Sermons for the Month
Making Spirit-Empowered Footprints
DATE: mAY 4TH, 2008
SERVICE: The Ascension of Our Lord
TEXT: Acts 1:1-11“To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN
My favorite verse in today's story of the Ascension describes how the followers of Jesus are gazing up toward heaven as Jesus is lifted up and a cloud takes him out of their sight. Suddenly two men in white robes appear and say to them, "Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?" "Well", I'm tempted to respond for them, "Could it be because my Lord just disappeared in that direction? Where else am I supposed to look?" Then I might add, "And, come to think of it, since he's supposed to come back in the same way he went, it makes sense to keep looking up." It is true, though, that if our eyes are always on the heavens we could miss what is happening on the earth. And, that does not seem to be what Jesus had in mind, since before his departure he made it clear that the date of his return is a huge unknown. He also was unequivocal in his command that his followers remain in Jerusalem and wait for the promised Holy Spirit that will empower their ministries. The Holy Spirit is grounded on the earth and that should be their focus. In one of her sermons Pastor Barbara Lundblad writes that she saw a wonderful picture of Jesus' ascension. It was a black and white woodcut print finely etched. In it Jesus is rising up as the disciples watch him disappear into the clouds. But, if you look closely at the picture you can see footprints on the earth. The artist had carefully etched Jesus' footprints down on the level where the disciples are standing with their mouths open. Perhaps it was just an interesting detail, she writes, or maybe the artist is pressing us with the old question, "Why do you stand looking up into heaven?" Instead, look at these footprints here on the earth. (1) They belong to Jesus and are to be followed. It's interesting that when I was thinking about how we should focus on footprints on the earth rather than gazing into the heavens, what came to mind was the term "carbon footprint." It's a relatively new term, or at least is new to common use. A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, which is measured in units of carbon dioxide. This is an issue because carbon emissions are a significant cause of global warming. If I wanted to, I could go on-line and figure out the total amount of carbon dioxide attributed to me, due to energy use. Then I would attempt to reduce it by driving less, using less electricity, recycling, planting trees - the list of possibilities is long. I want my carbon footprint to be as small as possible. Just the opposite is true of my Christian footprint that is created by following in the footsteps of Jesus. I want those footprints to be a large and as visible as possible. If I were to measure my Christian footprint I'd be determining the total amount of grace attributed to me, created by living out my faith. Then, I would attempt to increase it by offering forgiveness, showing kindness, being patient, valuing truth, seeking justice, being hopeful - the list of possibilities is long. Perhaps someone should create an on-line tool to measure our Christian footprint, and make measuring our carbon footprint a part of it (since caring for the world is one way to increase our Christian footprint). BUT, if it is to be a successful tool, the Holy Spirit would have to be factored in. That's because without the Holy Spirit we will fall short in any attempts to increase our Christian footprint. One of the reasons the Ascension story is so significant, and should be celebrated, is that it reminds us that those first followers of Jesus had to wait around for power from on high. Yes, they had a job to do - to be witnesses in to the ends of the earth. But, they could not do it - they could not focus their attention on the footsteps of Jesus and create their own Christian footprint - until the Holy Spirit showed up. This detail of the account reminds us that in our baptisms we received that power; we have no power of our own. Dr. Catherine Taylor writes that, "Whenever people gather around a baptismal font, they publicly proclaim that they rely on a power beyond themselves, that they believe in God whose love and strength sustains them in all things." (2) That's exactly what is happening today as eight young people stand around the font. They will make public profession of their faith, they will promise to live out that faith and we will pray that the Holy Spirit that is within each one will be stirred up, so that they may make a HUGE Christian footprint on the world. They have finished the first phase of their Christian growth, and are now taking on even more responsibility to make a difference in the world. But, doing so for them - and for all of us - depends on how fully we rely on the Spirit's power. Dr. Taylor makes the point that anything we try to do to increase our Christian footprint that is all our idea and not God's cannot finally prosper in the end. Now that's a bold statement, but she contends that while activity that is our doing and not the Spirit's can look successful, it will die when our power or energy to make it happen dies. But that which is the work of the Spirit will accomplish what God sets out to do, making use of us along the way. (3) We look forward to seeing how that will happen through Melissa, Jillian, Carly, Andrew, Sammie, Abby, Bobby and Hazen and the people of God who are gathered here. Today we are reminded that the followers of Jesus had to pull their eyes back to earth, look at the footprints Jesus had made and follow. BUT, before they took one step they had to WAIT for the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit at work among us that makes all manner of impossible things possible. As we continue to discern our next steps as a congregation, especially as it relates to our church building project, that would be a wise thing for us to remember. Our Christian footprint will be deep and wide only because we stop stepping forward on our own power, and allow the Holy Spirit to empower each step.
AMEN
(1) "Footprints on the Earth" by the Rev. Dr. Barbara K. Lundblad, May 7, 2005, Ascension Sunday, pg. 3, www.day1.net
(2) "Power Source" by the Rev. Dr. Catherine Taylor, June 1, 2003, Ascension of the Lord, pg. 3, www.day1.net
(3) Same as above, pg. 4