For Sunday, May 28, 2023, Readings: Numbers
11:24-30, Ps 104:25-35, 37; Acts 2:1-21, John 20:19-23
So Moses went out and told the people
the words of the Lord, and he gathered
seventy of the elders of the people…Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke
to him and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy
elders, and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied... [Numbers 11:24-25] O Lord,
how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all...You send forth
your Spirit, and they are created...Bless the Lord, O my soul. [Psalm 104: 25a, 31a, 37a]
When the day of Pentecost had come, the
disciples were altogether in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound
like the rush of a violent wind... Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among
them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them
ability... then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be
saved. [Acts 2:1-4, 21]
...[Jesus] cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and
let the one who believes in me drink. As the Scripture has said, 'Out of the
believer's heart shall flow the living water.' Now he said this about the
Spirit, which the believers were about to receive..." [John 7:37b-39a]
Fifty Days after
Easter, Ten Days after the Ascension, comes Pentecost, the feast
of Holy Spirit: the Birth Day of the Christian Church. The
word Pentecost comes from the Greek for "fiftieth"
and carries much ancient history and tradition along with its place on the
Christian calendar. On the Jewish calendar, this ancient feast
is Shavuot and follows 50 days after Passover. Although in the Hebrew
Bible Shavuot is not explicitly named as the day on which the Torah was
revealed by God to Moses who gave it to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, this is commonly
considered to be its primary purpose. Today’s passage from The Book of Numbers
certainly gives some credence to this celebration. Shavuot may perhaps be another reason the disciples of Jesus were
gathered. Being together, comforted by a familiar and venerable ritual, they
waited for the unknown sign promised by the resurrected Jesus in his final
in-person teachings.
Remember, that in just in the prior month
and a half, the disciples had experienced a confusing “Last Supper,” the arrest
and violent execution of Jesus, his resurrection, various appearances to them,
his ascension, and their own grief, fear, and uncertainty at these inexplicable
turns of events. Here they are gathered together again without quite knowing
what was next or when. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind and tongues of fire
resting on them, as they began speaking in multiple languages, of course they were bewildered, astonished, and amazed! And then, their ministry began
in earnest, taking Christ's message far and wide.
Today we are blasé. We know the story too well; we
are immune to the thrill and amazement of it. The churches are packed at
Christmas and Easter yet come Pentecost, all seems routine even if a "Festival
Eucharist" is celebrated. Of course, Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter
are all critical to our Christian history. We can't have gotten to this point
at all without Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. But it was the arrival
of the Holy Spirit, on that Pentecost, that fired up the
Apostles. That was the moment that sent them around the known world proclaiming
Christ, converting, and making the way for us to be the Church
here, now, more than 2,000 years later. Without that Pentecost,
would we still know about Christmas, Good Friday, or Easter?
It is in these current times with fear, frustration,
anger, and intolerance swirling around in ever more intense and too often
violent levels, that we must take the time to stop and read the texts with new
understanding, a fresh awareness of what it must have been like for those in
that Upper Room. From the devastation of the Crucifixion, to the confusion and
the wonder of the resurrection, to the joy of his return among them, and then suddenly mystified by his ascension, now, only 10 days after his final
leaving...they are waiting...and wondering...for what they are unsure.
For us, today is the day to move beyond merely knowing
the story. Today is the day of knowing that the Spirit IS within US ~ to be as awe-struck, and dazzled
and even as flabbergasted [is there such a word in Hebrew?] as the Apostles ~ and to be reinvigorated and excited. God’s grace, and the love and Salvation
of Christ is ours. THIS IS the day that the LORD
has made! Let us truly rejoice and be glad and joy-filled, and alive in
it! After all, what else is faith for?
On this fiftieth day after Easter, let us accept and welcome the
extraordinary gifts and abilities bestowed on us, chosen for and unique to each
of us. Let us be eager and enthusiastic in embracing all that a true life of faith
calls us to be and to do, to live fully in the belief in Christ that we claim
to have. Let us strive to be all that Jesus and his imperfect disciples have shown us that we can be. We, too, celebrate, with our Jewish heritage, the giving of the Law on
Sinai as our rules of life, transformed by Jesus into the Greatest Commandment [see Matthew 22:37-39].
On this Birthday of the Church*, let us begin again to live as Children of God, equal one and all, using the language of love with each other and especially with those who
aren't so lovingly inclined. Christmas is wonderful, and lovely, and blessed. Easter is fragrant and joyful, but with Pentecost comes the true gift that
brings fire to our souls and lifts our life's journey to a new level! Get Fired
Up!
*As the Birthday
of the Church, Pentecost marks the official beginning of the ministry of the
Apostles beyond their local area and into the world at large. The descent of
the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire imbued, instilled, and infused
them, and each of us, by extension, with extra-ordinary gifts to bring the
message of Christ to everyone. This day is known as Whitsun/Whitsunday in
Ireland and the United Kingdom, a name descending from a Gaelic celebration of
medieval or perhaps even more ancient times, often wearing whit or white robes.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Most Holy
Spirit, Breath of God, let us breathe deeply of Your sacred fire and the gifts
that it brings into us, onto us, and through us, to fuel our desire
for faith-filled living and moving and being the Church-in-Action, in the
name of Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Spirit of Goodness and Glory
RESPONSE:
Fall afresh on us
~ Most Holy Spirit, Breath of
God, set our tongues alight to speak in the fervent language of Your Truth
to the leaders of this Earth, this Country, and this Community, as the voices of
those crying in the continuing wilderness of racism, poverty, intolerance, violence, and
injustice. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Spirit of Goodness and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
~ Most Holy Spirit, Breath of God,
lighten the burden of pain for those who are weakened in body, spirit, and
soul; and ease the worry of all who give comfort and care, if only at a
distance. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add
your own petitions
Spirit of Goodness and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
~ Most Holy Spirit, Breath of
God, soothe the weary hearts of those who struggle in the midst of grief,
as You carry those who have left us, into the loving and eternal arms of
Christ. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
Spirit of Goodness and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
~ Most Holy Spirit, Breath of
God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other
heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions
Spirit of Goodness and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
~ Most Holy Spirit, Breath of God,
grant an extra measure of Your gifts to those who lead us in Your Church, as
they steadfastly strive to guide our spiritual journey through these trying and
uncertain times. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Spirit of Goodness and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
The Celebrant adds: God of
Creation, Redemption, and Wisdom, though we are many, we are one body in the
one Spirit, all equal yet unique by Your design. Set our hearts ablaze again,
that we may seek Your will, keep Your Commandments, and use our earthly lives
for the common good of all. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer
Christ; and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom Advocate; who together with You reign
as One God, now and for eternity. Amen.
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