May 28, 2023 ~ PENTECOST
Rev. Beckie Sweet
PRAYER: Come, Holy Spirit, Come.
Renew your whole creation, nature and grace, soul and body.
Move in and around us and fill us with your creative energy
And extravagant light ~ wind and fire.
May our hearts be open, may our hearts be stirred,
For the work of love to which you call us
And the hope of the world for which we labor.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
PENTECOST! This is Pentecost! I must admit, this is my favorite Sundays to be preaching! Pentecost, for Christians, is one of the most holy and joyous days of the year. It ranks right up there with Easter and Christmas! This is a day of God’s New Creation bursting forth! With wind and fire, God gives birth to the Church, the body of Christ. We’re wearing red today because red is the liturgical color of Pentecost. Red is the color of fire and symbolizes the presence of God. Just as Moses saw the burning bush as a symbol of God’s presence, so we wear red today as a symbol of God’s eternal presence with the human family after the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
Some theologians, like Marcus Borg, count Pentecost as the reversal of the Tower of Babel story from [Genesis]. There the greed of humanity was upended by God infusing many different languages into the human family, making communication challenging at best, if not impossible.
But, on Pentecost, even with folks who conversed in so many different languages in one place, the Holy Spirit blessed the followers of Jesus with the ability to make the good news available and understood by this diverse community. What an amazing linguistic experience! And wonder of wonders, it was not just the leaders who were conveying “the wonderful things God has done.” What a cacophony of holy praise! All of Jesus’ followers had a story to tell and told it so convincingly that 3,000 persons were baptized into the faith that day.
Being equipped by the gift of the Holy Spirit to speak the truth of God’s power and love into the world is the theme of this day of celebration! We are blessed with the wind and fire of the Holy Spirit! This is the gift that allows the church to see and appreciate the rich blessing of diversity, unified through faith in the risen Christ. Wind, fire, and humble Galileans speaking persuasively in many tongues were dramatic signs that God was doing a new thing that would transform the lives of those present, and far beyond in time and space.
Here, at the dawn of a new era, it is the birthday of a church called to spread to the ends of the earth, the activity, the display, the calling, is for everyone! People of every gender expression, every age, every social status, every race, every country of origin, every level of education, every ability, are invited and included. And all are expected to dream, to prophesy, to tell all what God is up to!
Even though the disciples had been in relative seclusion, they are overcome by a sweeping wind, an uplifting Spirit, that drives those disciples out, out into the streets and the world beyond their walls. They are swept out into the world compelled to spread the Good News of what God is doing in a new day!
The Good News for 21st Century Christians on this feast of Pentecost is that the same Holy Spirit that led Isaiah to envision a holy mountain for all people, the same Holy Spirit that warmed the hearts of the grieving ones on the Road to Emmaus, and the same Holy Spirit that led John of Patmos to witness a city with no walls, that same Holy Spirit is blowing among us today. In 2023 it blows from house to house, from family to family, from city to farm, it blows among and between us all, giving us the inspiration, guidance, comfort, courage and strength to share the stories of Jesus and live bravely according to Jesus’ will.
What did Peter do with the blessing of wind and fire that he witnessed? He interpreted what God was doing in the lives of those in Jerusalem on that day. Today, we are called to follow Peter’s example, interpreting the activity of God in the present moment of our lives. Like the time of creation, Pentecost brings unity and beauty out of a period of chaos. For many of us, there is a renewed sense of unity in this chaotic time as we endeavor to feed everyone, protect everyone, and provide for the physical and spiritual needs of neighbors. Even in the midst of political polarity, gun violence and racism, wars and genocide, disease in human and environmental forms, we NEED the Holy Spirit to renew our unity and care for one another. For we have seen the amazing results of Spirit-filled living.
In 2020, a 10-year-old United Methodist named Britney Sadete from Harare, Zimbabwe, released her first solo album, “Tsitsi Dzake” (Give Me Jesus). The album hit the markets and airwaves just days before the nationwide lockdown on March 30th to stop the spread of COVID-19. One of the pastors of her church, Hunyani UMC reported that Britney’s music became a comforting and hope-filled balm for the African continent during the chaotic and fragile time. She then released [Walking With God], which, within 24 hours reached 100,000 views on YouTube.
Britney had hoped that her music would offer faith to others her age. But the Spirit used her music to convey to people of all ages how to be brave by following God’s lead, especially when thousands are dying every day. When people began to tell Britney about the powerful influence of her music, she was at first surprised. And then, with a knowing look on her face she declared that God has used her voice to bring love to those who were frightened and isolated, faith to those who needed God.
On Pentecost, we celebrate that the Spirit’s wind and fire do not bring destruction, but rather, passion, rebirth, renewed strength, and resiliency. How have we used the gifts of the Spirit to build unity, care, and spiritual fervor across all kinds of barriers and differences? The Spirit of the Living Christ is on the move, friends! Can you HEAR the rush of the mighty wind, SEE the tongues of flame, and FEEL the transformation happening within you, within the family of faith, and within the community?
Open the doors, dial the phone, send out that text, email, or social media message, and tell others the Good News of what God is up to today. Tell the stories of Jesus. Tell the stories of how Jesus has, and is, changing your life. Be blessed by wind and fire on this PENTECOST.
Eternal Spark, on Pentecost, let us celebrate the power of your spirit in creation and in us. You transform us, empower us, guide us, sustain us, and give us hope when we thought all was lost. We are touched by your flames and wind when we are moved to tears or laughter by a play or a book, when we listen to music that rocks our soul, when a friend takes our hand and shows us that love is action and not just a cozy feeling. Clothe our spirits in red and stir our wind chimes to melody today and always. Amen.[i]
[i] Susan Hodge-Parker, Before the Amen Creative Resources for Worship, edited by Maren C. Tirabassi & Maria I. Tirabassa. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press. ©2007