“THAT DAY IS THIS DAY”
Saint John 16: 23-30
Rogate: 17 May Anno Domini 2020
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
With this morning’s joyous celebration of Rogate, Eastertide is almost over. We feel the nearness of the Blessed Feast of The Ascension (Thursday evening). And though yes, every Sunday is a “little” Easter, our Paschal Candle will soon be extinguished—though, still here. Christ will leave the sight of the “12” moving up off the mountain, but will still be here; for them, for you—in His Word.
Rogate! Look up the meaning if you want to (page 168 in the front of your hymnal). “Pray ye!” This is a special day of prayer. And, since the 5th century (ca. 450 A.D.) the following three days as well, Monday through Wednesday are considered “Rogation Days”—prayer days, specifically prayers for all the good gifts from the earth which are heavenly Father richly bestows upon us: crops, fruit, and all necessities for the stomach and body; flowers and trees and all beauties for the eye and heart. Each fresh and shining white Easter lily reminds us of He Who rose also from the Earth.
Jesus speaks this long discourse, our Gospel, on Maundy Thursday. Think and reflect upon the weight and poignancy of His words. He knew as He spoke that His arrest, the beginning of His passion, was but mere minutes away. Meditate on the good news that Jesus is never too busy or too important to share with you His Words of life and peace. What about you?
He says: “and in that day…” What day is The Christ referring to? The Day of Resurrection? Yes! Jesus the first fruits of God His Father rises from the dead glorified and triumphant. He gives that glory and triumph to all of you—now, by promise, by imputation (a declaration of His future return), and by His guarantee of ever presence in His Word by The Holy Spirit. He gave the “12” Peace by the literal breath of His Word and His Body (and Blood) by the literal invitation for them to “touch and see.” He gives you the same literal breath this morning in this Sermon, in the Absolution spoken earlier. He gives you the same literal Body (and Blood), though Sacramentally, in His Holy Table of Communion.
“And in that day…” The Day of Ascension? Yes. Christ’s Words, The Holy Spirit’s indwelling, even the words of the angels, all give Christ and His Mission to the Apostles. The Day of Pentecost? Yes, that Holy Day as well. For on Whitsunday Jesus also gives Himself fully by The Holy Spirit. When Peter preached it was Jesus’ Words to the people which converted them. When Peter preached Jesus preached. Think what those words on page 16 mean: “in the stead and by the command.”
The Last Day—the Parousia/Eschaton/Day of Judgment? Yes. There too Jesus coming as He went, Pierced, Scarred, Resplendent in His “crimson trophy’s won” will come on the clouds to give Himself to you and all the elect—bodily, physically, again, finally, visually. The new Heaven and new earth will be your victory and wedding Table of Peace and Joy.
Today, This Day (May 17th)? Yes.
If you desire a passage from Holy Scripture that both testifies to the reality and the utter incomprehensible mystery of The Trinity, this morning’s lection may be that text. Though incomprehensible to our logic and command, it nonetheless is God’s revelation that The Father is in The Son, The Son is in The Father, The Spirit facilitates the Son’s arrival and presence in the midst of both the “12” and all believers of all times. All prayer from a Christian is Trinitarian prayer.
It’s factually true that Peter and John and the rest would no longer have to ask Jesus directly—to His Holy Face, into His ears, for anything. Factually because Jesus would not be their visually, locally, as He had for the prior three years. He would Ascend to The Father. He would take hold once again of “heaven.” Now the Prayer which He had previously taught them would come to fruition. “When ye pray…” Now, they, and you, pray to The Father, Who is YOUR Father, in His Name. Jesus’ Name is now your Name as well. You are + Baptized. Instead of struggling to understand The Trinity in theological terms or, heaven help you, scientific and rationalistic terms, simply receive The Gifts of God The Blessed Trinity in Prayer. You pray to The Father, in The Son (in Christ—in His + Name) by The Holy Ghost. Pray the Holy Sign of + The Cross and pray it often. Pray it out loud and by like Augustine—“when you pray it out loud or sing it out loud, you’re praying twice.”
The blessed Church Father, Saint John Chrysostom wrote of this text: “He (Jesus) makes clear to them the power of His Name; for though He is neither seen, nor besought, should His Name be invoked before The Father, it produces wonders.” Indeed. Jesus’ Name is The Trinity. Whether one goes through the whole form, as we do at the very beginning of the Mass, or simply The 2nd Person’s Name (as I begin each homily) it is The Name of God Almighty. This is why our Book of Concord, our Melanchthon, makes much of invoking only God—only Christ—The Trinity, and not any Saint, no matter how heroic and faithful their lives were, is the hallmark of all followers of Jesus. For where His Name is, there He is…in the midst of you. No other mediator is needed save The Son—and faith in Him.
His Name, which is the very totality and reality of His Person and Work; His Name which gives The Name of His Father by the Name of The Holy Ghost, is the very present Word that makes you both fearless and resolute to face all rather than fall away from the truth “once delivered.” That is how martyrs were made, and how martyrs are made. Rise again ye Lion-hearted.
“I come from The Father.” His eternal begotteness—God of God. “…And am come into the world.” His incarnation by The Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary; and “was made Man.” “Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” And where is all that love? Agape—God’s sacrificial crucified meal of love? Take eat. Take drink.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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