Pentecost
John 14:23-31
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| Jan van Kalkar |
Jesus
replied, “Whoever truly loves me reveals my Spirit, and my Father will love them,
and we will come to them and prepare with them a dwelling in the everlasting
[an eternal dwelling]. Whoever 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.
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 according to the Father’s purpose,
as it was entrusted to me. Arise, let us go on from here. [let us be on our
way.]
Pentecost I
John 14:23-31
May 31, 2020
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| Codex Egberti |
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 of 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 of His time, 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….
 |
| Sr. Mary Stephen |
Suddenly
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 humankind.*
*Adapted from Francis Edmunds,
“Words for Whitsun”
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