The Ongoing Story - Peter, Te Taumata-a-kura, and us
Gate Pa – Pentecost Sunday 2016
Readings:
Psalm
Psalm: 104:24-34,35
First
Reading:
Acts 2:1-21
Second
Reading: Romans 8:14-17
Gospel:
John
14:8-17
What I want to say:
The
work of the spirit allows us to ask – what does it mean, and to continue to
retell and reinterpret the story of Jesus to each new situation we find
ourselves in. Use the story of Piripi Taumata-a-kura of Ngati Porou to illustrate this
What I want to
happen:
People to be part of the story
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
today we heard Luke’s grand story of Pentecost
a grand story with lots of special effects
wind
flames
people
speaking all kinds of languages
Luke really pulls out the stops with this one
and it captures our imagination.
story we know well
invite you turn neighbour and together retell
the story
2. some questions
-
who were all
together? – and who did it include? (120 as were there for election of Matthias?
women including Mary mother of Jesus?)
-
where were they?
(who knows, just one place)
-> we assume these details
do
itall time
in
this case not overly important
although
can influence how we read
everyone
does it
those
assumptions influence how we read all scripture
end up with very different understanding
of same passages
also
means that these kinds assumptions made in writing
they are assumptions we miss
means we often danger missing point
writer trying make
reading
scripture is not as easy as some make out
3. What happens next
-
what happens? - sound
like violent wind
·
divided tongues
as of fire on each
·
filled with holy
spirit and speak other languages
·
at this sound of
all languages – crowd gathers in amazement
·
ask what does
this mean
·
Peter’s speech
o
based on Joel 2: 28-32a
4. Luke’s changes
Luke makes three changes
after
these things -> in the last days
slaves
(all slaves) to “my” slaves
to
“I will pour out my spirit”
adds
“so that they shall prophesy”
Not misquoting
not correcting
adapting prophets old words to fit this new
situation he has Peter finding himself in
Joels
original words finds new meaning in light deeds God through Jesus and sending
of his Spirit.
they asked – what does this mean
answered them
5. Prophesy
what then is prophecy
often think it is about predicting the future
but biblical understanding is that ability to
see the world now as God sees it
speak from this understanding
see how this works in Peters words
a - speaks to present time
uses
images, passages from past to speak into the present
on
basis of that – looks to future
when all talking about will be
ultimately accomplished
b. – prophesy answers question – what does
this mean?
c. – involves all of us, and not just resident
experts
-
Spirit was poured out on people across all social boundaries including age, role,
socioeconomic status – including slaves
Lastly Pentecost not one off event 2,000 years
ago
could fairly call Books of Acts
ongoing
story of Pentecost
that day was just start
story went on
story goes on today
we are part of that story.
6. Piripi Taumata-a-kura of Ngati Porou[1]
in our churches calendar today we remember one
great missionaries here in Aotearoa
certainly one very significant figures in formation
of this diocese.
Piripi Taumata-a-kura
captured
by Ngā Puhi in 1820’s
He
had been influenced by the gospel in the north - He learned to read and write
at the mission school in Waimate, though he was not baptised there, and did not
seem very interested in Christianity at the time.,
and
on his return in @1833 had taught and preached, using short prayers and hymns,
referring to Bible texts written on scraps of paper.
Significant
moment was in 1836 when he successfully negotiated restraint based on Christian
principles in an inter-tribal battle with Te Whanau-a-Apanui. He agreed to take
part only if there was no cannibalism and no wanton destruction of canoes or
crops. This code of conduct was agreed to, and Taumata-a-kura led the Ngati
Porou forces in the Bay of Plenty with his musket in one hand and New Testament
in the other. The fact that he was not hit only served to increase his mana.
Taumata-a-kura’s restraint left a strong impression on his opponents and did
much to establish the virtual legend surrounding his work.
William
Williams was informed of his work by Ngā Puhi chief visited area 1837
led
to nine young men being trained catechists in Paihia to join him in his work
eventual
move of Williams to establish what became Dicoese of Waiapu
what
is interesting aboput this story is that Ngāti Porou are very clear
this
is not story maori accepting teaching of English missionairy
but
Ngati Porou making deliberate choices around spirituality for our own purposes[2]
7. What does this mean?
What
does this mean for us this Pentecost?
Like
on Day Pentecost
Holy
Spirit used Te Taumata-a-kura to use scripture he knew to answer question
what does this mean?
Ngati
Porou began new way seeing world and living in it
based
on peace of God found in Christ
and
for us
ours
is same task
same tasks we see in Peter
that same task we hear about with Te
Taumata-a Kura
->
is also our task
We
are to be people who in words and actions
answer
question – what does this mean
Importance
of Pentecost Sunday is not what happened 2,000 years ago
it
is that it continues today
we
are ongoing story of Pentecost.
Comments