Sermons

Seventh Sunday of Easter
Sunday 16 May 2010 at 10am

David Paton-Williams

Readings: Acts 16 v16-34; John 17 v20-end

Through history there have been some really famous "famous last words"

You too Brutus? - Julius Ceasar
I may be some time - Captain Oates
God bless you Hardy - Admiral Nelson

Rude but royal "Bugger Bognor" of King George 5th
Humorous - "I never felt better" - Douglas Fairbanks Senior
Deluded - Emperor Vespasian "Woe is me - I think I am becoming a god"

All time best has to be General Sedgewick from the American Civil War who, when he was warned by his men of the danger of standing up in the trenches, said:
"They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist.."

History is littered with final words and departing speeches.
Some are humorous, brave, stubborn or stupid

In John's gospel chapters 14-17 we are offered Jesus' parting words to his disciples at the Last Supper.

And this final address ends in chapter 17 with a long prayer for his followers
not just the disciples gathered round the table in the upper room
but all those who find themselves following Jesus in the days and years to come.

He prays for their protection from evil and for their unity as a group of disciples.

Even as his heart is filled with sorrow and anguish at the prospect of his death:
he is focussed on God
and on the safety and well-being of his friends and followers.

And the same is true of his last words on the cross.

In large part these are words of prayer as well.
"Father forgive them they know not what they do"
"Father into your hands I commend my spirit"

Focussed on God and on the needs and well-being of friends and enemies alike.

And according to the letter to the Hebrews that ministry of prayer is still going on.
In chapter 7 the writer says "He lives to make intercession for us." The ascended Jesus is still praying for us.

When Terry Waite came out of captivity in Beirut he said that he had known that people were praying for him and he spoke about how much that meant to him.

And many of us have known what it is like to have the support of others praying for us - makes such a difference.

Well think about this - Jesus is praying for you.

Prayer was at the heart of Jesus' work on earth and in a mysterious way prayer is still central to his ministry in heaven.

We may not be able to envisage what Jesus' heavenly intercession is like but
what more powerful and wonderful prayer could there be?

So if being a Christian is about carrying on Christ's work then prayer will be at the heart of what we are called to do.

In the stories of the ascension Jesus gives some other last words:

In Matthew he says: "Go into all the world, make disciples of all nations and know that I am with you always."

In Luke he says "You will receive power from on high and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and to the ends of the earth."

As Christians we have been commissioned in our baptism to carry on Christ's work and we do that no on our own knowing that Jesus is with us always,
and that we do it in the power of his spirit,

We serve God in the presence and loving power of the risen and ascended Lord.

We think of that calling in terms of what we do or say.

But our gospel today shows us that we also carry on Jesus' work by prayer,
by intercession and thanksgiving
by bringing others - their needs and their joys to God

That is a valuable part of Christian ministry
and something that we can all offer
even those of us who suspect that our more active days may be behind us.

When we pray for others we are following in Jesus' footsteps.

When we pray for others we are drawing on the presence and power of Christ's Spirit within us
- the very thing he promises us at his ascension.

And when we pray for others we are witnessing to the resurrection - to the ability of God to redeem situations that humanly may seem utterly hopeless, his ability to bring life out of death, joy out sorrow, wholeness out of brokenness, hope out of despair and so on.

We do this at home - or through the day as we pray at work or out in the community

And we do this as we gather together and offer our intercessions as a church
And we can do this today as we receive prayer for healing and wholeness - which we can receive for others just as much as for ourselves
- bringing them on our hearts as we come before Christ.

Our prayer demonstrates our faith that Christ is alive and at work in the world today.

It is a calling that all Christians share in
and it is a valuable part of the church's ministry.

And when we join in it
we are showing that Jesus' words in the upper room, or on the cross, or at the ascension
were not in fact his famous last words.

We show that he is alive and at work
and that he speaks today,
through the words and lives and love and prayer
of his followers.

So may God bless us and renew s as a church in the ministry of prayer that he calls us to share in.

Amen.

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay