Pentecost
John 14: 23-31
Jesus replied, “He who truly loves me reveals my
Spirit, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and prepare with
him a dwelling in the everlasting [an eternal dwelling]. He who does not love
me cannot reveal my Spirit. And the spirit power of the word that you hear is
not from me; it is the speaking of the Father who sent me.
I have said this to you while
I am still with you. But he who is called down, the health-bringing Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you everything and will
awaken within you all that I have said to you.
Peace I leave with you; my
peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled and do not be afraid [have no fear].
You have heard how I said to
you, ‘I am going away, and yet I am coming to you’. If you loved me you would
rejoice because I am going to the Father[ly Ground of the World], for the
Father is mightier than I am.
I have told you now, before
it happens, so that when it happens you may find trust. I no longer have much
to say to you, for soon the prince of this world is coming. Yet over me he has
no power.
But the world shall see in
this how I love the Father [Ground of the World] and how I act in accordance
with the Father’s purpose, as it was entrusted to me. Arise, let us be on our
way.
Pentecost
John 14: 23-31
May 24, 2015
In the event of the Pentecost festival that we celebrate
today, the disciples are together in the upper room, praying together and
waiting. The mighty wind of the spirit blows through and a spirit fire descends
and tongues flame appear above the heads of each. Their understanding of the
events of Jesus’ life and death lights up. Legend has it that at that moment,
each disciple uttered one sentence of his understanding, which came together as
a whole in the creed.
The gospel reading seems to veil this event. Yet its
elements are there: Christ speaks of preserving each individual by preparing for
each their own spiritual dwelling place. Their uniqueness will not be erased.
And at the same time, Christ brings a harmonizing peace. His is not the peace
of suppression, like the Romans, but rather the peace of freedom and understanding.
The source of world strife, the narrow insistence on one’s own point of view as
the only valid one, is fitted harmoniously into a greater whole. Instead of
nullifying each other, each sentence contributes to a greater understanding of
the whole. They do not invalidate each other.
This is the Spirit
that Christ sends: a holistic spirit, the spirit of enlightenment. It is a
spirit, creative of being, that enkindles a fire of love. It is a spirit that
heals the rifts and tears in the body politic, in our interactions with one
another. For together we are forming a higher body for Christ to live and work
in. Christ sends his Spirit of love for the healing of the world. The original
event is a model:
They all sat silent, watching,
waiting, waiting….
Sudden the heavens broke upon
them
And sevenfold lightning flashed
And whirlwind swept all darks
asunder
And tongues of flame descended
on them.
Baptized they were with Fire,
with the Holy Spirit,
The Word of Christ was born in
them.
And so they rose
And
went out to the multitude,
Disciples of Christ—His Life,
His Death—
Bearers of the Word to all
mankind.[1]
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