Is This the Time? The Hour has Come

Someday there’ll be Peace and Justice!  Someday our alabaster cities WILL gleam undimmed by human tears!  Someday I’ll write my great novel.  Someday I’ll start to save my money.  Someday.   As Annie says, “Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, Tomorrow!  You’re always a day away!”  A sign in a Cooperstown restaurant advertises, “Free Beer Tomorrow!”

This weekend’s scripture readings confront us pew-sitters with an urgency to procrastinate no longer!  The Acts of the Apostles lesson recaps the Ascension motive:  disciples ask the Risen Christ, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)  And Jesus replies that they’ll receive the Holy Spirit in due course, and will take it from there.  “Here, at the very beginning of the church, we see a fundamental posture of ANTICIPATION that (a) God will do something, and (b) the church will be empowered for witness when God acts.” (John S. McClure, FEASTING on the WORD, A 2:523)   When, TODAY??  Could I loaf around a few more days/years…?

I’m enjoying the encouraging words of I Peter:  they speak to concerned citizens of all imperfect times.  “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that [God] may exalt you in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on [God], because [God] cares for you.” (5:5-7)   Sounds as if God is present and alert!  The author goes on to urge regularity of holy-habits and to RESIST the power of evil–is this for today, or what?!

In Jesus’ long Upper Room discourse he prayed, “Father, the hour has come…” (John 17:1)  No longer is redemption in the sweet bye ‘n’ bye.  This open prayer continues with a request for holy unity, which John and we call the Church.  There is no Church of the Future, only one of Today.  Our spiritual investment in our civil community isn’t something we do just for our grandchildren, rather it acquires a friction-induced  heat as it cuts through the social inequity and idolatry of each day!

I confess that I don’t know what to do; though I attempt to be a faithful messenger.  My personal fear is that I’ll be waiting for Something Else while the revolution surges on!  Harry Emerson Fosdick had it right even back in 1930 when he prayed, “God of grace and God of glory, on thy people pour thy power; Crown thine ancient church’s story, bring her bud to glorious flower–Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of THIS hour.”

God Bless Us,  Every One                 Horace Brown King

My thoughts about scripture lections for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com