Dearest e-votees-
This Sunday is the Day of Pentecost. It is the 50th day after Easter (counting the starting day like we do when we call Easter Sunday the third day after Good Friday).
It is the day when the Holy Spirit was unleashed on the early church so that all who were present could hear the testimonies about Jesus in their own languages. The number of languages perceived were more than the number of those speaking—yet all heard.
It is the day when we wear red and pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to blow through us and set us on fire as followers of Jesus.
May that same Holy Spirit blow through these words and this time spent together.
Peace,
Karl
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8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. 15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
This gospel lesson comes from the “Upper Room Discourses” (aka the “Farewell Discourses”) of Jesus. Jesus is preparing to leave his disciples and so he is talking with them about things of great significance.
Jesus is about to leave but he is sending the Holy Spirit. The Spirit comes to teach and to remind the disciples. The Holy Spirit is alive and at work in us to teach us and to remind us everything that Jesus has taught us. That Spirit is the same one that brooded over the chaos during creation. That Spirit is the same one that blew through the dusty bones in Ezekiel and restored life. We are a forgetful people. We are a people who don’t know as much as we should. Our lives can seem quite chaotic. Our lives can seem dead and dusty. The Holy Spirit continues to do what it always has bringing learning, inspiration, conviction, revelation, order and life. Jesus’ promises to his disciples apply to us as well.
Jesus gives his peace. Peace, or shalom, was an important concept in Jewish culture. When Jesus walked through the walls when the disciples were cowering behind locked doors he offers them his peace. Jesus often speaks words of peace or not being afraid. He gives us a peace that is profoundly different from the “peace” of the world. We need not fear. Jesus has done all is required. Beyond that, Jesus offers us the comforter, the Holy Spirit, to guide us. That Holy Spirit will abide with us forever. We are not alone.
God, thank you for the powerful gift of the Holy Spirit. Help us to receive that blessed gift and the abide in your peace. Amen.
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