June 5, 2011

The seventh Sunday after Easter is known as pause Sunday.  The church is telling us to pause and reflect the lessons we have learned from Jesus’ death and resurrection.  We should do this in preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, seven days from now.

Jesus’ states in today’s gospel, “Now they know everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them.”  This means that the work of God has passed to the disciples through Jesus and from the disciples to us.   Are we as Christians living up to what Jesus tells us in this prayer?  This prayer and its promise were given extra emphasis when the disciples witnessed Jesus’ ascension into heaven.  The apostles, their wives and Mary the mother of Christ were left to reflect on what they had been taught during Jesus ministry on earth.

Do we Christians live up to the demands made in Jesus’ prayer offered the day prior to his death on the cross.

Peter reminds us that being a Christian is no easy task.   If God loves us why does God permit us to suffer?  In answer to this, Peter reminds us that God allows pain-and-suffering to fall upon us as a reminder that we share in Jesus’ death and his glorious resurrection.  Peter states rather forcefully that we must remain steadfast in our faith no matter how great the pain.  The grace of God will be with us and give us enough strength to sustain no matter what difficulties are encountered.

St. John's Marlinton has for the few last years found itself with huge losses in membership.  This is extremely painful to members of his congregation.  We have never lost faith that and we continue worship Jesus and try to spread his word in our community.  This is as it should be.

Remember, that on the day of ascension, Jesus promised the apostles that they would receive power and the fortitude to be Jesus’ witness in Jerusalem, and all of Judea, and Samaria.  Further, they would bear witness to the ends of the earth.  Out of this reflection the entire Christian community grew.

We Christians are a brotherhood of faith in Jesus and trust in a merciful God.  As members of the mystical body of Christ we must have faith.  Our own hard work to make St. John's a success coupled with faith in God will allow us to overcome and continue our mission here in Marlinton.

Recently our parish as tiny as we are, embarked on an outreach mission that met a need of the children in this town.  A church with a functional size of two produced nine people, many of them not even Episcopalian, to lead 200 children in activities which allowed them to explore the world of art.

All three of today's readings have a theme of optimism.  We must survive because we believe that Marlinton and Pocahontas County needs us.  The role of our ministry is to be of service to the City and County.  With God’s help and our continued faith in Jesus, we will continue our mission and hope for the growth of our faith community.

It is my fervent prayer that all of us working together in Christ's name will continue to make a difference.