In the Fullness of Time

They could only comprehend and understand a little bit at a time, and they could not get the whole picture until they had seen the crucifixion and resurrection..

It took time, lots of time, until they became the people on fire to tell others about the Lord Jesus and his promises for any who will listen.

“I go to prepare a place for you,” from today's Gospel reading, would not have made any sense earlier in their time with Jesus, but later it became a beloved and precious promise onto which they could hold.

It's a long process, but what a result.

It takes time for the living of a life in Christ Jesus, as Luella has done.

Umma, as the family names her, has been busy across all this time.

From a birth and baptism out in Iowa a century ago,

--to the gathering of husband Larry,

--through the nurturing of a family with just the right warmth, a family that has now expanded to great-grandchildren,

--by adoption into the family of St. Mark's,

--and by long establishment in the community,

she has been growing into the complex set of loving relationships with family, congregation, and friends, through the blessing of the Lord Jesus.

It takes lots of time to do these things, and she has been blessed with more than 101 years of time to work on them.

I never change the wording of the Holy Communion service that we use in the home precisely so that Luella could depend upon her memory rather than her severely limited eyesight in order to participate.

And she was living and growing in that grace of Jesus right into the recent hospital days, with Kim reading scripture with her, and family members gathering together for Holy Communion with her, and being present for their renewal of wedding vows.

It takes time; it is a long process, but with what a result!

It brings to mind a phrase in Paul's letter to the Ephesians.

The verse is this: [God has] a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him.... In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, so that we might live for the praise of his glory. [Ephesians 1:10-12]

What a wonderful image: the Lord God is taking his time in order to gather up all his people.

Some may have very little time, some few like Luella may have 5-score years; but the Lord is looking for each of us.

And the Lord God will decide when things are ...in the fullness of time, when we have done what he intends for us now, and when it is that we need to continue with our proper job of praising God in the completeness of heaven.

When our time is full and complete, it is but the beginning of a new chapter in our life in Christ.

But until then, there is so much for us to do:

There are the tender memories of Umma to remember and share with one another today, even as the writer of Proverbs spoke of the office of a wonderful wife.

There are the lumps and bumps in Larry's adjustment to a new residence after so many years in their own home.

There are the lonely hours to handle, and time to deal gently with one another.

There are Christ's promises to recall, even as Paul spoke of them to the Romans, that we are baptized into the death of Jesus so that we will be raised with him also.

There are new generations of people who need to hear the good news of Jesus from us, in what we say and how we behave.

There is much for us to do, much bread to be baked, among many other tasks, and just enough time for us to do it all.

But we can dare to undertake it, because:

In the fullness of time, Christ Jesus came to earth to live among us truly.

In the fullness of time, he faced crucifixion and was raised to new life.

In the fullness of time, we have been called to life by Jesus, and tasked with many things; all sorts of mixing and kneading, and waiting.

In the fullness of time, Luella has baked her final loaf, and now is called to her place at the great banquet table, the place reserved for her a long time ago in Holy Baptism.

In the fullness of time, we join her in anticipation of that banquet through the Holy Communion now.

As we shall sing in a moment:

Unto us his grace he showeth,

And our sorrows all he knoweth. [LBW474.3 alt.]

It is a long process, but oh, what a result. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.