This Sunday asks us, expects us, to accept and embrace two things that many of us, and many people generally, are not good at. Waiting and persevering. Actually, even more than that - waiting in hope, not dread, for we know not what. And persevering in faith and joy even in the face of contrary evidence, and an uncertain outlook.

True, and hugely significant for us, is that this waiting and persevering, this waiting with hope and persevering with joy, are commanded of us by Jesus himself, just as he directed and instructed those first disciples so long ago. He told them, and us, that, following his Ascension, the Holy Spirit would be given to them to lead them, not fitfully or vaguely or uncertainly, but to lead them into all truth, and to be with them forever, every moment. Every single moment. But he also cautioned and expected them, and us, to accept not just serenely, but joyfully, a period of waiting and persevering and holding on and being faithful while we wait for something unexpected.

Unexpected it was by the disciples and unexpected it still is in so many ways, not yet fully understood by us, even with all the history and faith and experience of the Church from then until now.

"Behold" he said to them, "I send the promise of the Holy Spirit. But stay in the City until you are clothed with power from on high." Nothing more than that, but enough for them - as it is, and must be, for us - enough for them to return fully and faithfully, and above all, joyfully, to their lives, to live, and do their best, and to persevere, and hang on, and have faith, until the Promise if fulfilled, the offer fulfilled, the power and presence given to them, and now to us. This is that Sunday, the in-between-time above all others, our chance and our challenge to hang tough, and to carry on - not stoically or sadly or wearily, but joyfully, praising God for all that he has done - expecting, awaiting, believing in, confident about, his promise to do yet more, to offer more, to give more, so that we will be better able to persevere in faith and proceed in love and courage, in the face of great odds.

And we will, we know, face great odds, face hard and threatening times and circumstances, threats, and temptations, and actual, genuine tragedies that are not imagined, or feared, or anticipated, but grimly and heart-breakingly experienced and endured. And we are to do this not simply with faith and courage, which is where we start, but also with joy and praise, which is how we continue and go on, in spite of all, in the confidence, the utter confidence, the "sure and certain knowledge" as St. Paul so firmly believed and fervently preached - the confidence, the assurance, "the knowledge of things unseen things hoped for," the spiritual, the gifts from on high. Certain of all these things, certain of the love of our Lord and the fidelity of our God and all his promises to us.

Actually, on thinking about it, and you and the faith I find and see here, and the faith and steadfast hope that gives me such hope and faith, and that does, clearly, enable me to go forward in joy and thanksgiving, I am amazed and grateful.

And so, on reflecting, I revise my opening: This Sunday, this waiting, hopeful, but still unfulfilled Sunday, asks me, and many people, to do something, that, as I said, we are not good at ..."

You, clearly, you, the people here, are good at that, good and faithful, and the source and cause of so much joy to all who see you and your faith.

Well I know, and genuinely believe, that I should have said, not that you need to do this waiting and this persevering with faith and hope and love and joy, I should have said, and say now, that you need only to keep on doing this, faithfully and without discouragement. Once again, I am reminded so powerfully of a comment by St. Paul, which is exactly what I really think, and should say more often: and that is St. Paul's commendation of the Thessalonian congregation: "I thank God always for you all - constantly mentioning you in my prayers - remembering before our God and Father your work of faith, and labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."