Aligning graduation with growth

graduated over 50 years ago. It was the day after graduation. The doors were locked. The professors were gone, as were the members of the graduating class. The place was no longer home to those graduates. The teachers were no longer available as instructors and advisors in an official way.

Rev. Eldon Trubee

Like as a Fire

Ephesians 1:15-23.

Wherefore I also, after I heard of our faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

ON OUR OWN, BUT NOT ALONE

Do you remember the day after the last day of your formal education, be it from eighth grade, high school or college? The last day was often celebratory, no more classes, and some form of graduation or commencement followed. We were glad to be finished and proud of our accomplishments. Most of us remember that day. But what about the next day?

I drove by the college from which I

I remembered my high school and college ceremonies. Things were different the following day. We were on our own. The relationships between students and teachers had changed forever. We had to take what we had learned and put that knowledge to use for more than merely passing tests. We had to use it to get along in the world.

Ascension Day and Pentecost mark Jesus’ departure from earth and the entrance of the Holy Spirit into the midst of those earliest followers of their Savior. The disciples, now apostles, filled with joy left the site of Jesus’ ascension to heaven.

Now they had to put to use what they had experienced and learned from their Master. They had graduated, commencing to work in their new callings to share the Good News of the risen Christ. What were they to do? The first thing they did was to gather in fellowship and prayer.

Then the presence of God’s Holy Spirit appeared as wind and tongues of flame. Jesus, God’s Son, was replaced as God’s presence among them by the Lord’s spiritual guidance in its many ways. The Book of Acts and the letters of Paul and others reveal some of them. They were on their own in one sense, but were not alone.

Our faith takes us to situations in which we are able to reasonably apply what we have learned and have come to believe in those experiences. We have shared Scripture, lessons from other believers along with our own faith encounters. And, of course, we have included prayer.

Haven’t times occurred when we have felt a bit alone? We have encountered difficulty in applying what we have at hand in our beliefs. Prayer may have led us to seek some connection with former teachers, other faith-related resources and other people of faith. We may have participated in some continuing education or Bible courses.

You and I are sent out as people of faith to share glimpses of God’s guidance and loving forgiveness. We are, in our own God-given ways and using our God-given gifts, to affirm the sense of God’s presence in a world constantly needing to know it.

Class reunions can sometimes be sources of healing, affirmation and new information, as old classmates gather to recall their school experiences. It is something like a family reunion. We had grown up, matured, done our things.

Some of us recalled lessons from our teachers, things that didn’t stick in our minds, until we recalled them later in life. Then they held meaning. We shared stories about teachers. Some had retained or renewed relationships with some of them.

The experience of renewed, shared fellowship of classmates was good for us. It was like family bonded by the shared experiences of school. Let’s remember that the term “Alma Mater” is Latin, meaning “our mother.”

The teaching and nurturing experiences something like a family with teaches being something like parents. That may be stretching the comparison a bit; however, it did apply in some manner.

You and I are parts of an Alma Mater, the family of faith in Jesus, remembering and renewing that relationship with others of faith, as we live and share it. Let’s not just stand, looking heavenward guided only by our self-interests in a personal relationship with the Almighty. Let’s not ignore the Holy Spirit’s nudge to get out and share the good news of God’s gift of salvation in Jesus with others, however God guides us.

While we are at it, let us renew and keep in repair our relationships with others within our faith family both within the local place of worship, but with all people of faith wherever they worship.

“Alma Mater” may be a way of looking at fellowship in the family of Christ that comforts, guides and forgives us, as it welcomes us and others into the “here-and-now” and on into Eternity with God.

God, thank you for your Spirit’s presence over the ages and into our lives. May we find, share and live it. Amen.