A Graduation Call

According to the Christian calendar, Pentecost is the first Sunday after the Seven Sundays of Easter. Next week will be Pentecost Sunday in which we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples as they pursued the work of Christ after his ascension. More than simply remembering that special time in the theological history of the church, Pentecost is an opportunity for us, as a congregational unit of the greater Body of Christ to re-embrace the presence of God among us. The Holy Spirit, God's presence, is something that has profound meaning for us as Christians.

But before we reach Pentecost Sunday, let us look to the moments preceding that tremendous story. Our scripture this morning speaks of a graduation moment of sorts.

Many of you are familiar with this graduation story, a moment when the disciples take on the responsibility of God's work for themselves without the physical, observable presence of their Christ.

Text: Acts 1: 6-11

The disciples, in a very real sense, have graduated from physical followers to leaders. Although they will follow after the Will of God and the teachings of Christ, they now are left to lead the up-building of God's Kingdom without their Lord and Savior to hold their hands or instruct them in each moment.

According to our text this morning, two men appeared next to the disciples as they gazed toward heaven. They asked a very poignant question, “Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” In some sense, they are asking, “What are you doing standing around?” The Christ was gone, but he had not left; his instruction and his spirit were now the tools and inspiration to carry on God's work—and there was no time for “dilly-dallying.” Although the disciples had made it to a milestone in their faith, although they had witnessed the resurrection and seen the ascension, it was now time to press on with the things of God, with the Kingdom of God.

This morning we are the proud family of faith who has helped nurture several graduates among us. Many of us have had our own graduations, some of us look forward to the graduation that awaits. All of us, however, have the opportunity to reflect on graduation. Graduation has a way of turning our attention toward the process and adventure of life, and draws our focus toward the greater questions life proposes.

Like the graduation of the disciples, we have important choices and great tasks which lie ahead. We too have the work of God before us and the spirit of Christ with us. The question of graduation is this: How will we use our past to build-up our future?

Joe: “My college really turned out some great men.”
Bill: “When did you graduate?”
Joe: “I didn’t graduate. I was turned out.”

Through your work in high school, middle school, and elementary school, you have prepared yourself to be turned in, and not turned out. You have the opportunity now, to use the skills and knowledge you have gained thus far to your benefit as you learn more, live more, and love more.
We are all called to graduate. We are all called to leave those who have guided us and to make decisions for ourselves. Like the disciples who took on the up-building of God's Kingdom without the physical presence of their Lord and Savior, we too must make decisions based on our past instruction and experiences; we must use the guidance of our parents, the experience of our faith, and the knowledge of our schooling to make decisions for our future which are not only personally important, but meaningful for the world in which you live.

One of the most important realizations for those who graduate is that they cannot stand around looking at the sky forever. The question is posed to us all, graduated, graduating, or yet graduated: “Are you just going to stand there?” We cannot be caught up and so absorbed with the sky, with our past, with our fear of the future, that we forget to move and act in this world, in our world. We have important work to do, and the clock is ticking.

Sarah, Stephen and Matt, you as graduates have the opportunity to move further into the world as independent men and women. You have the opportunity to make life the fruitful adventure it can be, and to do the work of God in your own unique and creative way. The possibilities are truly endless for you. But as you ponder the possibility of the future, do not be paralyzed by indecision, fear, or uncertainty. Remember where you came from, realize where you are, Dream of where you are going, then go there.

Because I am privileged with this pulpit, I want to take this opportunity to share with you and everyone here one of my greatest graduation lessons. In all my time in school, I feel the greatest lesson I have learned about the world is this: we are not born into this world evil, instead we are born far worse: indifferent. I have found it is far easier to simply not care and float along than to ever be or do evil, or be or do good. And the truth is, too many people in this world simply do not care. It's not that they are mean-spirited, hateful, or even malicious, but they just don't care. They float through life without passion or compassion. They contribute to the pain and evil in this world by not becoming a force that seeks to stop it or change it. Do not be a person of indifference, instead recognize that this world needs caring, involved “doers.” Our world needs people with vision, people with passion, and above all, people with compassion.

Sarah, Stephen and Matt, as you move your separate ways and take on the new responsibilities and lives of young men and women learning the ways of adulthood, my prayer for you is not that you would make the right decision every time, nor that you would be perfect and happy at all times. The truth is, you won't. There will be mistakes along the way, poor judgments, and even...dare I say it for our valedictorian, bad grades. My prayer is that you care. That the poor decisions, bad grades, and unhappiness would not be accepted, but that you would have the desire to make better decisions, better grades, and live happily. My hope, my prayer, and my charge to you this morning is that you would remember that care and compassion lead to passion and good work.

The greatest example of this truth for us as Christians is the life of Jesus. Jesus' compassion in his ministry led to his passion, his suffering and death, and ultimately to the resurrection of Christ. May your compassion give you the passion to make this world a better place to live, to build-up God's Kingdom. When you learn to care, when you remember to care, and when you do care, you make this world about more than yourself: You make it about God and God's children.

Sarah, Stephen, and Matt, we are proud of you. We appreciate you. We love you. We want you to know that as you move forward, you can always return to us for support and encouragement. We consider you a part of our family, and family never dies. The memories of family keep each member present and alive, and we will always remember you, always pray for you, and always lift you up.

Amen.

Benediction:

God of Grace, God of Mercy, we thank you for our graduates this morning. We appreciate the opportunity we all have to encourage them, support them, and love them as they extend a part of us out into their new worlds. May we all be reminded that our world needs compassion and passion, and that indifference is our greatest foe. Let us be people of God, children of God, faithful servants of God. Grant to us the wisdom and understanding to overcome our challenges, move past our mistakes, and embrace the beautiful future we have in you. Be with our graduates as they leave us, draw them back to us in times of need, and keep them safe in all they do. We thank you for our time with these graduates, from childhood to adulthood, and may that time prove meaningful as the opportunities of life burst forth. May those opportunities not be wasted, and may all of our lives be a pleasant offering to You.

Amen.