The Day of Pentecost, Year A

The Power Working In Us

Readings: Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13; John 20:19-23

There is something quite wonderful about the ebb and flow of Anglican liturgy. Following the lectionary as we do, we know the changing of the seasons. One that often gets overlooked is the Feast of the Ascension, coming as it does on a Thursday. Now I have to say that it was always an important feast day for me growing up. At the Anglican school that I attended it was marked, first of all with Eucharist at the nearby St. Thomas Church, affectionately known to us as Smokey Tom's, and then followed up with a picnic at Toronto Island. So for me Ascension Day has always been about a picnic. That is, until shortly after my ordination I had to preach on it. As I read over the lections I realized that it was anything but a picnic. Jesus was telling the disciples that he was about to leave them, and even more, he was leaving them holding the bag.

I have a good sense of what that is about as well. I felt it as I stood at my father's graveside and realized for the first time that there were no other living generations before me. I was now the 'older generation'. It was a burden, not simply because it meant that I was getting older, but because it meant that there was no other generation to blame. It made me consider whether or not I was up to the task.

Following Jesus' ascension the disciples felt that same burden of responsibility. What he began, the disciples were left behind to continue. He left them a commission to witness to what they had seen and experienced and to proclaim the Gospel they had heard. He left them a promise that they would be fully equipped to accomplish the task. He promised that they would be everything they were meant to be.

It was a promise that set them free to be exactly that. It left them with a huge responsibility to carry on in his name what he had begun. But it left them with the ability to do so. The Spirit poured out upon the whole Christian community, the Spirit within them, enabled them to begin the proclamation of the Gospel. The sign of the Holy Spirit visibly at work in the world made it possible.

And so we come to Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. It celebrates, not the coming of the Holy Spirit. That has always been God's gift to the Church. Rather it celebrates a fresh outpouring of the Spirit set loose in the world. It is the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to pour out the Holy Spirit on the disciples.

Yet the gift of the Holy Spirit is not some special and unique gift given only to a chosen few. God's Spirit is to be enjoyed by all of God's people. I’ll say it again! It is not God's Spirit suddenly present at Pentecost. It is the same Spirit that moved over the waters of creation. It is the same Spirit led the people of that Israel through the desert. It is the same Spirit that Jesus breathed on the disciples as he commissioned them to continue the work that he began. And it is that same Spirit that is our primary motivation as Christians. If Christmas is a celebration of 'God with us' then Pentecost is a celebration of 'God still with us'.

The writer of the Book of Acts tells us that on the day of Pentecost the Christian Church was assembled for worship. Were they still in mourning? Were they pondering on how to carry out the mission that Jesus had left in their hands? As they were worshipping together they heard a loud, rushing noise. The sound gave way to tongues of flame that settled on each person. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak in other languages. More importantly, they were inspired to take on that mission.

Some of you may remember the movie, Chariots of Fire that came out in 1981. If you remember nothing else you will remember the music. The movie is the true story of two British track athletes who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics. Eric Liddell was a devout Scottish missionary who ran for God; Harold Abrahams was a Jewish student at Cambridge who ran for fame and to escape prejudice. Their victory began even before the competition – for Liddell because he held fast to his beliefs and for Abrahams because he gave all he had to give.

Eric reflects on what it means to him to win the race. He says, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." He had a powerful sense of God's purpose for his life. He knew that it was his responsibility to be everything God called him to be. He knew also where God fit into the picture. Following the race he reflects, "Then where does the power come from, to see the race to its end?" He gives his own answer: "From within."

It is the Holy Spirit working in us and through us that allows us, Paul says, to confess that "Jesus is Lord." That confession of faith is at the heart of the Christian message. The only way we can truly say it is if the Spirit moves us, influences us. So what are the signs that God's Spirit is working in and through us?

The psalmist says, "When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth." What gifts of the Spirit could transform our world? We recognize the gifts of great spiritual leaders like Jean Vanier. We recognize momentous events like the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. We get enthused by the vision of those who want to bring about great global changes. Yet we often forget that the Spirit works in and through ordinary people. If we all shared our gifts, what a transformed world this would be.

There would be those who would visit the sick and bring love to a lonely life. There would be those who respond to others needs, sharing faith, listening, caring. Others would teach children and young people with integrity and love. The prophets of our day would warn us of impending disaster and challenge us to clean up our world in order to avert economic and ecological disasters. Some would share wisdom helping us to think more clearly. Some would help us enunciate our faith more clearly. Others would provide the healing touch. There would be those who speak words of encouragement to the downhearted. Some would overcome great difficulties in their own lives and go on to help others. Some would pray. Others would inspire.

Are these not all manifestations of the Spirit of God working in the lives of people? Are they not images of Spirit-filled people, on fire with the passion of God's justice? Pentecost has happened to us. The Holy Spirit has been given and continues to abide within the lives of those who follow Christ. Where does the power come from? God is about us and within us at this very moment. Let us celebrate the presence of God's Spirit in the world and in the church. I wish you all, on behalf of the Church of God, a very happy, Spirit-filled birthday.