Trinity Sunday, Confirmation
Mtt. 28:16-20
Fairy Tales are wonderful. They are so special to us. We so like to get to the end and hear the words, "and they lived happily ever after." That's what makes fairy tales and real life so different. In real life the phrase "and they lived happily ever after should be followed by the more real "however the next day..." Real life is not circumscribed by the covers of a book. Real life leaks out of the "happily ever afters" and continues on. While we might come to milestones that are stopping places and moments for celebration or reflection there is always "however the next day." In life every ending is in fact just another beginning.
The gospels are not fairy tales. Our gospel lesson today is the real life narrative of Jesus departure from the disciples. For the gospel writer Matthew there are only two short appearances after Jesus resurrection. The first is to the women at the tomb and the second is when Jesus meets his disciples on the hill in Galilee where they were directed to come. An ending...where Jesus will leave them...and a beginning.
Often called "The Great Commission" This text seems an especially appropriate one for this confirmation Sunday, This Sunday that marks the ending to our confirmands intensive two year course of study and the beginning of their entire life of faith. Jesus says some important things to his disciples--things I think we can well apply to our lives of faith and I'd like to lift up just a three of them.
Our lesson begins, "now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him they worshipped him, but some doubted." "When they saw him they worshipped him but some doubted." While the gospel writer John puts all the occasion of doubt on Thomas' shoulders Matthew implies that perhaps there were a few more of the disciples who doubted. How much it helps us to know that even though these disciples had been through thick and thin with Jesus, even though they had seen his miracles, heard his teachings, supped at his table, even though they were as close to him as any could be--some doubted. Perhaps some of you confirmands, perhaps some of you in the congregation struggle with doubt. If not now probably at some time in your life. Perhaps you will have a professor in a course you are taking, a person you find engaging and who's intelligence you respect. Perhaps they have a view of life that will cause you to question your faith and your understanding of God. Perhaps you will go through personal struggles and you will wonder where is God in the face of suffering. Perhaps you will experience injustice that will challenge your understanding of a merciful God. Some doubted.
What's really interesting about this is how Jesus responded to that doubt. He didn't. He doesn't berate the disciples; he doesn't send them away telling them if they don't believe they can have no part in him and in his work. No quite to the contrary this is where he commissions them. It seems to me that this is Jesus way of saying that doubts are normal and natural, that questions are an appropriate and important way to take the next step in our faith journey. I think we've taught you confirmands a lot in our two years together--but I hope you don't take the information you've received here as the "final answer". I hope what we've challenged you to do is dig deeper, explore further. I hope that every time I said "Well scholars disagree on that point," or " one way of understanding this is this but another way is that" that you heard the message that it's alright to ask questions, It's alright not to have all the answers and be able to glibly rattle off the party line of the faith. I hope that like the disciples your faith is not about a head trip but about a relationship. The relationship that you have with Jesus Christ. When they saw him they worshipped him--despite their doubts and questions and fears--they worshipped him.
And Jesus in turn commissions them to be his hands and feet and tongues in the world. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." Go, baptize teach. The disciples are given a task, a vocation. Jesus is entrusting them with a mission. In that moment their lives are given a special meaning and purpose. So you too as you affirm your faith today are sent out with a task, a mission. Now I don't know what all of you will end up doing as an earthly vocation. I'd like to think that one of you might become a pastor--think about it--, you might be a scientist or an entrepreneur, a journalist, a playwright, an engineer. Whatever you might be you need to understand that you have a higher calling. Jesus has commissioned you to bring his light and truth and love to the world. You don't have to wait for that vocation. From the moment we lay our hands on your head your life has the purpose and mission to share Christ's love with the world. That's an awesome responsibility. That's a fearsome obligation. Think about it. It's scary. What might that mean if you honestly always took it seriously? How are your decisions and choices made differently in light of this commission? How are your priorities changed in light of your mission? I dare say we would all come up short of the challenge that Jesus sets for us.
But lest we be discouraged Jesus has one final directive for us. "And remember, Jesus says, remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." "I am with you always."
I remember learning to ride a bike. I must have been about five when the training wheels came off. My father would put one hand on the handlebar and one on the seat to steady the bike and I would begin peddling. He would run along steadying the bike. After a while his hand on the handlebars would be gone and then he would let go of the seat. I wouldn't really know he'd let go until I heard him a half block away clapping and shouting, "See you're doing it all yourself. He'd let go, I was riding the bike myself. The hands that had supported me and steadied me were now only cheering me on.
Jesus was like that with his disciples. He was with them, teaching them, reproving them, challenging them, supporting them, steadying them and then there they were--all on their own.
For the longest time though, after learning to ride that bicycle I could still hear my Father's words saying things like, watch out for the curb, balance now, balance, stop at the street, be careful and wow look how good you're doing flying like the wind.
I'm certain that the disciples kept hearing Jesus words long after this last appearance. Lo, I am with you always--always.
So for you confirmands today is a letting go. We won't be counting your service points; you don't have to take sermon notes anymore, though some of you still owe me a few. No more Tuesdays for study and Pastor Doug and I won't stop you in the halls demanding to know how many sacraments we have and who were Jacob's wives. This is no happily ever after though, it's real life leaking out into "However the next day. For Jesus has called you, claimed you and commissioned you. So go, baptize, teach.
Amen