Living a Spirit Blown Resurrection Life
Gate Pa – Pentecost Sunday - Year
C - 2022
Psalm Psalm: 104:25-35
How does Pentecost invite us, not so much to remember and celebrate a past event, but to reflect on what the recurring gifting of the Spirit sets in motion today.
invite people to take one of the flowers from our Easter resurrection cross as a reminder that the Spirit is at work beside us and within us, reminding, comforting, teaching, encouraging, praying in us and with us.
The Sermon
1.
Introduction:
show movie on Pentecost from Vol. 11:
Spreading The Good News from www.whatsinthebible.comð What is important about Pentecost for you?
2. Fixing Babel?
Often Christians describe this as God
punishing humanity for it’s arrogance. And we go on to say that the Acts 2
story of the coming of the Spirit in a new way at the Jewish festival of
Pentecost reverses that punishment.
Except that all the languages still exist.
But is the Genesis 11 story really about
punishment? Or is it instead a story
about God’s desire for diversity both in creation and among people?
Or is it a story about God seeing the end
point of this arrogance and working to prevent the eventual destruction of this
world God had created for all to enjoy and thrive in? As we look at the legacy
of multinational corporations today continuing to cause massive ecological
damage in the name of short term profit, leaving indigenous communities around
the globe landless and impoverished, caring little for the legacy of climate
change and biodiversity loss, maybe the writers of Genesis knew more than us.
Human self-importance is destroying our common home. The creation of many and
diverse languages and cultures protected this world.
One Jewish reading of this story is that the Genesis
11 story is the end point of humanity increasingly moving from a place of
intimacy with God, to a human-made environment where God is no longer heard and
humanity’s destiny is forgotten. The creation of languages offers protection to
creation, and the possibility that some will remember our destiny to be
partners with God in caring for and sustaining God’s world. The story of Babel
is followed by Abram and Sarai, and beginning of a people who will be shaped to
live this destiny.
What then is the story of the coming of the Spirit in Acts? It is not a fix to babel. Nor does it fulfil Genesis 11. Instead, maybe, it is an affirmation of the diversity created at Babel, and becomes the vehicle through which the Spirit of God will work to bring God’s peace and justice to this world. In the cacophony of voices God’s Spirit is heard and is at work, sowing seeds of humility, calling us to step into a new horizon.
3. Happy birthday Church
But this year I wonder what that means? What kind
of church is being celebrated?
Which takes us to John’s gospel.
John’s gospel is all about “God so loved the
world”. Jesus, the word of God incarnate, made human like us, lives God’s
desires for humanity and this world.
The passage we heard today is at the start of
his last talk with the disciples, at their last meal. It comes after he has washed
their feet, said one of them will betray him and sent Judas out into the night
to do what he must, and told Peter he will deny being his disciple three times.
It is full of tension, fear, uncertainty about the future, even hopelessness. Like
many today.
And to these desperate followers Jesus
promises another paraclete or companion. Another who will walk beside them to
carry on the work of healing and sustaining human community and God’s creation.
Through the Spirit he promises the same intimacy with God the father that he
has lived in. Barbara Lundblad on Working Preacher says, “The
Spirit of truth, the Advocate will come here. Jesus’ presence will be deeper
than memory and closer than heaven. Jesus will forever be messed up with this
body-life, this earthiness which some tell us to discount, even disdain.”
To celebrate the birthday of the church is to
be reminded of what the church is. Knowing the Spirit is breathed into us as it
was into those first disciples so that we might continue to carry out God’s
work
-
renewal creation
-
restoration of humanity
-
through lives
shaped values lived by Jesus
-
embodying values
of hospitality, generosity, compassion, justice.
-
what we might
call resurrection lives
Sometimes at Pentecost we are inclined to
celebrate what was accomplished that first Pentecost. Instead, we are invited
to wonder what was set in motion that first Pentecost, and our part in it.
How have we experienced the work of the Spirit
s individuals and as a parish over the last couple of years?
What does this set in motion today?
ð Discuss
4. Come, Holy Spirit: a prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, witness to us
also in our many languages.
Speak in the language of our
need. Let us hear how our deepest hungers, desires, and aspirations can be
fulfilled by your goodness.
Speak in the language of our
fear. Let us hear how our worries about the future, about each other, and about
ourselves, can find rest in your care.
Speak in the language of our
gratitude. Let us hear how our honest thanks relates us, not only to those with
whom we live, but also to you, the Lord and Giver of life, and, indeed, to the
whole world.
Speak to us in the language of
hope. Let us hear how our deepest yearning and our expectations are not just
wishful thinking, but responses to your promise.
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