Sermon for May 23, 2021 – Feast of Pentecost
“Pentecost in a pandemic.”
Let us pray. God of life and power, we give you thanks for your presence in this time and place and within each one of us, in the many locations we have gathered this day. Help us now to open our minds, our hearts, our whole lives, to receive the gift of your living Word for us this day; and may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
Today is the Feast of Pentecost – 50 days after Easter – when we celebrate the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on Jesus’ followers, empowering them to witness to Christ’s resurrection victory over death, and the inauguration of God’s new creation! The 2nd Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles presents the Day of Pentecost as being quite the spectacle – a party – such that some in the crowd were thinking that these Spirit-filled disciples were drunk! So how are we, on May 23, 2021 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, supposed to celebrate and immerse ourselves in Pentecost? If this sermon had a title it would be “Pentecost in a pandemic!”
Let’s begin by looking at the First Reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel. This is the “Valley of Dry Bones” story – probably familiar to many of us. To appreciate this narrative, it’s important to know the context in which it is set. It takes place in the early part of the 6th century BCE. Judah and Jerusalem have been overrun by Babylonian armies. The people have been exiled out of Judah – many being taken to Babylon (modern day Mesopotamia). They didn’t just lose their “Promised Land”, but also their identity as God’s Covenant People. They were effectively “dead” – gone – forever. In the midst of this the prophet Ezekiel has this vision from God – one of four included in the biblical book of Ezekiel – the “Valley of Dry Bones.” In the story, the bones symbolize the people of Israel. They are not just physically dead – they have been deported – they have become refugees without hope. And even Ezekiel is in no different “space” than the rest of Israel. The Spirit of the Lord asks him, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Ezekiel has no expectation of anything changing their hopeless situation. Note that God tells Ezekiel what to prophesy but Ezekiel, himself, must actually do it! Ezekiel says, “So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them.” And he repeats this same action of prophesying with the “breath.” God says, “Prophesy to the breath …” It’s important to know that in the biblical languages the same word is used for ‘wind’, ‘breath’ and ‘spirit’. So it is this ‘Spirit’ from God that gives us life. It entered them and they became living beings. This, too, happens when Ezekiel believes, and acts!
Then God interprets to Ezekiel, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely’.” And then God asserts that in this new life God has given to these “dead” people of Israel that they will know – they will be certain of who is really Lord and to whom they belong. “And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act,” says the Lord.” Their faith and hope are restored.
In today’s Second Reading from Acts, we have a description of the first Christian Pentecost. Notice what happens. A violent wind (or breath or Spirit) gives the disciples the ability to know and speak in different languages so that everyone present hears about God’s ‘deeds of power.’ Like Ezekiel, the disciples have to act – they have to speak the words! Note the result. Some people listen and respond – some are cynical and write them off as being drunk! This gives Peter the opportunity to explain what is happening – that this is the gift of the Spirit, and this new life is being poured out on everyone!
So once again, this idea of the Holy Spirit enabling us to know God comes through in the Gospel Reading – today’s reading from John’s Gospel. This is some of Jesus’ teaching on the Holy Spirit. Jesus’s teaching in this passage refers to the Holy Spirit as “Advocate”, and says that this is One who brings the knowledge (again – the ability to know) – “When the Spirit comes He will guide you into all truth.”, Jesus says. The Spirit opens our eyes to see ourselves and this world as God sees it.
As I said last Sunday, all of these biblical events and the truth they illustrate about God and about this world, are not happening in some other ‘religious world’, or some other parallel universe. They are happening in this world – in our world!
And right now, we are living in the “valley of Covid-19.” We are discouraged and depressed. Some are anxious, some are defiant, and many, in our frustration, lash out in anger at government leaders, public health, - at young people partying, at old people ignoring restrictions and visiting with neighbours – as if blaming or condemning is going to help the situation or cause us to feel better.
The Israelites, in 6th century (BCE) Babylon had forgot God’s role in their world. They had lost site of their vocation as God’s people. They had become impervious to the Spirit – the source of their knowledge, strength and life. If there ever was a time when we, as God’s people in Manitoba, need the Spirit of Pentecost, it is a time like this – both for our own physical, mental and spiritual health, AND to “prophesy” (so to speak) grace and power to others – through how we act and how we speak.
The three verses in today’s Closing Hymn capture that vocation so well. I want to invite you to turn to page 11 in your Service Bulletin to follow along. In that first verse, we sing these words:
“Holy Spirit, come with power, breathe into our aching night.”, - not just ours, but the ‘aching night’ of Emergency Services, doctors, nurses, and all of our healthcare workers. We continue line 5, “We are fearful, we are ailing, we are weak and selfish too.” Help us to move beyond focusing on ourselves and open us to receive your love. Verse 1 concludes: “Break upon your congregation, give us vigour, life anew.” – not to a superficial levity that denies reality but genuine joy in your ultimate loving care. In verse 2 we sing, “Holy Spirit, come with fire, burn us with your presence new, Let us as one mighty choir sing our hymn of praise to you.” Fill us with a potent awareness of your presence and power flowing through us. “Burn away our wasted sadness and enflame us with your love.” Help us to move beyond focusing on ourselves and open us to receive your love. And then in verse 3 we sing, “Holy Spirit, bring your message.” Equip us with your liberating word and encouraging truth. “burn and breathe each word anew deep into our tired living till we strive your work to do.” Give us fresh strength, and fresh hope and help, that informs our words and our actions. In line 5 we sing, “teach us love and trusting kindness lend our hands to those who hurt.” Train and teach us how to be compassionate and patient with all – even those who annoy us! And then the final two lines, “Breathe upon your congregation and inspire us with your word.” Help us to always focus on you – to open ourselves to the grace and truth that your Spirit brings.
This is what Pentecost in a pandemic needs to look like! Don’t look to others for it. It starts with you and me opening our hearts, our minds, our discouraged bodies – to the first of God’s Spirit afresh. We don’t need to know how to fix the situation – Ezekiel didn’t know how to restore Israel – didn’t even think it was possible! But like Ezekiel we do have to constantly and continually open ourselves to God’s Spirit – to God’s life-giving breath, and let that Spirit fill us with a fresh Pentecost for the world God calls us to live in and thrive!
Amen.
