Sunday after Ascension

I always think this is a rather odd time, joy of Easter slowly fades away, then we get used to the readings about Jesus appearing to his disciples, then the mystery of the Ascension, Jesus going back to the Father, the human once again being united with the Divine. The disciples were told to wait, but for what and where and who with.

We too can watch and wait – we should know what we are waiting for, the coming of the Holy Spirit. But it gives us some time to reflect on those revelations of John, those early days of the church and of course the teachings and actions of Jesus.

I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, if we wait on this, if we believe in this what more do we want. This in itself shows us the majesty of Christ, the thirst quencher, the life giver who is always there.

A couple of weeks ago I saw some lovely bedding plants etc and bought them; I have placed them on my gardening table outside the back door. Unfortunately because I have got used to them there and the weather has been unseasonably dry they have started to dry out. I passed them a few days ago and noticed much to my horror that the antirrhinums and the oregano plat were looking decidedly sad, in fact them had fallen over and looked dead. Horrified at my negligence I dashed to water them, a few hours later no difference, oh no I thought dead, what a waste of money. But to my joy a few hours after that they had perked up and were looking very healthy. It made me once again reflect upon the amazing effect of water. So it is no wonder that Jesus refers so much to quenching thirst. Water was such an important commodity, as it is today in those hot and arid countries.. The people were used to feeling thirsty and being given water and perking up, just like my plants but knowing that without continuous water they would flag again. But Jesus was offering this water of life- that must have been so confusing, but he was offering spiritual refreshment, refreshment of the soul. SO it is important that we reflect on our own thirst, do we thirst for spiritual refreshment or are we happy just to coast along as we are? This water of life is a real gift which is freely given to us.

The slave –girl in the Acts reading had a gift, a gift of the spirit in one sense, but this gift was being exploited, people were making money out of her. Paul and Silas realised this and removed the gift which they interpreted as an evil spirit, I would like to think a misused spirit, they freed her from oppression of her masters and in doing so refreshed her with a real spiritual gift , the gift from God through Christ of His eternal love.

You can imagine the owners’ anger, here was their way of earning a quick buck removed before their eyes, so it was no wonder that they turned on Paul; and Silas and had them arrested. But that promise of God’s love and Christ through the Holy Spirit being with believers went with Paul and Silas as they prayed and sang. The chains fell off; the doors were opened by an earthquake. But Paul and Silas, following the examples of Jesus, did not take advantage of the situation they waited and helped others. Namely the jailer and his family. They refreshed them with eternal life and the whole family rejoiced.

Paul and Silas sat and prayed in words and song, they knew that they would be refreshed by the Holy Spirit. AS we join together in prayer and song do we know we will be refreshed by the Holy Spirit? They prayed with confidence, Jesus in our Gospel reading was praying with confidence knowing he would be refreshed, do you pray with confidence knowing that your prayers will be answered? Yes sometimes it takes a while, some time they are answered ion different ways, but we will be refreshed.

Those disciples after Jesus went in to Heaven had to be patient, they had to hold fast together and continue to pray and not give up hope. Is that us or are we easily distracted by worldly things?

As Christians it is important for us to take time to be refreshed, each of us will, because we have different ways of working out our relationship with God through Christ, need to do it in different ways, but what is most important is that we must pray, in order that we are kept in a true relationship with the one who is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end., so that like the jailers household we can rejoice that we are believers in God and receive His Holy Spirit through the risen and ascended Christ. Amen.