Focus on Water

Living our baptismal relationship focusing on Jesus

05/13/2018

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

A man went to the pastor of his church and said, “I won’t be attending church anymore.” The pastor, puzzled, asked, “May I ask why?” The man answered, “I see people on their cell phones, texting and typing during the service, some are gossiping, some I know are not living right, some are sleeping, some are staring at me. They are all hypocrites!” The pastor was silent, but after a pause spoke: “Can I ask you to do something for me before you make your final decision?” The man replied, “Sure, what is that?” The minister continued: “Next Sunday, shortly before the service starts, take a glass full of water and walk around the church two times while carrying that glass of water. Take care not to let any water spill out of the glass.” The man said confidently: “Yes, I can do that!”

The following Sunday, he obediently came to church with a glass filled with water and, as instructed, walked around the church two times. He came back to the pastor and beamed proudly: “It’s done, and not a drop of water fell out!” The pastor asked him these questions: “Did you see anybody on their cell phones? Did you see anyone gossiping? Was anyone living wrong? Did you see anyone sleeping or staring at you?” The man answered a little annoyed, “Well, no, I didn’t see anything because I was so focused on this glass and trying not to let any water spill out.” The pastor concluded: “When you come to church you should be just that focused on God so you don’t fall yourself. You should come to church to look at God, not to look at others. Just like you focused on the water, so you should focus on God.

Right up to the moment of his Ascension, Jesus was trying to teach this same lesson to his apostles, with very little success by the way. Even after listening and learning from Jesus for three years, they were still more worried about what others were doing instead of focusing on their own discipleship. They were looking at others instead of looking at God. That’s what was behind their question to Jesus - how he was going to deal with all the evil-doers - when they asked: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” In other words, when will you rout those ruthless Romans and restore the Davidic Kingdom, so we can be the rulers and set things right? Jesus sounded a lot like that wise pastor dealing with his disgruntled parishioner when he answered: “It is not for you to know the times and seasons the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” That is, don’t worry about whether the Romans are texting or gossiping or sleeping or living right. Instead, worry about what you are doing to live your faith and share your faith. Keep your focus on God, not on others.

This Sunday we have four children receiving their first Holy Communion. If I asked them today: do you see people on their cell phones? Are the texting or gossiping? Are they living right? Are they hypocrites? What do you think they would probably answer? They would likely say: “I am not worried about them! I am happy for me! Today I get to receive Jesus in Communion for the first time!” They are laser focused on God, not on others. What a great example for all of us.

At the core of Christianity is a profound personal relationship with God. That relationship is born in water, the holy water of baptism that, in a sense, we carry around in our souls. We should not let even a drop of that spiritual water spill out of our hearts. In order to achieve that, we must be laser focused on that water, the sign of our rebirth in Christ, like that man walking around the church before the service. True disciples are always focused on their relationship with Jesus, living their faith and sharing their faith. When we focus on God, rather than worrying about others, that’s when we have the best chance to change the rest of the world.

Praised be Jesus Christ!