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May 28, 2023

Sent by the Spirit

Preacher: Rev. Jack Meehan Series: Lectionary Category: Biblical Scripture: Acts 2:1–21

The Festival of Pentecost

May 28, 2023

Acts 2:1-21

 “Sent by the Spirit”

On this Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial beginning of the summer season, we pause to remember and give thanks for all those who have laid down their lives in defense of our nation. Their sacrifice is not forgotten. What we’re doing here this morning is very counter-cultural. The vast majority of Americans are getting away for the long holiday weekend, but here we are in worship on this festival of Pentecost. The truth is that the church in America is losing members big time. A 2022 Gallup poll (In U.S., Childhood Churchgoing Habits Fade in Adulthood (gallup.com) revealed that only 31% of the American public attends worship weekly or nearly weekly. I think that percentage is being very generous. Other polls indicate that this is even lower – somewhere between 20-25%. Another recent article pointed out that in our nation there are now more churches closing than there are churches opening, a dramatic shift from 2014 to 2019 (Church closings have created crisis, and opportunity, for the faithful : NPR). The largest demographic increase is the “Nones,” those claiming no religious affiliation at all, now at or beyond 25% of the national population. We wonder what has happened, and what is going on with the faith landscape of our communities and our nation. Has the Holy Spirit taken wings and flown away? The same Spirit who came upon those first disciples amidst tongues of fire and speaking other languages remains with Christ’s people today, even in – especially in – times of difficulty and uncertainty. In faith, we affirm the presence, the power, and the peace of the Holy Spirit who calls us and keeps us in this one true faith that we share. We affirm the truth that we are sent by the Spirit to be the hands and feet and mouth of Jesus in the world. On this Pentecost Sunday, the sermon is entitled “Sent by the Spirit.” May the Lord’s rich and abundant blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Along with Christmas and Easter, Pentecost is one of the three high festivals of the Christian faith. Christmas celebrates the gift of God the Father in giving his only begotten Son into the flesh. Easter celebrates the resurrection of God the Son who rose in triumph over death and the grave. Pentecost celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who calls to our remembrance all that Jesus has done for us and for our salvation (John 14:26). The three Persons of the Holy Trinity are celebrated in these three festivals. Of the three festivals, Pentecost gets short shrift. It doesn’t have all the trappings that go with Christmas and Easter, but Pentecost is no less important. It was the Holy Spirit that transformed those first disciples from hesitant and fearful individuals into bold ambassadors for Christ. Think about a pair of work gloves. They are strong, rugged, and able to bear up under the toughest job. While they sit in the drawer or on the work bench, though, they just lay there, lifeless. The gloves cannot do anything by themselves. The only way they are useful and demonstrate their full capacity is when the hand of the worker is in them. Like those work gloves, the first disciples were used to hard work, but without the power of the Holy Spirit in them, they were unable to accomplish what Jesus wanted them to do. He called them to carry the Gospel mission of life in his Name out into the world. As the hand powers the work glove, the Holy Spirit empowers the believer. Those first disciples were filled by the Spirit and sent into world by that same Spirit. What was true then remains true today as well. We also are filled with the Spirit and sent into the world by the Spirit. We need to remember this, especially when the world around us seems to be undergoing seismic shifts. Apart from the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, we are just a lifeless glove that can do nothing on its own. It is as Martin Luther reminds us: It is not we who sustain the church, nor will it be our forefathers, nor will it be our descendants. It was and is and will be the One who says, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world...[Matthew 28:20].”

In today’s Old Testament lesson (Numbers 11:24-30), the Spirit’s power that filled Moses was spread out over those seventy elders who served under Moses as leaders among God’s people. Even Eldad and Medad who didn’t get the memo or forgot about the meeting and stayed in the camp instead of going out with the others – they also received the same Spirit that the others did. This gives us insight into who and what the Holy Spirit is and does. No one person possesses all of the Spirit; not Moses or Peter or Paul or any other giants of the faith throughout Scripture or over the course of the centuries. The Spirit who is sent forth from heaven is spread out among all of God’s people, and this means that God’s people must work together to utilize those Spirit-given gifts for the sake of the whole Body of Christ. and for the sake of Christ’s mission to the world. As I begin my sabbatical this week starting on June 1, the mission and ministry of the baptized people of God will continue forward by the power of the Holy Spirit. Sharing and living the good news of Jesus doesn’t come to a screeching halt because the pastor is away for awhile. The same Spirit that was poured out on those seventy elders of Israel, that was poured out on those first disciples who were all gathered together on that first Pentecost, has been poured out upon each and every one of us through our Baptism into Jesus’ death and resurrection.

On this festival of Pentecost, today’s Gospel lesson (John 7:37-39) takes place in the context of the festival of booths, or Sukkot, as it is called. At the time of Jesus, water was carried in a golden pitcher from the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem to the temple for seven days in succession as a reminder of how God provided water from the rock in the desert to his people in their wilderness wanderings (Numbers 20:2-13). This is the setting in which Jesus cried out: If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:37b-38). In Jesus, the symbol becomes living reality through his being glorified by his own death, resurrection and ascension (John 7:39). Jesus is the true water of life (John 4:13-15) who quenches our deepest thirst and satisfies us as nothing else can do. All who believe in Jesus become channels of his life to others through the power of the Holy Spirit. By the grace of God in Jesus Christ, we are sent by the Spirit to invite all people to receive Jesus’ invitation and to know his power for living.

How blest we are to know the Spirit’s presence, power and peace in our lives! How blest we are to be sent by the Spirit to serve as Jesus’ hands and feet and mouth in the world, so that many others will know this same blessing. As the closing verse from today’s Epistle lesson states, quoting the prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32).  Come, Holy Spirit, come; fill the hearts of your faithful people with the fire of your love. Amen.

 

 

other sermons in this series

Feb 11

2024

Jesus Only

Preacher: Rev. Jack Meehan Scripture: Mark 9:2–9 Series: Lectionary

Jan 7

2024

Star and Dove

Preacher: Rev. Jack Meehan Scripture: Mark 1:4–11 Series: Lectionary

Dec 31

2023

Depart in Peace

Preacher: Rev. Jack Meehan Scripture: Luke 2:22–40 Series: Lectionary