Flaming Justice
Can be listened to here
Gate Pa – Year A Pentecost Sunday,
Readings:
Psalm
Psalm:
104:24-34, 35b
First
Reading: Acts
2:1-21
Second
Reading: 1 Cor
12:3-13
Gospel: John 20:19-23
What I want to
say:
to
explore the symbolism around the telling of Pentecost and what that offers us
in our understanding and living of the Pentecost story
John
teaches that the Spirit is the one to be trusted – not understood. When we
trust and live the Sprit then we find life, then Spirit of Jesus offers life
through us.
What I want to
happen:
ask – what do we trust the Spirit
to do?
-
do we recognise the extraordinary acts of the
spirit in our lives, in our world
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
today is Pentecost Sunday
what
can you tell me about this Sunday?
discuss
2. Theology not history
Last week we talked about some of the
differences between how story of the ascension is presented in some of the gospels
and Acts
-
some not have it
-
one has it as
part of resurrection (John)
-
one has it on
Easter Sunday – (Luke)
-
Acts has it 40
days later
same thing going on today
Not in Matthew and Mark
John – wraps resurrection/ascension/giving Spirit
all into one event
assumption
– followers of the way continue experience risen and ascended one who continues
to give the Spirit
Luke – giving of Spirit is hinted at in gospel
in Acts - offers this amazing account
what are we supposed to do with these
differences
we read these books as history
–
as such historical
accuracy is important to us
–
when offered
different timelines
–
feel like we
should choose
o
who is right here
o
maybe all right?
not books history
books
of theology
stories
told in way offers accurate understanding of who Jesus is
who is God met in these stories
what difference that makes now
story is told not offer accurate time line of
events
-
clear picture of
what this is all about.
Both the accounts heard today offer different
theologies
-
not competing theologies
-
but theologies that
stand side by side
3. Luke
Luke has constructed his version of story which
is full of symbolism
starts with pushing dates Ascension out by 40
days
è where else 40 used bible?
time
in wilderness
refers
back to exodus
120 followers
è where else find 120 or 12?
o
12 tribes of Israel
è doing this making bold claim those put trust
in Jesus are true Israel
o
one through whom God
will restore humanity and renew creation
o
big claim
Gifting Spirit moved to feast Pentecost
-
harvest festival –
time giving thanks God’s provision
-
also became festival
celebrating gifting of Law on Mount Sinai
-
two aspects to
that need pay attention to
4. Tongues
first is story common known at time Luke writing
his version of story
when Torah given on Sinai
flame came down from heaven and divided into
70 tongues
one
for each nation of the world.
all
could understand
only
one promised to keep Torah
those nations represented by all those around
Mediatraina
once again offered opportunity to obey Torah
live in presence God
è leads us to second aspect
5. Leviticus
second is nature of festival of weeks or Pentecost
which according to Leviticus 23: 15-22
held
on the 7th Sabbath after Passover
(50th day
hence Greek name – pente or 50)
passage goes on to describe what is needed for
thanksgiving offering
finishes with
“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall
not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your
harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien: I am the Lord
your God.”
Leviticus passage moves directly from thankfulness to justice,
-
ethical demand to not harvest the fields to their
fullest extent, but to leave the edges for the poor.
not a one off
Leviticus 23:22 is one
of several places where
-
the landed folk were
to leave dropped bundles on the ground,
-
were not to harvest
all the way to the edges,
-
were not to beat olive
trees or strip grape vines completely,
-
because they were once poor and landless and God
had given the land to them.
o
they were to mirror generosity and compassion that
God had showed to them
è Pentecost not just
thanksgiving festival
è reminder that at heart
of law is God’s justice and generosity
è reminder that they
were all once landless slaves
è that landowners were
to consider their land, their trees, and their vineyards as a means of
providing for the poor.
Luke chose this festival as time when Spirit
came
when true Israel revealed
as
ones who truly lived out Torah
o
because they ones
truly lived in presence of God
at
heart of Torah
and of their living the law in
presence God
is that all they had was to be used
a means of providing for poor
è which it was
è all owned held in common and used for poor
è Luke tells us that
è history tells us that first Christian communities
both renowned and reviled for their compassion and generosity for poor
6. Us
Luke and John not interested in telling
stories sake of information
told them to invite hearers into that story
each Pentecost Luke hoped that hearers
reminded
because
we are ones truly live in presence of God
all
we have is to be used a means of providing for poor
message that too often we have forgotten
although always been those who reminded rest
of us of that call.
One of commentators use reminded us
John gospel
Spirit is not something we should seek
understand – too often fall trap doing
è but Spirit is to be trusted
this trust should be at heart of our lives
question then we are asked
in light what I have said today
-
what do we trust the Spirit to do?
-
do we recognise the extraordinary acts of the Spirit in
our lives, in our world?
-
how are we invited to join in
Comments