PENTECOST May 24, 2009

the Rev. Ken Kroohs

(Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8:22-27: Ps. 104:25-35 & 37; John 16:26-27 & 16:4b-15))

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR ?

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, High Point, NC

MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER AMEN

Happy Pentecost! This is the third great holiday in the Christian tradition after Christmas and Easter. It doesn’t get as much attention as those others but is every bit as important. Pentecost is also the answer to a Christian trivia question: “What great Christian holiday is not based on a gospel account?” Pentecost is all about what happened ... what happens ... after Jesus left the scene as recorded in the book of Acts.

Many churches focus on the languages being spoken and read the Acts account in a variety of “tongues”. This is especially powerful in a situation where many people are first or second generation immigrants because that is what happened ... the people heard the good news in their own language, their own tongue.

The miracle was that God made it possible for people to understand. The miracle was that the Peter and the others were given the support they needed to accomplish their task.

That’s the message of Pentecost in a few words. That God has, and will provide what is needed to accomplish our tasks – our ministries.

Many people are fascinated by the teaching that God does not give us more than we can bear. That can be seen as a compilation of thoughts, many from the Old Testament. Many times the prophets tried to refuse God because they were not adequate. God, in essence said, “yup – you are not up to the task. BUT, I will give you what you need.”

And when God gives us what we need it is not simply or only training. It is not simply or only getting tutoring for the math anxiety or SAT’s. It is much more than that.

Consider the gospel lesson: Jesus tells them, again, that He is leaving them. But He goes on to promise them that He will send ----- here is where translations fail. The term is “paraclete” from the Greek but exactly how to translate it is not clear. Translations vary: “advocate”, “comforter”, “counselor”. the New King James uses “helper”. The Message uses “friend” – one of their weaker paraphrases I think.

A few of the newer Bibles have gone to simply saying “the spirit” or the “Holy Spirit”. The earlier translation attempts were focusing on the purpose or role of who Jesus would send while the use of “Holy Spirit” gives up and simply names her.

Probably that is the best approach since all the other translation attempts are accurate — just incomplete. And I believe that has made it more difficult for us to respond. The “advocate” suggests a trial in which we need an attorney to speak for us. I suspect however the original thought was more that we are the judge choosing between two options ---- the devil on one shoulder and angel on the other we see in cartoons. The spirit will guide us.

That same image applies when it is translated “counselor” – possibly a broader interpretation but similar.

The “comforter” translation gives us a very different image. Rather than a guide when confused, this suggests a hug when we are hurt or grieving.

The “helper” translation may be one of the most accurate, if least poetic, because it is the broadest. The word “helper” does not limit the spirit’s activities to any one place in our lives. It can mean a comforting presence when that is needed or a guide as we go off path.

And “helper” probably applies the most directly to what happened with Peter on the first Pentecost. Peter is doing exactly what Jesus told him to do in the reading from John. However, Peter could not accomplish his mission because the temple was filled with visitors from other areas .... visitors who did not understand the Aramaic Peter probably spoke.

We usually skip over the gospel part about what Peter was told to do. We skip it partially because there is so much more in the passage. But we tend to skip over it partially because we do not want to hear it. We do not want to know what Jesus tells us to do.

I know none of you ever did this but on occasion I would say to my parents: “I never heard you tell me to do that!” ... Thinking I was being clever and avoiding the consequences.

In a similar way we pretend we have never heard Jesus’ commands and through our cleverness will avoid the consequences.

Jesus told us we are to testify or witness on His behave. Notice something about testifying and witnessing — it is not about who we are or what we did. It is about Jesus, about God.

Jesus goes on to warn that the disciples, and we, will not always be believed. Furthermore some people will not like us for speaking the truth. Jesus warned them and us that some people will attack us.

Know that I am speaking for myself here but if it also applies to you ------- I don’t like the people who figuratively or literally come around shouting “are you saved?” in my ears.

More importantly, I am better now but still nervous about the person who will ask me a question I cannot answer. If I say “God is good and loving” they ask: “What about the time _____ ?” Or, “why did Jesus have to die? Why didn’t God accomplish it in a less gross way?”

Because I am nervous about being challenged, and do not want to be seen as one of those shouting people, I tend to keep quiet. ... True for you?

When Jesus warned against being attacked He was talking about being ATTACKED – about being killed for their beliefs. And I get nervous because someone will think I am a bit weird?

Jesus is giving us our primary task. You may have noticed the gospel lesson today skipped over a couple verses. Primarily those are verses about being put out of the Synagogue and being killed for not being Jewish enough – so maybe do not apply directly to us. But the first of those verses very much does apply. Jesus says: “I tell you these things so you will not give up.”

Jesus has promised to send the Holy Spirit to help, given the charge — the assignment to witness or testify – and then tells them not to give up.

Again, it may not be about you but it certainly is important to me!

We are to testify, to show God’s love in words and actions. We are not to give up despite the opposition, the ridicule, the “friends” who are no longer friends.

At the workshop this week I heard the same old excuses. “We don’t want to be pushy”. — I used my favorite phrase: “we are to be assertive but not aggressive”. The speaker pointed out that any salesperson knows a potential customer needs to hear the message several times before responding. So if someone responds to something we say we should be thankful for all those who spoke before us. And if they do not respond, we should pray the person hears the message from other people.

Others at the workshop spoke proudly ... appropriately proudly about food banks and clothing closets. The spoke proudly ... appropriately proudly about serving God in these ways. The question they were not willing to answer when clients asked, much less volunteer, was “why?” “Why do this?” After all, any decent person will contribute to a food pantry or give their old clothes to a thrift store.

How different it is to tell people we do it because of what God tells us to do. We do it because of what God has done for us. End of conversation — unless the other person wants to continue.

(We can discuss how I believe even atheistic, altruistic acts are God driven even if God is not acknowledged.)

I know I am rambling but these passages cause us to consider all that God has done for us, all that God is willing to do for us, and what God wants us to do.

Most importantly these passages cause me to remember that God has promised to provide whatever we need to do the ministry God has in mind for us .... “us” individuals and “us” collectively. BUT, God does not provide what we need in a way that makes us comfortable. ...... Peter had no idea what was going to happen. He had to start before God provided. Peter had to begin the ministry and then God provided the help.

How many people came to Jesus who told them: “your faith has healed you.” Not the sense that they had some power in them, but in the sense that they had the faith to begin the ministry ... to approach Jesus, and then God provided.

However, even more importantly these passages reminded me of how much God has already provided and how little we use in ministry. Its as if we are a factory. The raw materials are placed in our doors — but we never start the engines. God has promised to provide the fuel, but we never start the engines.

What are we saving ourselves for? What are we waiting for?

AMEN

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