Sermon: "Between Ascension and Pentecost"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

This time of year marks a period of special landmark events in many lives. For one thing, today is Mother's Day, and all of us certainly need to give thanks for the blessings our moms have been for us. Indeed, mothers are landmarks at many points in life for most of us. Also, the next several weeks are the most popular time of the year for weddings - and those events surely qualify as special moments in life. In addition, during the springtime occur two of the days especially appropriate for baptisms in our church - and, in fact, we will have a baptism this morning. Confirmation also is a marker on our journeys - specifically, our journeys as adult Christians. Also, high school seniors are preparing for graduation and for significant changes in their futures. And, college seniors also look forward to new life experiences very soon indeed.

Such events as those are landmark events in our lives. And, as we notice these significant landmarks along the way, we remember again the perspective of life as a journey … a process of traveling from one place to another - physically, emotionally, educationally, and spiritually.

Since Annie and I moved to East Tennessee from the coast, we are accustomed to turning our attention to the water at this time of year. Therefore, I have an analogy for you, relating journeys to travel on the water. In particular, it seems to me that there is a basic distinction between those who travel in sailboats and those who prefer motorboats. This understanding is not original with me, and in fact, I have spoken to many people through the years who share it. You may have heard about the distinction, too.

In any event, the point is that sailors enjoy the process of the journey. They are usually "out for a sail," as they put it, rather than out to get somewhere in particular. Therefore, it is the travel that matters to a sailor, much more than the destination. On the other hand, a motorboater has the means to get from one place to another quickly, without regard to conditions of the wind or the tide. According to the theory, therefore, the destination is what the motorboater concentrates on.

I hasten to add that this distinction is not completely fair to either group, and so, I have probably offended everyone here who enjoys sailboats or motorboats. Sailors who race, for instance, certainly concern themselves primarily with their destination. Our older son has taken up sailboat racing in a fairly serious way, and he would probably dispute the analogy. Also, I can think of a time or so when Annie and I rode about in a friend's motorboat on a Sunday afternoon, and getting somewhere was not even on our minds.

Nevertheless, to the extent that the analogy is accurate, we Christians are sailors in this life. Certainly we have a destination in mind - or, at least, I hope we do - but it is the journey that concerns us primarily. We travel from place to place, from one significant marker to the next, or simply, from day to day - and, at our best, we do so aware of the example of Jesus on this course before us.

Some markers on our journeys are more prominent than others. I think of those we mentioned earlier - baptism, confirmation, graduation, and marriage.

In Jesus' life journey, one marker of significance that we often overlook is the Ascension. If we do not overlook the Ascension, then we probably confuse it with the Resurrection. However, the Ascension exists as an event of special importance on its own.

During this Easter season - and, indeed, every Sunday of the church year - we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, which indicates his triumph over death. Life is victorious, as Jesus is raised from the dead. Then, the resurrection appearances - the times that Jesus was seem following his resurrection - these authenticate the truth of the victory of Jesus and of life.

However, the Ascension is different. In our collect today, we prayed, "O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven…" That exaltation of Jesus, the bringing of Jesus to God's right hand, that is the event of the Ascension.

And, that Ascension marks a significant moment in the journey of Jesus - and a landmark on the spiritual journey of the Christian church. Things are not to be the same ever again. Jesus is not present any more, as a person or as the resurrected Christ. Rather, following the Ascension, the presence of Christ that we await is that of the Holy Spirit. And, of course, that promised presence we will celebrate next week, on Pentecost.

The light of the Paschal candle is only a flicker today. That light represents Christ's presence - a presence we remember in life and in resurrection, and a presence we anticipate in the person of the Holy Spirit. But today - on this Sunday after the Ascension - we symbolically stand between the times of the presence of Christ, for he has ascended to the Father's right hand. Thus, the collect today continues, "Do not leave us comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before…"

Indeed, we do stand between the times now. We have the example of Jesus in memory. We hold the expectation of the new life of the Holy Spirit to come. And, in the meantime, we watch the flickering flame.

This point between the times - does this not describe much of our lives on our own journey? We often feel that we stand between the times - the times of previous example and personal fulfillment, the times of fear and hope, the times of disappointment and satisfaction, the times of new life and certain death. Do we not live there, in those times? Are not those our times? The flame flickers in this time between the times.

And what we count on and believe in during these times is a God who loves us. God loves us so much that He sent His Son for us - to be born, to live, to die, to be raised, and to ascend, on our behalf. Just prior to Jesus' death, he prayed the prayer, part of which we read as the Gospel today. It is a prayer of love - of unity, of loving concern, and of the final word. Jesus prayed for his disciples, and, later in the prayer, he said, "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one" (Jn 17:20). And, in that prayer, I hope that you hear that you are included, too. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word."

By means of this prayer, Jesus puts us in good company. We may live now in a time between the times - but it most certainly is God's time. Through the disciples, we find ourselves in the company of Jesus. And through him, God Himself accompanies us also, in this time and in all times.

And so, wherever our live journeys take us, we are not alone. We are not comfortless, even when our flame flickers. Christ is here. Through Christ, God is here. And we know each in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God!

Copyright © 2002 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee