Bible Text: Acts 2:1-12; John 14:23-31 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
I had a wonderful time in Ontario this past week. I went first because I had a Canada Youth Planning team meeting. I have been involved in Canada Youth since its beginning- when at the age of 16 I was a member of the very first Canada Youth planning team. Planning the conference is only one part of the planning team experience. The teams are made up of the best of the best in youth ministry and the Presbyterian Church. As a result, gathering together is often refreshing, renewing and a reminder of why it is so good to be Presbyterian. Despite not seeing one another often, getting together with them is always a delight. I stayed a few extra days so that I could attend my brother’s wedding before he and his partner move to Boston. Our family doesn’t see each other all that often given that for the past few years my brother has lived in Halifax and of course I’m out here. Our extended family, while centred throughout Ontario in London and Kingston, also includes folks in New Brunswick and San Jose. So we cherish the family gatherings, especially when they are celebratory. Every time I travel, particularly when heading back to Ontario, there are often hellos and goodbyes involved. Of course the hellos are filled with joy as months can go by in which I don’t see my friends or family but the goodbyes are bitter sweet. I’m happy to be returning home, and our home is here in Comox, but sad to be once again so far removed. This was particularly true this past week, following such wonderful celebrations. We made sure to exchange well wishes and hugs and laughter before taking our leave. I recently heard a wonderful devotion by Gloria Gaither, wife to gospel singer Bill Gaither and narrator to the Gaither Homecoming series often seen on Vision TV. She and her family have written over 700 songs ranging from gospel to hymns to praise songs and they have five Grammy awards and many more Gospel Association Music awards. Due to their accomplishments and celebrity they often had to travel. Gloria writes, “Travelling has been a part of our lives from the very early days of our marriage. When our children were little, our singing took us away nearly every weekend and occasionally for longer periods of time. Although leaving was common, it was never easy. Our daughter said to us when she was three, “I know you have to go, but don’t go without saying good-bye.” She knew that leave-taking was very important to everyone’s security and sense of purpose. Before leaving we would give them advice like, “Don’t argue. Take care of the dogs, and always love each other. Remember that you represent our family.” When Jesus was leaving his disciples he too, knew that leave-taking was very important. He didn’t leave them without saying good-bye. Jesus gave some special parental instructions, “Love and take care of
each other. The way you treat each other will tell the world about our family, so remember whose child you are. And the Holy Spirit will see to it that you have all you need.” The Holy Spirit is in effect Jesus’ parting gift but it is also the assurance that the disciples need. Despite the fact that they do not yet fully comprehend what the Spirit does, in fact, I think we are still trying to figure out how the Spirit works, what the Spirit does, and when the Spirit acts, but despite that the disciples seem prepared to receive this gift. Jesus’ farewell discourse with the disciples is teaching them an essential lesson. Jesus will soon depart his disciples and they need to understand how they will still experience his presence. Throughout the entire chapter in John, Jesus is establishing that he is in the Father and the Father is in him. Jesus assures the disciples, particularly Philip, that they will do even greater works that he because they will invoke Jesus’ name and power. In other words, God’s presence will be with them too. The presence, of course, is the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a new concept to the disciples or to the early church. The term Holy Spirit may only appear in the Old Testament three times but the term Spirit of God, is a frequent flyer within those ancient texts. In Hebrew most of the references for Spirit use the term Ruah, which basically means wind or breath. So, when it says the Spirit of God, it is talking about the breath of God breathing life into the people of God. In the New Testament the Greek word is pneuma and it essentially means the same thing. With the exception that baptism changes the image from one of wind to water and that in the waters of baptism we are given a new life, new breath. Within the Jewish tradition the Holy Spirit is God’s only self-expression in word and action in the world. As a result, when the Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples we can see not only that it is God’s expression but God’s Spirit that is abiding in and with the disciples. This is something we often don’t think about when discussing the role of the Spirit. This Holy Spirit will, in effect allow the disciples to have similar power to the divine power of Christ. I have heard it said like this, “that the disciples will experience the mystical indwelling that Jesus claims, for God will send to the faithful disciples another Advocate like Jesus. This advocate will not only abide with the disciples as Jesus has done these last three years but the spirit will be in them.” Do you catch it? The Spirit allows the disciples, and us, to be part of this divine relationship between God and Christ. When the Holy Spirit is among us, God’s self-expression is breathing life into our human Spirit.
This however, gives me a sense of unease, for Jesus says, “peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.” He is also quite right in pointing out that this peace is not like any peace known in the world. In fact, the pressure of being part of this divine relationship gives me anything but peace. In Gloria Gaither’s devotion she points out that she gave the children instructions to love, care for one another and be representatives of their family, but we all know that siblings can have the worst fights, families can say the meanest things, and we often don’t look after one another the way we should. But now we are told that through the Spirit we are given the gifts to be like Christ in the world, to be God’s self-expression to others, and of course, that others are reflecting God to us. I know I fail at that responsibility often. Thankfully, we have examples of the disciples failing too. The rest of the Gospel of John touches upon these failings as the disciples fall asleep, betray, deny, and doubt in the following days. But we also know that the Pentecost story as reflected in Acts is also filled with confusion. Even when the disciples have been forewarned that the Spirit is coming they are caught off guard when it arrives. Albeit that the description of a violent wind, flaming tongues of fire, and speaking in different languages is perhaps not the kind of peace they expected. But remember this is not peace as defined in the world. This is not calm, quiet, tranquil moments. This is not even about a time without conflict. This is a kind of peace that stirs within us action when injustices occur. This is the kind of peace that drives our passions in faith. This is the kind of peace that gives us the enthusiasm to follow Christ. This is the kind of peace the pushes us away from those places of comfort and drives us to be divine disciples in the family of God. Through the Holy Spirit the disciples are to become the dwelling place of God’s mysterious and rich presence, and they will be mobilized for dynamic, Jesus-like lives in the world. And guess what, the Spirit is still at work in the world- we are those disciples. Take ownership of that, take responsibility for that, commit to live as God’s self-expression, love one another, care for another, remember we are God’s representatives and be at peace. Amen