OUR HEAVEN OF HEAVENS
SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON MAY 20, 2007
John 17:22-23 "That
they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may be
perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou has sent me."
On this Sunday after Ascension you may well be wondering what on earth this gospel is about! Last Thursday we celebrated with great splendor the fact that, 40 days after Easter Our Lord was taken into heaven. Literally rose from the earth in front of his disciples. Some people might find that difficult, but that is what happened - matter of fact, physical and visible. On this Sunday when we sing "Hail the day that sees Him rise" And “See the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph”, we have readings which seem to have nothing to do with the Ascension!
Today's gospel is from the conclusion of St. John's long discourse of Maundy Thursday night. We looked at this last week with chapter 14. Today it is from chapter 17 - a chapter usually referred to as Our Lord's high-priestly prayer. Because it is the prayer that he uttered in the Garden of Gethsemane on that night that he was betrayed.
In this high-priestly prayer Jesus prays for the apostles, and he is quite intimate in his praying. When we look closely at it we see in this gospel reading something directly related to the Ascension. Jesus has been praying for the apostles…..now he prays for those who believe in him through their word. In other words, the gospel would be preached by the apostles themselves.
Here we have the first stirrings of the apostolic ministry. The apostles are to preach the gospel and thus makes Jesus' name known. Then Jesus goes on to say: "That they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee." Now he is speaking of the church and its unity. He is saying that the church and its unity is as closely related to the apostolic ministry as Jesus is to the Father.
This is underlined by verses 22-23: "That they may be one, even as we are one, so that the world may know that thou has sent me." This is all what is to happen because of the Ascension. When Christ returns to heaven on Ascension Day he leaves the infant church to be his body on earth - and the apostles have a special ministry to ensure that this continues to happen.
This is a direct result of the Ascension. Christ leaves the
earth, but remains through his body the church - you and I. This theme is
developed by St. Paul in Ephesians 4, where he quotes Psalm 68: "When He ascended up on high He led captivity
captive He gave gifts to men."
St. Paul is saying here that in his Ascension Jesus, the Victorious King, having overcome satan, sin and death, leads his captives in a triumphal procession, bestowing spiritual gifts upon mankind.
The Hymn by Bishop Christopher Wordsworth depicts this well:
"See, the Conqueror mounts in triumph; see the king in royal state, riding on the clouds, his chariot, to his heavenly palace gate. Hark! The choirs of angel voices joyful alleluias sing; and the portals high are lifted to receive their heavenly king."
Now the image of Jesus riding on the clouds may seem a bit far fetched, but the hymn is a wonderful exposition of Ephesians 4:8. Note also in this hymn a reference to the Psalm verse "God has gone up with a shout."
The gifts that St. Paul writes about are not just the gifts of the spirit, such as we anticipate in the outpouring on Pentecost Day, but are gifts of ministry, and for ministry. St. Paul goes on in Ephesians 4:11 to say: "And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers." There is a parallel here with his first letter to the Corinthians, where in Chapter 12 he lists the gifts of the spirit, and also lists the various Christian ministries to be found in the church.
In Ephesians, Paul also tells us the purpose of these gifts: "To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." This is at the heart of the mystery of the Ascension. Christ returns to heaven and leaves us, not alone and comfortless, but with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that we may truly be his body on earth forever.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus had been preparing the apostles for their ministry. Now he leaves the world, and returns to heaven - but his body remains on earth for they - and we - are now the body of Christ on earth. And to enable this to happen he institutes the apostolic ministry, with special gifts for ministry.
This image of the body of Christ is the great theme of St. John's gospel - but in a starkly different way. From beginning to end St. John's gospel is all about the Incarnation. At the beginning, he declares: "And the word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us." And all though we are given definite indications that Christ continues to dwell amongst us.
All physical images portraying a living and ongoing presence of Jesus in the world.
Now at the Ascension we come to the climax. The word continues to dwell amongst us through his body on earth, the church - which is sustained, strengthen and fed by his sacramental body in the Eucharist.
But the Ascension is not just about our life on earth as Christ's body. It's also about our life in heaven.
In the Ascension Jesus has taken our human nature with him. We are raised to the heights with him. This is mankind's entry into heaven. This indeed is the glory that Jesus refers to when he says: "I desire that they also may be with me where I am, to behold my glory." So it is not just about remaining on earth as his body - it's also about being taken to heaven, where we may share in his glory.
I conclude with the final verse of Bishop Wordsworth's hymn which captures this meaning wonderfully:
"He has raised our human nature in the clouds to God's right hand; there we sit in heavenly places, there with him in glory stand: Jesus reigns, adored by angels; man with God is on the throne; mighty Lord, in thine Ascension we by faith behold our own."
Or, as the last line of “Hail the day that sees Him rise”says:
"Find our heaven of heavens in thee."