Erin Seigmiller
Wow! Pentecost !! Tongues of fire resting on people’s head’s; joyful people declaring God’s love speaking in all languages; and, I’m told, it’s a wrapping up of the act of salvation - the final chapter in Jesus’ work here. The gifting of the Holy Spirit. I’m told that this is a toughy - thank goodness, being a rookie, I have no idea why that would be (although I learned a bit along the way)!
The experience of preaching has been quite eye opening - I really had no idea how much was packed into the service, until I started doing this. I have long suspected that there was an underlying theme to all the readings and lessons that precede the sermon. And while the last time I preached, Jesus pretty much dictated the theme with His Last Command. Love one another, so that all will know you are my disciples. Easy peasy.
Today’s lectionary not so much. At least, not for me. So I decided to unpack the lesson’s and see what’s in there.
Our first lesson is pretty terrifying! Tongues of fire resting on people’s head’s; Rushing winds, indoors; And accusations of public drunkenness first thing in the morning. There is also God opening the promise of salvation to all people - and as I read in one commentary - in case we missed it - the long list of place names in this reading should be a dead give-away. There is a nod to the prophet Joel whose prophecies are fulfilled through the Holy Spirit.
The second reading from Romans I read from our bulletin, and thought, well, that’s nice. But when I read it from The Message - it really spoke to me, so much so, that I would like to share it with you.
So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do it yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us -- an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him! Romans 8 12 - 17, from The Message, Eugene H Peterson
Here we find a reminder of God’s promise of salvation through Jesus and all that that means. Bad and good. Here, I see the Holy Spirit as a gift to you Bobbi Jo, in fact, a gift to us all. An invitation to an adventure with God. Who know’s where we’ll end up! After all, the spirit will go where it will.
The Gospel. All I can say is I’m glad I wasn’t there, and I’m really glad I’m not Philip (although, sometimes maybe I am). Phillip says, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus must have been exasperated. Seriously, Philip. We’ve been together for so long, and you still don’t get it?? Jesus lays it out for Philip and for us, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me” and he goes on to challenge Phil and us “but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.” He goes on to say that those who believe in him would do greater wonders in His name. He’s hinting at the invitation to adventure in the Holy Spirit that is to come on all who believe. Jesus then drops the A-bomb - or the F-bomb depending on which translation of the gospel you read. Jesus tells us that the Father is going to send the Advocate - or Friend (as I said, it just depends on which bible you’re reading from) that will come and “teach you everything”. The Holy Spirit! The tongues of fire at pentecost! That awe inspiring, all powerful, totally unimaginable and therefore endlessly surprising gift from God through Jesus.
Nowhere (and I reread the passage), does it promise comfort. But then, adventures are often uncomfortable. But, Jesus does offer us His Peace.
The Psalm. So I could pretty clearly see the connections between the first and second readings and the gospel. The Friend or Advocate or Holy Spirit comes as an unexpected kind of terrifyingly powerful gift that calls us to God’s adventure, keeps us company and looks after us, and helps us on the way to knowing and understanding Jesus’ instructions. But the psalm ... well, it’s a lovely hymn of praise. It mentions one of my favorite biblical figures, “Leviathan, which you made for the sport of it” But what does it have to do with the rest of the readings. What is here? The key actually. My Theme if you will “Don’t be afraid (which is the final word from our gospel) God’s got your back”, the underlying message of this morning’s psalm.
So we have all the components of the readings out on the table so to speak. What’s the bad news? What’s the good news?
The bad news, as usual, is that as humans, we’re not always with it, we often miss the point and are lacking for it. Things (sometimes bad and terrible and difficult and awful things - Leviathan things) happen that we have little or no control of, that are uncomfortable to say the least. This sentiment is (would have been by the author of the psalm) wrapped up in the imagery of the uncontrollable and devastatingly powerful sea. As disciples of Christ, we are told that we can expect no love from “the world (that) cannot receive (the holy spirit), because it neither sees him or knows him”. And that we are “joint heirs with Christ” both suffering with him but also enjoying our share of The Promise of salvation.
The Good news is that while we can expect a rough sea, and Leviathan times, there is the reassurance that God has things well under control. All creatures (including Leviathan, you and me) are well cared for, fed and renewed, through the gift of the indescribable and unexpected power of the Holy Spirit. The earth at God’s beck and call, and us, God’s children, cared for (and caring for each other), filled with joy and the peace of our Lord Jesus.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
Amen
Wow! Pentecost !! Tongues of fire resting on people’s head’s; joyful people declaring God’s love speaking in all languages; and, I’m told, it’s a wrapping up of the act of salvation - the final chapter in Jesus’ work here. The gifting of the Holy Spirit. I’m told that this is a toughy - thank goodness, being a rookie, I have no idea why that would be (although I learned a bit along the way)!
The experience of preaching has been quite eye opening - I really had no idea how much was packed into the service, until I started doing this. I have long suspected that there was an underlying theme to all the readings and lessons that precede the sermon. And while the last time I preached, Jesus pretty much dictated the theme with His Last Command. Love one another, so that all will know you are my disciples. Easy peasy.
Today’s lectionary not so much. At least, not for me. So I decided to unpack the lesson’s and see what’s in there.
Our first lesson is pretty terrifying! Tongues of fire resting on people’s head’s; Rushing winds, indoors; And accusations of public drunkenness first thing in the morning. There is also God opening the promise of salvation to all people - and as I read in one commentary - in case we missed it - the long list of place names in this reading should be a dead give-away. There is a nod to the prophet Joel whose prophecies are fulfilled through the Holy Spirit.
The second reading from Romans I read from our bulletin, and thought, well, that’s nice. But when I read it from The Message - it really spoke to me, so much so, that I would like to share it with you.
So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do it yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us -- an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him! Romans 8 12 - 17, from The Message, Eugene H Peterson
Here we find a reminder of God’s promise of salvation through Jesus and all that that means. Bad and good. Here, I see the Holy Spirit as a gift to you Bobbi Jo, in fact, a gift to us all. An invitation to an adventure with God. Who know’s where we’ll end up! After all, the spirit will go where it will.
The Gospel. All I can say is I’m glad I wasn’t there, and I’m really glad I’m not Philip (although, sometimes maybe I am). Phillip says, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus must have been exasperated. Seriously, Philip. We’ve been together for so long, and you still don’t get it?? Jesus lays it out for Philip and for us, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me” and he goes on to challenge Phil and us “but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.” He goes on to say that those who believe in him would do greater wonders in His name. He’s hinting at the invitation to adventure in the Holy Spirit that is to come on all who believe. Jesus then drops the A-bomb - or the F-bomb depending on which translation of the gospel you read. Jesus tells us that the Father is going to send the Advocate - or Friend (as I said, it just depends on which bible you’re reading from) that will come and “teach you everything”. The Holy Spirit! The tongues of fire at pentecost! That awe inspiring, all powerful, totally unimaginable and therefore endlessly surprising gift from God through Jesus.
Nowhere (and I reread the passage), does it promise comfort. But then, adventures are often uncomfortable. But, Jesus does offer us His Peace.
The Psalm. So I could pretty clearly see the connections between the first and second readings and the gospel. The Friend or Advocate or Holy Spirit comes as an unexpected kind of terrifyingly powerful gift that calls us to God’s adventure, keeps us company and looks after us, and helps us on the way to knowing and understanding Jesus’ instructions. But the psalm ... well, it’s a lovely hymn of praise. It mentions one of my favorite biblical figures, “Leviathan, which you made for the sport of it” But what does it have to do with the rest of the readings. What is here? The key actually. My Theme if you will “Don’t be afraid (which is the final word from our gospel) God’s got your back”, the underlying message of this morning’s psalm.
So we have all the components of the readings out on the table so to speak. What’s the bad news? What’s the good news?
The bad news, as usual, is that as humans, we’re not always with it, we often miss the point and are lacking for it. Things (sometimes bad and terrible and difficult and awful things - Leviathan things) happen that we have little or no control of, that are uncomfortable to say the least. This sentiment is (would have been by the author of the psalm) wrapped up in the imagery of the uncontrollable and devastatingly powerful sea. As disciples of Christ, we are told that we can expect no love from “the world (that) cannot receive (the holy spirit), because it neither sees him or knows him”. And that we are “joint heirs with Christ” both suffering with him but also enjoying our share of The Promise of salvation.
The Good news is that while we can expect a rough sea, and Leviathan times, there is the reassurance that God has things well under control. All creatures (including Leviathan, you and me) are well cared for, fed and renewed, through the gift of the indescribable and unexpected power of the Holy Spirit. The earth at God’s beck and call, and us, God’s children, cared for (and caring for each other), filled with joy and the peace of our Lord Jesus.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
Amen
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