what the Holy Spirit has in store for them, but they are confident that God is at work. This confidence inspires them to get to work in turn. Like Elisha, like Joshua after Moses’ death, this motley crew will continue the mission of proclaiming the dream of God.
But where does that resilience and renewal come from? I could easily say the Holy Spirit, and that would be true, but it helps sometimes to look into the particular ways the Spirit works. The Spirit has many gifts, many fruits, and we are called to tend the garden of those fruits so they can grow to their full stature.
When the author of Ephesians wants to uplift that congregation, he prays that they will receive wisdom and revelation to know the hope to which they are called, the rich inheritance awaiting them, and God’s immeasurable power. They need that revelation. They are no triumphal church; they are a minority, subject to misunderstanding if not active persecution. They need reminding that God is with them.
We all need that reminder. When we are hurting, we need others to be our memory and hope. Last week, as Andrew left us, people all over the world were praying for him and for you. They continue to pray.
As one of them, I will say that I pray not only for comfort for you all, for us all, but also for strength and courage to be the sort of people who drew Andrew to this life, and who draw others into Christ’s community of love.
Even before Pentecost, the disciples were guided by the Holy Spirit to continue to gather, to pray, to worship, to organize. They elected Matthias to replace Judas. They did what they could. Sometimes, that is the best gift the Spirit can give us - just to keep doing the next right thing rather than collapse.
Before the crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples he would not leave them friendless. He would send the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, to guide and strengthen them. They didn’t understand before the resurrection, but it seems that after his ascension they were able to believe that.
As we enter these ten days before Pentecost, these days of waiting, we too can trust that the Spirit is with us, waiting to show us more of who God is, who we are, and what we can do in the power of the Spirit. We too can bless God and worship with great joy. Visible or invisible, our God reigns.
Why do you stand looking up to heaven? There’s work to be done! Come, Holy Spirit! Empower us to be your people on earth. Amen
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