Get to Work

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I ran my family’s construction and real estate company.  At first, I took over the bookkeeping from my mom.  I converted it from a paper-and-pencil system to Quickbooks.  That meant the first purchase of an up-to-date computer.  

After my father passed, I got my general contractor’s license.  Among our various projects were three houses we remodeled at Lake Arrowhead.  It was quite a drive up there, bscott@livingchurch.org but I made it several times a week to keep track of the progress and arrange for inspections.

One day, early on, I showed up at the site of a house we had gutted and were completely remodeling.  It was right on the golf course lake with a turret and waterfall we had put in.  As I neared the job site, I heard no hammers or saws.  I found the crew just standing around.

When I asked them why, the foreman Paulo explained that they were waiting for materials to arrive.

I told them that I didn’t have a pay category for “standing around.”  Further, there’s not a construction site that doesn’t need picking up and swept up.  “Let’s get to work.”  They got the hint and brooms and dustpans were engaged.  By the time the lumber arrived the job site looked well-tended.

In the Book of Acts, we have a similar story of standing around.

Of course, the disciples might rightly have cause to be staring into the clouds if this is how the story actually happened.  You would too.

However it unfolded, the purpose of this account was to say that the gracious reality of Jesus could no longer constrained to time and place, but, as the Risen Christ let loose in all creation.

Luke concludes his gospel with the charge to Jesus’ followers: “You are witnesses of these things.  And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The reality of this glorious story is to proclaim that we, indeed, have been clothed in power, divine power.  In the Risen Christ we are given agency – agency to participate in building the Beloved Community where all count, all are valued.  That means that I count!  This is a saving story with each invited to be a “cooperator with God.”

A long while ago, I was sharing my rudimentary understanding of this story, leading from Creation through Abraham and Sarah to the prophets and finally to Jesus.  And the marvel of it all, here was I.  Also, a part of the story.  That revelation was the Christmas present I received that year.  Our campus pastor asked if I might share that revelation at our Christmas meeting that coming week.  I did – my first homily, if you could call it that.  It wasn’t that great, as I remember it.

So let me attempt a reprise on my thoughts on the glorious heritage into which we are enfolded in Christ.

I find myself blessed to be a part of a culture informed by the “better angels” of this saga – lives infused with purpose and meaning beyond our stunted selves – a greater story drawing us into that reality we call Christ.

We sing an Easter hymn with the line, “Christ whose glory fills the skies.”  That’s wonderful, sublime poetry, but I am more concerned that this glory fills the hopes and promise of all here who below on earth do dwell.

It’s about the humility to be thankful to only play a small, mostly insignificant role.  Take making amends.

I opened my newspaper from my veterans’ organization, “Vietnam Veterans Against the War” this week and there on the front page was an article on the library and learning center sponsored and built by our organization.

One of our Vietnamese partners wrote:  “Thanks to the Vietnam Veterans Against the War grant, we are now building a library at An Nghia…The kids are all over the place, excited by the prospect of the new VVAW library sponsored by an American NGO.”[1]

This, where once we had carpet bombed the entire province, killing thousands of men, women and children.  Amends, allowing our two peoples to see and honor the humanity in one another.  Christ, whose glory fills the hearts of us, his flawed followers – is a more glorious story of making amends and of forgiveness.

Christ whose glory fills the aspirations of the shoved-out and pushed aside.  It’s a glorious thing when these folks realize their God-given power from on high.  Or from deep within.

One of the books I had ordered as a possible Lenten study book this year, Sacred Belonging by Kat Armas caught my attention from the stack of books on my desk a little while ago.

Kat is a “recovering Evangelical,” as I would term it.  She has found in reading the Scripture with fresh eyes and heart, a path beyond the confines of the narrow, stultifying religiosity of her youth.

She recounts a seminal incident wherein she had confronted the senior pastor of her church over the issue of women’s leadership in the community of faith, an eye-opening moment.[2]

Her pastor had asked for a meeting over the matter of her “role” and “place” in the congregation.  Apparently, he was unable to affirm her full humanity as a Cuban woman.

He had been telling the congregation that she was “unsubmissive” because she had gathered with other women in the church for Bible study without his permission.

In fear and trembling, not trusting in her own abilities, a “Spirit came over me.”  Right there in the coffee shop, in front of God and everyone, Kat opened her Bible to Matthew 28 and slammed it down hard on the table.  She now had everyone’s attention. Reading, she added, “All authority has been given to Jesus, NOT you.”

That very day she realized her empowerment by the Spirit.  A most liberating moment.  Christ’s glory filled all of Kat’s being brim-full, from her tippy toes to the crown of her head. 

Kat has since grown in stature as a renowned author and Biblical Scholar where she highlights the stories of women of color, known for her “fierce truth-telling and compelling story-sharing,” frequently writing for Sojourners Magazine among others.

That’s the work we’re given to.  So, let’s get busy.  Christ’s glory is spread all abroad that the likes of you and me are given our place and assignments in his glory here on earth, trusting in Power from On High – and from Deep Within.  What we do and who we are matters.  Matters to God and to one another.

By the way, I rejoice that the United Methodists have recently extended an invitation to us Episcopalians to heal the breach between us which opened over two hundred years ago when Bishop Seabury refused to recognize Francis Asbury’s consecration for work as bishop among the people called Methodists.

I close with Fr. John Wesley’s admonition to his followers:

Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.

That’s our charge.  You’ve got the vision.  You’ve got the power.  Let’s get to work.  Glory awaits!  Amen.

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[1] Khoi Tran, “New VVAW Library and Learning Center,” The Veteran, Spring 2023.

[2] Kat Armas, Sacred Belonging: a 40-Day Devotional on the Liberating Heart of Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI, Brazos Press, 2023), 59-60.

May 12, 2024
Ascension Sunday

The Rev. Dr. John C. Forney
Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47;
Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53

“Get to Work”