The Day of Pentecost (Year C), May 27, 2007
BCP: Acts 2:1-11 or Joel 2:28-32; Psalm 104:25-37 or 104:25-32 or Psalm 33:12-15, 18-22; 1 Cor. 12:4-13 or Acts 2:1-11; John 20:19-23 or John 14:8-17
RCL: Acts 2:1-21 or Gen. 11:1-9; Psalm 104:25-35, 37b; Rom. 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21; John 14:8-17, (25-27)
The Feast of Pentecost is a celebration of the presence of the Holy Spirit among those who follow Christ in worship of the Father. Some call it the “birthday” of the Church, because it celebrates that moment when the disciples, represented in Peter’s speech before the crowd, assume the mantle that Jesus has passed on to them. In John’s gospel text, Jesus promises them that even though he must depart, another “paraclete” will come to them—another “comforter” or “counselor” — the Spirit of truth. The mission of the paraclete will thus be to continue in them, the primordial Church, what the Father began in the person of Jesus. At Pentecost, the sending of the Holy Spirit becomes the sending of the disciples, to do the will of God in the world, the will of peace.
Jesus’ words to the disciples in John make it clear that his peace is not the world’s peace. This is a great gift, but one which paradoxically is difficult. Jesus’ gift is not, indeed, like “the world’s” gifts. It is a promise that awaits complete fulfillment, but which must unfold in the very difficult day-to-day human existence. Peter and the rest of the disciples received this gift in earnest on the day of Pentecost, and their excitement and enthusiasm gave birth to the movement they first called “The Way.”
The disciples receive the gift of God’s Spirit; they undergo persecution and death to do God’s will. In their faithfulness, however, they receive the gift of peace: the gift of bringing about the kingdom of God for which Jesus lived and died. Our role as Christians today, if we are to deserve that same name that the original disciples bore, is no different.
Acts 2 paints a vibrant picture of the day of Pentecost. “A sound like the rush of a violent wind” filled the house where the disciples were gathered. The disciples began to speak in other languages. A tongue of fire “rested on each of them.” Listeners in the crowd that day heard the gospel proclaimed in their native languages. The day of Pentecost, as narrated by the writer of Acts, was a day of larger-than-life gospel proportions.
Psalm 104:24-35 is an exciting poetic partner for this day. The poet speaks of sea creatures and creeping things, God’s glory and human praise. This portion of Psalm 104 announces the whole creation as the theater of God’s glory. God’s creation is unfinished, God is preparing a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1), and we participate already in that new creation in our praise of God.
Look It Up
The Outline of the Faith (BCP, p. 852-853) contains a lengthy discussion on the Holy Spirit.
Think About It
Our meditation on texts such as this week’s from John will be a re-visitation of what the early church founders did as they were led to formulate the doctrine of the Trinity of God.
Next Sunday
First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday (Year C), June 3, 2007
BCP: Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29 or Canticle 2 or 13; Rev. 4:1-11; John 16:(5-11) 12-15
RCL: Prov. 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8 or Canticle 2 or 13; Rom. 5:1-5; John 16:12-15
