"The Answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind..." Pentecost

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9  •  Psalm 104:24-34, 35b  •  Romans 8:14-17 or  Acts 2:1-21  •  John 14:8-17, (25-27)

The Lectionary this week contrasts the experience of the Tower of Babel and the Pentecost. Both involve people speaking different languages. In one case they became confused and disperses. In the other case "simple Galileans" were heard to speak and communicate with others in different languages. Why confusion on the one hand, and communication on the other?

Pentecost is sometimes called the birthday of the church, and we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church. What is Pentecost? What does it mean?  In "What Does it Mean? Pentecost Homily" Christopher Burkett tells us, among other things, that it is a time when one can hear in the language of a broken heart, the spirit of eternal love - a time when we hear the whisper of God in our own hearts.

In "Nothing but' Misses the Point," The Rev. Canon Frank S. Logue tells us that reductionists who define the world as "nothing but" physical explanations or empiricism miss the point. At the same time it can't be reduced to mere emotionalism or hysteria. What is it then?

In "Messy Church" Jo Bailey Wells tells us that in some sense God prefers a little of the chaos of Pentecost to the strict order and central administration with which the Tower of Babel was built. What does she mean, and why?

In "Astounding, Day of Pentecost," The Rev. Joseph S. Pagano discusses the experience of the Holy Spirit, and what it means in trying to explain it.

"... that they may be one."

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34  •  Psalm 97  •  Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21  •  John 17:20-26

Acts 1:1-11  • Psalm 47 or Psalm 93  • Ephesians 1:15-23  • Luke 24:44-53

This week's gospel account is Jesus' prayer for us before his ascension: that we might be one as he and the Father are one, that we might share the love of the Father with him. This is a time of tension before Jesus' ascension - between his absence in human form, and his life giving spirit presence. This is a precursor to Trinity Sunday and Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit breathed life into the Church. The Ascension Day scripture is also included in our readings

This is also a call for unity. What does it mean to be one in Christ? Do we give up our individuality? How can we be one in Christ when, as individuals, we have different opinions, viewpoints and experiences?

Consider The Rev. Dr. Janet Hunt's "A Unity Not of Our Own Making," Professor John W. Martens' "Heaven-Sent," and three lessons from Jesus' Ascension from The Rev. Ann Dieterle in "Ascension Day... The Departed?"  (A side note: Ann served as a priest with Alex at St. James in Richmond, VA).



What is God's peace?

Scripture: Acts 16:9-15  •  Psalm 67  •  Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5  •  John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9

What is God's peace, the peace Jesus gives us? See The Rev. Rick Morley's "a peace of marvel - a reflection on John 14:27.  In these days of mindless, cowardly violence inflicted on innocents, can we find Serenity in Chaos (by The Rev. Steve Goodier)?

Reflecting on John 5:1-9, Kyle Childress in "Courage to be Whole" asks "Do we fear the cure more than the illness?" Bill Coffin said that if it is hell to be guilty, it’s certainly scarier to be responsible – response-able – able to respond to God’s call, able to respond to the word and love of Jesus. When we cease being a victim – “I can’t get to the water Jesus; there’s always someone else who gets there first” – and start being responsible then our legs are strong enough for us to walk beside others who are in pain and need help. Our arms are empowered to embrace our enemies and the outcasts. We no longer make excuses; instead we walk forward to new life in Jesus Christ and go to work serving, healing, hoping, and living a life of joy and fullness.

What role, if any, does hospitality have to do with God's peace? In "Mi Casa Es Su Casa,"The Rev. Larry Patten says we can learn a lot from Lydia, the first European woman to be baptized, who said to Paul "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home."

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference."

- The Serenity Prayer

   Reinhold Niebuhr

Love one another, as I have loved you

Scripture: Acts 11:1-18  •  Psalm 148  •  Revelation 21:1-6  •  John 13:31-35

You have probably know the song, "They'll know we are Christians by our love." As you look around today, do you think Christians are known by their love? What does Jesus mean when he says to love one another as he has loved us? Consider what Peter Woods says in "Boldly Going Where No Love Has Gone Before, " and Sister Kym Harris in her "Commentary." When we fail to love as Jesus loves us, we are not letting God be God. Sometimes we act or think like it all depends on us. What kind of problems can that cause? See The Rev. Steve Goodier's "A God Too Small."

Are you the One? How can we know?

Scripture: Acts 9:36-43  • Psalm 23  • Revelation 7:9-17  • John 10:22-30

This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday. John's gospel relates Jesus' last public speech. Stan Duncan tells us it is winter, the season of Chislin and the feast of the Dedication/Renewal, the last encounter at feasts Jesus has with religious authorities of the Jews.  The Feast of Dedication, or Renewal (Hanukkah) was the most political of all the feasts, celebrating the re-consecration of the Temple with the Maccabees victory over Greek/ Syrian oppressors. Jesus was discovered walking through the colonnades built by Solomon at the height of Israel's national glory. 

The religious authorities confronted Jesus in high anxiety, wanting to know if he was the Davidic militaristic king/Messiah. What did Jesus tell them? 

Just as Jesus asked Peter and the disciples, "Who do you say I am?,"  who do we say Jesus is? Is he the One - the Messiah, the Lord of Light and Life? How can we know? Consider The Rev. Debie Thomas' "Belonging," and The Rev. Sharron Blezard's, "The Voice." Consider Stan Duncan's commentary on the passage from John's gospel in "Good Shepherd Sunday."

Picking up the broken pieces...

Scripture: Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)  • Psalm 30  •  Revelation 5:11-14  •  John 21:1-19

We continue with the Easter experience this week. In John 21, we are treated to an Easter breakfast by Jesus. Jesus gives us another "Resurrection" lesson in his dialogue with Peter, who denied Jesus three times before the crucifixion. Jesus gives Peter a new hope, even in Peter's apparent distress, when Jesus tells Peter to "feed my sheep," after asking Peter if Peter loved him. Easter gives us the opportunity to pick up the broken pieces. What does that mean to you? See "Picking Up the Broken Pieces" by Dan Clendenin.


What does Jesus mean when he says "feed my sheep?" See "Love Me? Feed My Sheep"by The Rev. Bob Stuhlmann, and "The Work of Easter" by The Rev. Kay Sylvester.

 We also read about the conversion of Saul (Paul) at Damascus. Talk about a turn around!

 


 

The Gift of God's Peace

Scripture (Click "Scripture for today's readings).

I look forward to exchanging the Peace each Sunday after the homily, and before the choir's anthem and the Holy Eucharist. What happens when we exchange the peace? In John's gospel, we read that Jesus appeared to the disciples who huddled behind closed doors, undoubtedly bewildered and fearful Jesus first words to them are "Peace be with you." And he says it again after showing them his nail pierced hands and spear pierced side. But this time he adds "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Then he breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."


What happens when you are given, and you receive a gift? In "Exchanging the Peace," The Very Reverend Anthony F.M. Clavier tells us: "Accepting a gift is a moment of self-emptying, of acceptance and gratitude. For a moment we are beholden, vulnerable, dependent as we receive that which we lack. Receiving a gift can strike our pride, can be uncomfortable. Living in the gift demands an active gratitude. It also means that we value that which we have been given. We feel it necessary to show it off. And that leads to sharing the gift. The gift of “the peace of God which passeth all understanding” is to be received as a trust to share with others. Thus when we exchange “the Peace” today, we say to those we greet, “Here is the most wonderful gift, the gift of accepting Jesus into our lives and sharing that communion with each other and out into the world.”And then there is the presence. The presence of Christ, which we experience in the Eucharist. Let us share that peace, and presence, together. In His presence, we are forgiven, and we can forgive.