Transformed!
Pentecost - May 11, 2008
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Please note: The following sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him. |
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It's not the same old thing, day after day, the same thing. It is ... different. Not just different for the sake of being different, but fundamentally different.
Do you feel it right now? Maybe, maybe not. But that doesn't change its truth.
Because of the incarnation Because of the resurrection because of the gift of the Spirit to the church things are different.
God cares about us so very much. Not as the absentee landlord who starts us out and then is never to be seen again, except to say “Send the money.”
They may have spent $60 million outside our door replacing the river bridge, but the bridge is still just a bridge.
But the relationship between God and mankind is fundamentally different than we had thought of that relationship. It has been truly changed.
We thought we would play the very human game of “payoff”; that we could earn our way into a respectable relationship with God and with each other, on our own terms. So we could build a temple of respectable proportions, show up and make the respectable offerings, keep as many of the rules as one comfortably and respectably can, (nobody's perfect, you know.) That's the way humans have always tried to do things, to justify our behavior to ourselves and one another. It is all up to us, in this way of thinking. We are the ones who do all of the needed things, things respectable to those around us and to God.
And this entire attempt at building respectability makes God sigh. We didn't quite catch on when God first showed us in the story of Abraham. He didn't deserve any particular attention by God, but he nevertheless heard God calling, and heard it as a gift, and responded to that gift by going as God directed.
We didn't quite catch on when God had Samuel anoint not the oldest son, nor the best-looking son, but the youngest son the one out tending the sheep, the one so insignificant that Jesse never imagined that he could be chosen through Samuel's anointing. David received the anointing as an undeserved, unearned gift.
We didn't quite catch on when the prophets thundered against the people who thought they could show up with a lamb for sacrifice, get the religion thing over with and rush right back to cheat their neighbors in crooked business dealings or bribes at court.
We didn't quite catch on when the final editors of the Hebrew scriptures made sure that the first story in the Bible, (Genesis 1, the story that we will hear next Sunday morning,) was the one about God's transforming gift of light and life and all of creation.
Each time we miss the point or forget the point, or ignore the point. Each time we try to turn gifts into entitlements, things we deserve to receive. We see that happening all the time in our attitude toward national social policies, and so it shouldn't be a surprise that we try the same game on God. “Look God, I've been to worship week after week for years, I've given monetary offerings, I've even helped with Bible School. I deserve comfort and ease, now; please see that I get it, now.”
That doesn't work, that never did work. God sighs the deepest of sighs, and then speaks his way in person onto the world stage. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, John reminds us, and we beheld him, full of grace and truth. From his fullness we have received, grace upon grace. [John1] ...and know that this means ....gift upon gift.
The disciples had walked with Jesus, they had seen the momentous events of the trial and the crucifixion. They had heard the reports of the women, and we'll guess that they had all gone to the tomb and had seen for themselves that it was empty. But they are still wondering, Is this resurrection have anything to do with me? with us? Is this for real? And so they huddle inconspicuously together in an upper room, while they think about it.
God sighs once more, and the breath of God is like the wind that we cannot capture but nonetheless has an effect on all those whom it touches. Just as the medieval artist who designed the illustration on our bulletin cover today has pictured God breathing the creation into life, so God at Pentecost breathes life and faith and boldness into those frightened and confused disciples. We can see the effects but not capture the one who has done it.
We often wish for a dramatic scene such as the lesson describes: if only we had a moment of clarity like they had...then we could get all fired-up and believing would be easy, and...and... ...and no, it wouldn't. There were still those who turned away unconvinced, even on Pentecost. “Those idiots are drunk at 9 AM!” they said. It will always take a gift, a gift of faith, to move from observation to belief and action. Of course there can be the dramatic moments, but for most people most of the time, it is a much more gradual process. A little bit at a time, God is transforming us into what he would have us be.
The Pentecost event is continuing to happen. Three days ago a person whom I did not know walked into my study and said: “I have a question for you. I haven't been going to church since I moved here, but I've been reading the Bible, and I find there that Baptism is necessary. But what happens to all those who are not baptized?” I said, “I'm not going to answer that question. It is not my worry. Rather, I share in a task that Jesus has given to the church to 'Go into all the world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.' [Matthew 28:16-20] When we get that job done completely, then we will have leisure to contemplate your question, which, if the job is done, at that point will be irrelevant.” “You're after everyone, right now, then?” “Yes, of course.” “I'm not baptized.” “Well then, consider this conversation a kick in the pants to you. You have heard the story of Jesus, you've read God's Word, you know the example of others, so now is the time for action. Get going!” That was a little bit of Pentecost happening right here in this building this week. That was the Holy Spirit giving a shove to that person through me. I didn't plan it, it just happened, in a matter of a minute. What will happen with that person next? I don't know, I may never know, but we are called to speak as the Spirit calls us, and the Spirit will take care of the results, and we can pray that a transformation is underway in that person and in each of us.
Because of the incarnation Because of the resurrection because of the gift of the Spirit to the church things are different.
Do you feel it right now? Maybe, maybe not. But that doesn't change its truth. For God is breathing life into us at Pentecost, and it will make a difference. We are being transformed, quietly, a bit at a time, or dramatically, all at once. It is God's good gift to us, because Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Amen.
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