Waiting

June 1, 2025        7th Sunday of Easter    The Rev. Nancy E. Gossling
Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21
 

Waiting for what, I keep asking myself? For Peace? Understanding? Truth? For change?

Waiting for Godot? God? Someone or something else? For Israel and Palestine to live in peace. For Russia and Ukraine to reconcile and rebuild. For love to overcome hate once and for all?

There are benefits in waiting, they tell me. Learning patience. Trusting that answers will come. Hoping that something better is in store?

 I wonder.

When is it time to move on, or just wait? How do we know? Who and/or what will guide us? Does it take pressure…..Political? Personal? Medical? Legal? Internal….Eternal?

Jesus said there would be signs. False prophets. Nations rising against nations. The destruction of cities and changes in the climate. Fig trees will die, smoke will fill the air, and “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven. And the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” (Mark 13:24-25) There will be great suffering!

So Jesus ascended, leaving us comfortless; and yet He promised. The Force would be with us! The Power of God’s Holy Spirit would arrive. Like a personal breath of fresh air, mouth to mouth resuscitation, it would bring us back to life! And it would be epic! Not just a personal gift but a communal one too. This Power would be disturbing our crowds. Not in violent, destructive ways. Not by throwing bombs or molotov cocktails. Not terrorizing and weaponizing anyone. But like waves of goodness and peace that wash over us, cleansing us, healing us, renewing us, this Force would be with us. This Holy Spirit fire would create new life, a burning flame of eternal love. There would be people speaking in tongues, in various languages from all around the globe, from all the peoples of the earth, and we would understand each other in new ways. Bring it! I say in desperation.

Enough. Maintenance. Virtue signaling. Speaking to chambers that echo with the same old, same old. I’m tired of it all, which has nothing to do with my age and location. My privileges. My family. My friends. Even my enemies. Enough.

I’m done. But where to go? And why? And for what? How long must we wait before we go on living?

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden. And I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

 Bring it, I say to God. I’m waiting.

Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21

At the end of the visions I, John, heard these words: 

"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."

And let everyone who hears say, "Come."

And let everyone who is thirsty come.

Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.

The one who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon."

 Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.