+On this day, 2000 years ago, the 12 disciples became apostles. They went from being students, learning at the foot of a teacher to being messengers—sent out, emboldened by the Holy Spirit to spread the Good News of Christ. Today we’re all apostles, for each and every Sunday, we’re sent out from here to do the work of Jesus Christ in the world. The ability to do that work, the drive to do it, the aching to do it is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
And today, the Day of Pentecost is when we commemorate this gift.
The disciples were together to observe the Jewish holiday of Shavuot which, because it occurs 50 days after the Passover, was also known as Pentecost.
So on the 50th day the disciples are once again together---behind locked doors--- when this violent wind, with divided tongues “as of fire” alights on each of them and then--- as if the fire and wind wasn’t enough—they each begin speaking in other languages so that all within earshot could hear the message of God’s Love in their native tongue.
What a show described in our reading from Acts—the wind tossing everything to and fro, the tongues of fire, glistening in red, orange and yellow, the cacophony of voices ringing across the city, the Day of Pentecost was (and is!) a day of sensory overload!!
The Holy Spirit is here and she wants to be sure we notice!!!!
While our reading from Acts gives us the fire and brimstone version of the Holy Spirit’s arrival, the reading from John is more subtle: a gentler, quieter bestowing of the spirit on Easter night.
Jesus, after making his initial resurrection appearance to the group breathes on them, filling them with the Holy Spirit.
It’s curious, isn’t it? The gift of the Holy Spirit being given in two distinctly different ways.
Why?
Why do we get two conflicting accounts of how the Holy Spirit was given?
Well, while I’m sure Biblical scholars have a whole host of explanations for this, for me it seems kind of obvious. I’m not at all surprised that the gift of the Holy Spirit, first given in the quiet intimate way of Jesus on the evening of the first Easter had to, some 50 days later, be given again—with great pomp and memorable circumstance.
Why twice? Did the first time not “take?” Did Jesus’ breath fail to do the deed?
Of course not; what happened is what always happens—the disciples didn’t get it—the disciples, although given the means to be apostles chose instead to hide-out, remaining students of a of a no longer physically present teacher. They simply didn’t take the gift given to them. They stayed put, waiting for “someone” else to do it even though Jesus had empowered, equipped, and encouraged them to become apostles---messengers, teachers in and of themselves, healers, rabble rousers, prophets.
The disciples were acting very disciple like when Jesus, resurrected and ascended, waited for them to put on the mantle of apostles and go out into the world, forgiving sins, healing pain, and spreading Good News. I guess, after 49 days of waiting, even God reaches a limit and so, on the 50th day the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit in all her fire breathing, wind blowing, dancing glory crashes through the locked doors, minds, and hearts of the disciples and, once and for all, makes them apostles.
Not only was the Day of Pentecost 2,000 years ago a big deal it is, today, right here and right now, a Big Deal.
What will it take to free our own locked hearts, minds and souls? Do you need a rush of violent wind and tongues of fire to finally exercise your, as St Paul names them, God-given gifts of the Spirit?
At this time and in this place---Trinity Episcopal Church in Hamburg, NY---the Holy Spirit is swirling about, empowering you to create something all-together new.
Right here. And right now.
My friends, today is the day that you—long-time faithful members, recent questioning but hanging in there members, previous members who’ve stepped away only to find yourselves pulled back into this fold---all of you---today is the day you graduate from being disciples to being apostles. Today is the day that each of you find your voice to exercise your unique gift of the Spirit in this place. It will take all of you to usher in the next manifestation of Trinity, Hamburg.
Right outside these red doors lies a hurting and hungry world that longs for love, compassion and hope. You are what they need.God alone cannot bring them through these doors. Jesus, alone, cannot seat them in these pews. But the Holy Spirit, working in and through you?
She can.
The Holy Spirit can enflame your hearts with the courage, the commitment, and the creativity to develop the type of beloved community where long-time seekers, short-time searchers, and everyone in between can find their spiritual home. But only if you open your doors, unlock your hearts, and engage with the world around you.
Trinity Hamburg is not a priest. Trinity Hamburg is You. I challenge you, I encourage you, I urge you to make this place a reflection of who you are and who you, propelled by the blowing, burning and dancing of the Holy Spirit, desire it to be. Because when you do that, God will smile, Jesus will be delighted and the Holy Spirit? Well, she’ll keep dancing in your hearts.
Amen. And Alleluia.
