TEXT: John 20:19-23

This time of year is filled with transitions. Children's Sunday celebrates the end of the Sunday School year, the end of choir practices and youth group, and the beginning of summer vacation. In schools, children are moving from one grade to the next. Some are making the jump from elementary to junior high school, or from junior high to high school. Still others are graduating, and looking towards the future. Countless graduation speakers are imparting words of wisdom on these young people little tips for success that have worked for them along the way. But amidst the parties and the excitement, graduation is a terrifying time. Think about it: for four years, we have worked side by side with the same group of people. We have been in the same building together, and we have had the same teachers. We know the personalities of these teachers. We know what they expect of us, and we know what we are capable of. We have learned how to study for a history exam, and we have learned how to get away with not studying for a biology quiz. We have developed into confident, comfortable students.

But now, suddenly, it's time to leave all that behind. The peers with whom we have studied for four years are now being spread across the country to colleges, universities and jobs. We are heading into the great unknown. We will have to develop new friendships, adjust to new teachers, and learn new ways of studying. At times, this is the most wonderful and exhilirating concept in the world -- we are ready to go. At other times, it seems like too much change for us to handle.

You've been there. This isn't just high school graduation. It's any major life change. Whether it's changing jobs, moving to a new neighborhood, or heading off to summer camp for the first time, the emotions are all the same. There's the excitement at the prospect of this new and exciting thing, but also the fear of the unknown. Now imagine what the Disciples must have been feeling in the passage from John that we just heard.

These guys have been with Jesus 24-7 for three years. They have worked with him, studied with him, learned from him. He was their Lord and Teacher. And now, he's gone. And here they are left wondering, "What in the world are we supposed to do now??" They are excited, because they realize that now it's their turn. They've been following Jesus for so long, they've learned his ways. Now, it's all in their hands. With a sort of nervous excitement, they must have realized, "This is it. What we've been studying for all this time." But then in the next breath, they must have realized with absolute terror, "This is it. This. Now. Eeek!" So, with all of that excitement and nervous energy running high, we find the Disciples locked in a room, when in walks Jesus. This is kind of like the graduation ceremony for the Disciples. Minus the caps and gowns, it's all the same. One chapter of their lives is drawing to a close. They are different people than they were when they started. But they are fearful of the next chapter. And in comes their graduation speaker: their Teacher himself.

Jesus' graduation address to the Disciples isn't long and rambling, nor is it abstract and vague. It is short, sweet, and too the point. He says first of all, "Peace be with you." In fact, he says that twice. "Peace be with you." The tension in the room begins to subside as the Disciples realize that their teacher is saying to them,"Don't worry. Peace. Relax." Then he gets to the heart of his message. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Jesus says, "It's your turn now." But he qualifies that. Jesus is leaving his students with a superhuman task. No wonder they're terrified. They're supposed to "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." Sounds a little daunting, doesn't it? But Jesus says that they won't have to do it alone. He breathes on them and tells them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them." Although Jesus has left this insanely difficult task for his Disciples, they are not expected to do it alone. Likewise, neither are we. Wherever it is that we are called to go, whatever it is that we are called to do, we are not expected to do it alone. Jesus gave us the power of the Holy Spirit to see us through these transition times.

So that's it? Now we've got this Holy Spirit, and everything runs smoothly, right? Unfortunately not. This Spirit makes no guarantees that life will be easy. But we are guaranteed that the task before us will never be too great. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we will be able to face whatever comes our way, even if that means change. Change is rarely easy, not always fun, and often quite scary. Moving on from what you know into the great unknown is terrifying. But knowing that the Spirit of God -- that awesome powerful spirit -- is going with us can make us a little less nervous.

And so, Jesus' graduation message to you, all of you, members of St. John's United Methodist Church, wherever you are in your lives, is the same as it was 2,000 years ago to the original Disciples: "Peace. Don't worry. You are not going through this alone. Wherever you are headed, I'm going there with you. Peace."

Amen.

© 2000, Holly Gaudette