Sixth Easter
John 14:23-29; Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; Acts 16:9-15
In life there are few analogies quite like those that come from sports. The bottom of the 9th trailing by one run the team comes into the dugout preparing for its last at bat and the coach sits the team down and begins to speak, or maybe it's the final 12 seconds of the basketball game and the team rebounds the ball trailing by two and the coach calls time out he draws the team together as he tells them what they need to do to set up the final three point shot, or maybe it is the two minute warning in the football game as the coach steps into the huddle and offers up the play series that will take the team down the field to a touchdown and victory.
Some of the more entertaining stories shared around our dinner table over the years have been the stories my sons have told of the efforts their coaches have made to inspire and motivate their teams to victory. Coaches who played audio tapes of great military or theatrical speeches who told stories of triumph and tragedy. Words intended to stir the emotions and produce dramatic action. On this confirmation day there is a part of me that wants to claim the role of coach, maybe because that is what Jesus is doing in our Gospel lesson for today. Jesus knew that he was about to enter into the final stage of his ministry and time on earth. His part in the game of life was entering its final time and the team of disciples that he had gathered around him would be tested. Our lesson provides a portion of the final words Jesus offered to motivate and assure the disciples that they would be able to face what was about to happen. Jesus wanted to get them focused and ready. He wanted to build them up and send them out. Something very big was about to happen very big!
And so Jesus told them Something is coming. Be ready for something deep with in. Now I know that many of you here today do not hear this Gospel text as all that inspiring. The text is wordy and a bit confusing it's difficult to sense a great deal of emotion in the words offered, but I can assure you that before the confirmation hour is over there will be a few tears shed and some heavy sighs offered. I know this because no one says goodbye to someone they love and care about without a certain sadness. No one closes a chapter of their life without some emotion, either regret over what is now being lost or joy in anticipation of what lies ahead. In our Gospel lesson Jesus was saying goodbye to his disciples. In our service this morning 15 young people are completing a chapter in their faith life journey. And along with those 15 young people come families that also will now be moving on. Some of you already are anticipating the words of the hymn "Borning Cry" that will be sung when this sermon concludes, and if you listen to the words while you look upon these young people It is hard not to feel an emotive response. Remembrance and anticipation can produce such feelings.
There are going to be changes in the lives of the confirmands, the biggest changes will probably be on Tuesdays when there are no longer confirmation classes, and there will probably be a difference in what happens on Sundays and in relationship to the church. We may remind our young people and their families that this is not a graduation ceremony that will happen for many also this year as they move from Middle Schools to High Schools, but confirmation is not to be confused with graduation. It is not the end of faith development and spiritual growth—if anything it is more a beginning. Yet we know from decades of experience that there will be significant changes in the relationship these young people and their families continue to have with the church.
Jesus knew this about his disciples. He knew that they would be tempted to return to old habits and easier patterns. Only a few weeks ago as we entered the Sundays that follow Easter our lessons told of how the disciples did just that—they returned to their old lives. A number of them went fishing almost immediately after Jesus died and was buried. I can assure you that it will be easy to find other things to do with Tuesdays and Sundays and any other time that the church might identify a need or opportunity. We are no different than the disciples, and Jesus knew that was going to happen. That is why he called upon his disciples to keep his words keep his words alive not only in their hearts and minds but in what they said and did.
Over the last two years the confirmands have come to understand that their pastors care very deeply about words about how we use them and what they mean and we have added words to their vocabularies—a few words were strictly religious while others offered promising preparation for their college ACT and SAT's. Words like covenant, patriarch, covet, holy, sanctuary, redemption, sanctify and grace. We have begun to establish the vocabulary of faith a vocabulary that like any language must be used if it is to have any value which brings us back to this moment this day of confirmation. Every time I look at a confirmation class I think of the first disciples and can't help but think what I am sure Jesus also thought at times when he looked upon his disciples "What a group!" I know for sure that there will be some in this confirmation class who are going to follow the example of the disciples and head for their fishing boats as quickly as they can when this day is over there will be no expectation of seeing Jesus or dealing with their faith any time soon. And I know that like those first disciples they will be surprised to discover that they cannot escape the questions of faith that will arise in their daily lives. Jesus told his disciples that after he was gone he would send to them the Advocate. The Greek word here is paraclete and all the confirmands remember that Greek is the language of the New Testament. The word literally means "called alongside of." Jesus sends the one who will travel along side us journey with us through life and guide us into a deeper understanding of Jesus' words.
In the confirmation service this morning we are going to remind the young people and everyone here today that God has set the Holy Spirit upon us to carry us through life and into the complex moral, spiritual and faith challenges that are part of life. Jesus told his disciples that they would not be able to leave His words behind as they moved on. Head for the fishing boats or whatever else they chose, the paraclete was going to be with them. God's Holy Spirit could not be left behind. This day we say to the confirmands remember your baptism and the Spirit says to each person here, remember your baptism because God does. God does not forget us or leave us alone. I'm not sure that there is anything more important that I can say to the confirmands today. Over the next few years every adult here knows that these young people are going to have some truly wonderful moments. Exhilarating triumphs times when their spirits will soar and they will feel like they have found true happiness, but there will also be crushing moments of encounters with events and circumstances that will make them painfully clear of the limits of their abilities, limits of their intellect, limits of their talents and skill. There will be moments when they will feel alone, more alone then they have ever felt when sitting in their room at home. Surrounded by family or friends will not be enough.
And that is the moment that Jesus knew was coming. That is the moment that needs the paraclete. That will be the moment that will bring Jesus close because there will be nothing else that can fill that aloneness. Last Sunday Pastor Chris ended her sermon by reminding us that in the baptismal prayer we invoke the Spirit's presence and identify the gifts of the spirit that we expect to enter the newly baptized child's life. This morning we once more name those gifts now claimed by all those who have made public affirmation of their faith. We confirm the spirit's blessing in the form of the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the of the Lord and the spirit of joy in God's presence. Did you hear that each of us has been blessed with wisdom and understanding? Confirmation is not about learning a bunch of facts and details. Sure we know that the Bible was first begun to be written around the year 1100 BC and that was about the same time that Israel became a real nation with kings. Sure we can learn details of history and doctrine and memorize parts of the catechism but what matters is not what we know. Knowledge. What matters is how we use that knowledge. Wisdom to make right decisions, to strive for justice, to discern the ways we can make our faith active in love.
The blessing of the Spirit has nothing to do with our striving and learning and doing. This morning is a moment of grace. Each confirmand thinks they have worked hard to reach this moment, and many of them have expended significant effort, and the church recognizes that effort in this morning's service. But the real secret to this morning is that God's spirit did not wait until these young people had achieved a certain competency in understanding the Bible or their faith. The Spirit was moving in their lives long before that and will continue to work in their lives long after they have forgotten what Bible verse they selected. That is the meaning of true grace. That is what Jesus promised in the gift of the paraclete. A gift that will journey through life along side us regardless of how we live out the faith. A gift that will continue to prod and remind us that Jesus died for us. rose for us and wants us to follow his way. Guided by this spirit we will not be easily tempted to yield to actions of violence and abuse. We will not be so quick to judge and exclude but open our arms as Jesus did in witness to the whole world of what sacrifice faith calls us to bear or carry.
Bottom of the 9th. Last 12 seconds of the game, about to begin the two minute drill. Confirmation Sunday. This is it. This is a defining moment! Can't you hear Jesus. His words for you this morning. The pep talk. The coach's words to the confirmands. I want you to go deep into the faith. Deeper then you have ever gone before. I want you to carry the faith further than anyone has ever carried it before. One of you will have the best shot at saving someone from ruining their life. One of you will be the last second hope of someone near to death. Are you ready? This is a defining moment! This is a great day. 15 new players enter the game. fresh with energy. Some might think it is about time. The time is getting short after all. We need some inspired living. We need some inspired faith witnessing. This is a great day.
Amen.