Loving God, teach us to pray and to listen, seeking your will in the things that really matter.  By your Spirit, keep us on the right path, having been transformed, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            There are a lot of things going on this Sunday.  You are probably aware that this is Mother’s Day.  It is also Jerusalem and the Holy Land Sunday – at least in Lutheran and Anglican circles – and, of course, the Seventh Sunday of Easter.  In one of our readings – the gospel – we hear Jesus praying for his followers – in much the same way as a mother, or grandmother, or any loving parent, might pray for their children.

         Jesus knows that he will soon be leaving this world, and so, he prays for those who will be left behind.  He prays for their protection, and for their joy, and for their unity in heart, and purpose, and intent (workingpreacher.org).  He prays that they would stay on the right path, having been chosen and set apart, and that God would make them holy and keep them focused on the truth that is God’s living Word.  Doesn’t this sound like some of the same things that a loving and faith-filled parent might pray for as their child sets out on their own?

         At the same time, the image comes to mind of Jesus lamenting and weeping over Jerusalem.  On the Mount of Olives, there is a church that is called Dominus Flevit – Jesus wept (or, the Lord wept).  One of the pictures inside the church is of a mother hen gathering her brood under her wings.  This image comes from Luke 13:34, where Jesus laments, 

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!  How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

At the same time, Jesus says that Jerusalem will not see him again until they say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” – in other words, on Palm Sunday.

         It is in that same gospel of Luke where, in the midst of the Palm Sunday procession, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, lamenting, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace!  But now they are hidden from your eyes” (Lk. 19:42).  It is not much of a stretch to believe that Jesus continues to weep – not only over Jerusalem, but over all of the Holy Land and beyond – over Ukraine, Yemen, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Haiti, and so many other places where people long for peace in the midst of war and violence.

         As followers of Jesus who continue to live in this world, we are reminded today that Jesus prays for us, as well.  He prays that we would be protected from the evil one as long as we remain in this world, and that we would remain faithful to the Holy One.  He prays for us, just as a loving parent would pray for their children, asking that we would not only be protected, but transformed.  We are not in this world simply to keep to ourselves and be comfortable, for we, too, have been called, chosen, and sent out into the world.

         As we try to discern more specifically what God is calling us to do, both prayer and action are required.  Today’s reading from Acts gives us a little glimpse of what the disciples were doing in between Jesus’ ascension into heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  In the verses just before what we heard today, the followers of Jesus “were constantly devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14).  As they do so, Peter is led to propose naming a replacement for Judas Iscariot, with his inspiration coming from the Scriptures.

         Interestingly enough, there is also a reference to Judas in today’s gospel, referred to as “the one destined to be lost” so that “scripture might be fulfilled” (Jn. 17:12).  What scripture, you might ask? – From the Psalms: “Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted the heel against me” (41:9).  And the prophet Zechariah mentions 30 pieces of silver as the “lordly price at which I was valued,” which then gets thrown into the treasury (11:13).  And then, from another Psalm, “may another seize his position” (109:8).

         Two replacements are proposed for this position among the apostles, both of whom have never been mentioned up to this point, even though they had been among Jesus’ followers ever since the ministry of John the Baptist.  Some more time for prayer follows, asking God to show them who has been chosen.  Then they cast lots, and the lot falls on Matthias.

         Wouldn’t it be interesting if we did that for church council, or even for choosing who your pastor will be?  No voting – just some time for prayer, and then casting lots (or maybe drawing straws?).  Would you even be able to decline the nomination if God is the one who has chosen you for this position?  But alas, I digress.

         Ultimately, there is a strong theme of prayer running through today’s various emphases – the prayers of parents for their children; the prayers of Jesus for his followers and for us; the prayers of Jesus’ followers as they discerned what would come next; the prayers in sighs too deep for words as Jesus longed to gather the people of Jerusalem under his wings.  May we, too, be people of prayer, one in heart, purpose and intent, to the glory of God and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

Easter 7(B)                                        John 17:6-19

May 12, 2024                                   Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2024 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved