Day of Pentecost: Are We Listening for The Spirit's Many Languages?

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "

Psalm 104:25-35, 37 (BCP., p.735)


Romans 8:14-17 (NRSV)

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

John 14:8-17 (NRSV)

Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 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'? 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. 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. 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. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 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."

Blog Reflection

So, here we come to it.  The conclusion of the Easter Season with the Day of Pentecost.  Pentecost is often said to be the Birthday of the Church.  It is a celebration marked by a birthday cake at the coffee hour after Sunday Eucharist.

The experience of those first Apostles in the upper room followed by the diverse languages they spoke, is symbolic of the many different ways the Holy Spirit speaks the language of Salvation.  It is the language of God's amazing love by which God offered Jesus on the Cross by which He triumphed over  death in the Resurrection.  Through those languages each person tells their stories about how God touches their lives; bringing healing and reconciliation between all people.  

The coming of the Holy Spirit is not the moment by which Christianity becomes a religion of supercessionism, making all other religions less than what Christianity is.  On the contrary, it is the moment in which the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to see a world beyond our doctrines, creeds and dogmas; to respecting the dignity of every human person; by which we share the love of Jesus with others around us.

The Holy Spirit is believed to be the feminine nature of God.  The Spirit is our advocate with God on our behalf.  The reading from Romans suggests that through the Holy Spirit, we receive the gift of being God's adopted daughters and sons regardless of how the labels the world around us might define us.  We are identified by the relationship of God to us, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit confirms this relationship through the gift of Gods amazing grace through Christ.

As the Church continues to struggle with what we are listening to from transgender bathroom bills, same gender marriage rites in the Church in New Zealand, immigration, racism and gun violence; who's stories are we listening to, and who's are we ignoring?  What new language are we prepared to learn and learn from; so that the message of the compassion and healing hands of Jesus can be felt by those yearning to be loved and included?   

The Holy Spirit continues to move upon the Church and Christians "to be lead into all truth." (John 16:13).  A truth that is living and growing as opposed to deteriorating and becoming stagnant. 

Each of us will keep the commandments of Jesus in our unique way, in the only way that God calls us to do.  The more open we are to the languages through which the stories of Salvation and Redemption are told; the greater the ministry of the Church bears better fruit.

As our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has said, "We are called to be part of the Jesus movement, to make the world a better place for all of God's People."

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life
to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy
Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the
preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.227).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.818).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.  (The Book of Common Prayer, p.815).

Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday. The Languages of The Spirit Guiding Us

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' 

Psalm 104:25-35, 37 (BCP., p.736)


Romans 8:22-27 (NRSV)

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

John 15: 26-27, 16:4b-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But, now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

Blog Reflection

This past January a professor from Luther Seminary in St. Paul by the name of Eric D. Barreto gave a very informative lecture.  It was part of a series on racism and our response to it as Christians.  Professor Barreto spoke about those languages that the first Apostles were speaking on Pentecost.  As we read the account in Acts, The Holy Spirit impacted the Church so that the message of the Gospel was heard in the languages of everyone within hearing distance.  Professor Barreto then asked his audience this question.  Is the Church of today speaking the various languages of those who are listening to what Christians have to say?

As Christians who are Caucasian, well educated, wealthy, living without much persecution, straight and male dominated; we have become so comfortable with thinking we know it all.  Many of the English settlers who came to the shores of the United States felt that they had the answers to improve the lives of the Native Americans who were already settled.  Long before that, there was the assumption that those who lived in Africa just couldn't make anything of their lives because of the color of their skin, their living conditions and their religious practices.  What contribution did white Christian men make to improve such societies?   Slavery, the demolition of those cultures and documents such as the Doctrine of Discovery.   Others included offering "inspiring" Christian worship that left many illiterate and without the means of communication and/or interpreting in a language they understood.  Much of this came about, because Christians assumed they had the whole truth about Christ and the Church based on what they understood to be truth.

On this Pentecost Sunday, Jesus invites us to the experience of those first Apostles to open ourselves to being led into a fuller understanding of truth.  A truth that is never complete and always evolving and open to being led into all truth by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus knew that those first Disciples were limited by their culture and surrounding environment that they could not possibly understand the fullness of truth.  He knows how limited we are now as we learn to confront the racism, sexism, heterosexism and the neglect of the poor and immigrants we are facing today.  Jesus does not leave us in our present state of mind to just "take it as it is" and leave it.  Jesus sends the Holy Spirit here and now to lead us into a deeper truth of God and one another, so that the Church may grow and evolve.  The Church needs to let go of the dark and horrible images of God that continue to tell our children to be afraid for their lives.  If they were to wake up one day and realize that they are questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, or political position on climate change or health care; Lord only knows what their parents or grandparents might say. 

The Holy Spirit prays for the Church now more than ever.  We face a time in which the Church continues to be divided by the languages of prejudice, elitism, and legislating things like "religious freedom" to allow discrimination on the sole basis of religion.  Not just any religion, but only the conservative branch of Christianity that breeds fear, hate and misunderstanding in the Name of Christ.  The kind that labels marriage equality as a threat to the family; even as thousands of LGBT families and couples nurture homes for adopted children that are happy and healthy.  The type of Christianity that calls immigration reform "amnesty" as if everyone who is Latino or Eurpean, etc. only seeks a better life for crime.  The same Christianity that blames women for being raped yet opposes abortion, health care, and job training for all women.

The Holy Spirit prays that the Church will be guided into the truth that Jesus is about compassion, love, inclusion, justice and hope for all people.  The Holy Spirit longs for a Church that is about all of us being Baptized into a covenant relationship with God and one another that seeks peace and justice for all persons, and works to respect the dignity of every human person.  If Christians will only listen for the Holy Spirit's call within their hearts individually and collectively, the Church will truly be a house of prayer for all people.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life
to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy
Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the
preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Pentecost.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 227).

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.  (Prayer for the Unity of the Church.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 818).  

Day of Pentecost: Holy Spirit, What Language Do You Wish to Speak Through Us?

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2:1-21 (NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "

Psalm 104 (BCP., p.735-737)


1  Corinthians 12:3b-13 (NRSV)

No one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

John 20:19-23 (NRSV)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Blog Reflection

In The Liturgy of the Hours: Volume II, Lenten Season and Easter Season, the Office of Readings for Pentecost, Saint Irenaeus wrote the following.

The Lord promised to send the Advocate: he was to prepare us as an offering to God.  Like dry flour, which cannot become one lump of dough, one loaf of bread, without moisture, we who are many could not become one in Christ Jesus without the water that comes down from heaven.  And like parched ground, which yields no harvest unless it receives moisture, we who were once like a waterless tree could never have lived and borne fruit without this abundant rainfall from above.  Through the baptism that liberates us from change and decay we have become one body; through the Spirit we have become one in soul.

The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of God came down upon the Lord, and the Lord in turn gave this Spirit to his Church, sending the Advocate from heaven into all the world into which, according to his own words, the devil too had been cast down like lightening.  (Pages 1025-1026).

I love this excerpt by St. Irenaeus with one exception.  I do not agree that Baptism has liberated us "from change".  If the Sacrament of Baptism does not change us to live into our Vows with greater love of God, neighbor and self, then Baptism is no different from our morning shower.   We may cleanse the body, but the soul is without an important element for salvation.  Conversion. 

When the Holy Spirit came upon the early Church on that Day of Pentecost, suddenly they could be heard telling the story of God's salvation through Jesus Christ in their own native language.  The story of God that had been kept within, was able to reach out to the ends of the earth.   Those first women and men, who were Apostles were given the gift of faith by which they were empowered to share God's grace through the word and the Sacraments.  Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh who was crucified, raised from the dead and now ascended into Heaven, had sent the Holy Spirit in abundance.  The fragrance became a pleasant scent that pierced even the most congested life, full of death, hopelessness and despair.  The hope of God continuing to bless all humankind in Christ, now had a new element to humankind, yet ever present in the Triune relationship of God with God's Self.  The Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit represents the feminine nature of God.   She is the Advocate.  The Comforter.  She continues to lead the Church "into all truth" (John 16:13).  She also continues to call and speak through those Baptized into the Name of the Holy Trinity, to be examples of Jesus' compassion and hope for the poor, the sick, the oppressed and those stigmatized by the Church and society. 

In the Noonday Office, we pray:

Heavenly Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, to
direct and rule us according to your will, to comfort us in all
our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into
all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p.107).

I think a really good prayer for us to pray on this Day of Pentecost is: Holy Spirit, what language do you wish to speak through us?    

Those Apostles though they were imperfect and had many doubts, were filled with the Holy Spirit, and given the ability to speak Her language in their native dialects.   With in every language is a unique culture and receptivity for hearing the Gospel message of love.   In every understanding of Jesus and His work on behalf of the marginalized and destitute, is the movement of the Holy Spirit calling the whole Church to a deeper sense of unconditional love amidst diversity and expressions of the Christian Faith.  The Holy Spirit calls each of us to not become too comfortable in our current situation, but allow God to displace us to speak of God's acceptance and liberation of people who are different from ourselves; based on the reason of our unique experience of God in our own lives.  To let go of our prejudices, and to see the face of Jesus with reverence and respect for the dignity of every human person.

As the Church and society struggles with everything from immigration reform, better gun control laws, funding for the unemployed, to those who need food stamps, education, protection from the laws that discriminate on the basis of gender expression/identity, sexual orientation, race, culture, religion and so forth; God the Holy Spirit is empowering us to emulate that all human persons be respected and cherished as God's holy people.   God's holy ones endowed by God's image and likeness and redeemed for the hope of prosperity, wholeness of life and the liberty of God's adopted daughters and sons in Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 1:5).

On this Pentecost Day, may the Church be open to the work of the Spirit in our time, community and homes to speak Her language with clarity of speech, and hope for all who long for the grace of God to liberate all of us from division, to oneness of heart and soul.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life
to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy
Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the
preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.227).

O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful
people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all
things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p.227)

O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, p.818).

Day of Pentecost: The Holy Spirit Comes, Speaks and Transforms

Today's Scripture Readings

Acts 2: 2-11 (NRSV)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' "

Psalm 104 (BCP., p.736)


Romans 8: 14-17 (NRSV)

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

John 14: 8-17, 25-27 (NRSV)

Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 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'? 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. 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. 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. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 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."

"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 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. 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."

Blog Reflection

To fully appreciate the awesomeness of this Pentecost, we would do well to understand it's origins in the Jewish Faith.   Pentecost for the Jewish religion is also known as Shavuot, or the Feast of Weeks.  The Feast celebrates God giving the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai.  God's commandments to love God with all one's heart, mind, soul and strength, and love one's neighbor as oneself.  The Feast commemorates God pouring out God's love for God's people with a call to do justice and live in thanksgiving for all God did for the people of Israel. 

As Christians, we celebrate God pouring out the fullness of God's presence and power by the way of the Holy Spirit.  The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ brings it's best and most powerful grace.  The out pouring of the Holy Spirit to come on those first Apostles gathered in that upper room.  The experience was so life changing that it brought with it the ecstasy of God's presence made real, and faith given reason to give birth to the Church.  The Faith of the Apostolic ministry becomes empowered to speak boldly about God's act of salvation in Jesus Christ, and to advance the arrival of God's Reign.  The arrival of the Holy Spirit unties the bonds of different languages, so that each person listening can hear the message of the Gospel in their own tongue.  The joy of God's love and mercy can be received by everyone, without distinction.

Psalm 104 blesses the Lord with all our souls, as the Holy Spirit is celebrated as God created all things.   All creatures great and small, are the product of God's Spirit that has existed before all time.  On Pentecost the prayer of Psalm 104:31 is answered.  "You send forth your Spirit, and they are created, and so you renew the face of the earth."   The prayer is answered for the Apostles, but continues to be the prayer of Christ on behalf of us.  That God's Holy Spirit will impart Her graces upon us, in this time, to be Christ's answer to how the Spirit renews the face of the earth.

The Gospel for today is so well fitted to what we are reading in Acts, the Psalms, and Paul's letter to the Romans.   Philip asks the question that all of us ask from time to time.  "Jesus, show us the Father."   Philip is blessed with the physical presence of Jesus.  He reminds Philip that he has in fact seen the Father in Christ.  Philips search for God is found in Christ, who is God's perfect revelation of Self.   Jesus' affirmation of Philips faith is not just a matter of personal revelation.   It is to be evident in Philips ability to love God by way of all that Christ has commanded.

The commandments of God in Christ are to be lived by faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit that is given on the Day of Pentecost.  God is present in the Holy Trinity by way of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so as to lead us to God in faith and in action through our daily lives as we love one another as Christ loves us.  It gives evidence to the presence of the Holy Spirit who has come to speak and transform ourselves and others around us.  To transform a world filled with the darkness of violence, poverty, prejudice, oppression, and injustice.  To transform the Church to end the sins committed by a masked religious zeal to marginalize women, LGBTQ people, people of different races, religions, people who are economically, physically/developmentally/emotionally challenged, cultures and abilities. The Church must be open to being continually renewed to become the Community of the Spirit, by extending our hands and arms in radical hospitality and reconciliation.  Ready to kneel down and wash the feet of all who come, looking for hope and a place to rest their souls.

This week, the Holy Spirit moved on the State of Minnesota.  On Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Governor Mark Dayton of Minnesota signed into law the freedom to marry bill.  As of August 1, 2013 LGBT people will be able to legally marry the person they love.  Minnesota's Episcopal Bishop, Brian Prior recognizes that within our Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion there is a diversity that must be honored.   This includes respect for those Parishes in our Episcopal Church in Minnesota that may chose not to bless same-sex relationships.  I personally would love to have every Episcopal parish agree to bless same-sex relationships.  I tend to agree with those who would remark that parishes that don't are not being open to the movement of the Spirit.  However, the Spirit moves however She chooses, when She chooses, and on whomever She chooses.  Even on hearts like mine that are so arrogant, opinionated, and often not as open as they should be.  It is so important on this Day of Pentecost to honor the Spirit moving as She does in the hearts of each person, including those we disagree with.  Oh, how I need to better understand that with love and compassion with them, as God does with me.   As with all Christians.

The Holy Spirit has come.  She has come to speak and transform us, our communities, ourselves, our relationships, our prayers. To renew them to be life-giving in diversity, and in common.

As Pentecost officially closes the Easter Season of 2013, may Christians move forward with a renewed commitment to love God, our neighbors, ourselves and to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being with God's help.   May the Holy Spirit who came to speak and transform, begin with us and lead us forward in peace and hope.

Amen.

Prayers

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life
to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy
Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the
preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the
earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Collect for Pentecost, Book of Common Prayer, p. 227).


O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful
people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all
things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.  (Collect for Pentecost, Book of Common Prayer, p. 227).


Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p. 823).

Bishop Channing Moore Williams: God's Love Speaks in Many Languages, Religions and Traditions

Today's Scripture Reading

Luke 10:1-9 (NRSV)

The Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

Blog Reflection

There is one song evangelist who's politics and beliefs about LGBT people I strongly disagree with.  Yet, Sandi Patty sings one song that gives me hope.  The chorus she sings contains these words: "Love in any language. Straight from the heart.  Pulls us all together. Never Apart. And once we learn to speak it.  All the world will hear.  Love in any language, fluently spoken here."   The truth in these words cannot be neglected.  They are also applicable to the language of sexual and romantic love that is not heterosexual.


On December 2 The Episcopal Church commemorates Bishop Channing Moore Williams who brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to China and Japan.  Among the many works of Bishop Williams was translating the Book of Common Prayer into the language of the Chinese and Japanese people.  Making the message of God's salvation in Jesus Christ, within the Anglican Tradition available to that part of the world.

Admittedly, I am a bit troubled about this commemoration. 


During this past year I have been writing a great deal about how the Christian religion is not one of supercessionism (ie. all other religious must reduce themselves to Christianity to be valid or saved).  The continued targeting of Muslims, Jewish and other religious traditions by Christians who do believe that all religions must convert to Christianity for salvation, is really not consistent with the Person of Jesus Christ and message of the Gospel.  The people of China and Japan have their own religions and traditions.  Who are Christians to come and tell them otherwise?

Not to invalidate the point in the paragraph above, when Christians come with the message of God's unconditional love and salvation in Jesus Christ, to give people who are searching for a hope they are not experiencing in their present situation, that is the Gospel at work in the world.  When Christians share the Gospel message without unnecessary proselytizing as if we are selling something, we are not disrespecting other religious traditions and/or cultures.  


When people are being oppressed and experiencing injustice, violence and prejudice, the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings with it a message of "love in any language, fluently spoken here."   God's message of salvation is one by which we are forgiven of our sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Those who wish to enter into a relationship with God through the message of the Christian Faith are certainly welcome to do so, without any coercion or feeling of obligation.

It is important to recognize, however, that God's love speaks in many languages, religions and traditions that are not necessarily understood by Caucasian, European/American, male, Christians who are also heterosexual.  God's "love in any language is fluently spoken here."  

That language is also spoken in the culture of Native American's and the Two Spirit experience.  

Dan Pearce recently wrote in an excellent blog article called: "I'm Christian, Unless You Are Gay" :

Check this out, and feel free to correct me if I get this wrong…

According to Christians, Jesus taught a couple of interesting things. First, “love one another.” Second, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” (“Her” being a woman who cheated on her man.)

According to Buddhists, Buddha taught a couple of thought-provoking things. First, “Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.” Second, “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

According to Hindus, a couple of fascinating teachings come to mind. First, “Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all.” (Krishna) Second, “Love means giving selflessly, excluding none and including all.” (Rama)

According to Muslims, Muhammad taught a couple interesting things as well. First, “A true Muslim is the one who does not defame or abuse others; but the truly righteous becomes a refuge for humankind, their lives and their properties.” Second, “Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

According to Judaism, their scriptures teach a couple remarkable things. First, “Love your neighbor like yourself.” Second, “Examine the contents, not the bottle.”

The greatest spiritual leaders in history have all preached love for others as the basis for all happiness, and never did they accompany such mandates with a list of unlovable actions or deeds. They never said, love everybody except for the gays. Love everybody except for the homeless. Love everybody except for the drug users. Love everybody except for the gang members, or those covered in ink, or the spouse abusers. They didn’t tell us it was okay to love everybody with the exception of the “trailer trash,” those living in poverty, or the illegal immigrants. They didn’t tell us it was okay to love everybody except for our ex-lovers, our lovers’ ex lovers, or our ex-lovers’ lovers. The mandate was pretty damn clear, wasn’t it?

God's language of love and wonder is experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people.

The language of a loving God is shared through Unitarians/Universalists who some of them do not know if they believe in God or Jesus, but do outstanding humanitarian work in their Standing on the Side of Love campaign.


Jesus sent out seventy others in addition to the twelve Apostles in today's Gospel reading.  Among those seventy were individuals of varying degrees of devotion, intelligence, education, wealth status, gender, sexual orientations etc.  Jesus did not tell them to go into each house and convert them from one religion to another. Jesus did not instruct them to go and make sure each person prays the sinners prayer and leaves their old religion, culture etc.   Jesus tells them to go and bring peace to whatever house they enter and to tell them that "the Kingdom of God has come near you."

The reign of God desires to draw close to each of us as we are.   God's reign is not disrespectful of diversity, language, sexual orientation, cultural practices etc.   

The early Christians may have Christianized many pagan rituals and celebrations, but in a way it was God respecting and adapting the message of unconditional and all-inclusive love within the pagan people.   Such does not justify the way Christians made our faith into a supercessionist religion.  On the other hand, it does communicate that God can come into any culture, religion, race, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression and make a loving home where there is hospitality and reconciliation taking place.   God never wills prejudice, violence or oppression.  But, God can make use of them to accomplish great and wonderful things in spite of it.

The one argument that so irritates and saddens me is the one by which religious groups and the LGBT communities cannot work together.   

I recently posted in a Facebook page a blog article about Why You Shouldn't Donate to the Salvation Army. The comments below the post are very mixed.  

Never the less, here is my own position as best as I can state it.

The Salvation Army does incredible work on behalf of the poor and destitute.  In that regard, I do wish I could support them.  There may be many Salvation Army posts that receive LGBT people, couples and families.  However, that has not been the experience of myself and/or my partner, and other LGBT people in other places.  The work that the Salvation Army does on behalf of those in need, is unfortunately undone by the amount of money the religion uses to assist organizations like the Family Research Council and other anti-LGBT groups to help write policies that affect the lives of LGBT individuals, couples and families.  Therefore it is my position to recognize the good work of the Salvation Army, but not contribute to their social service programs until their church and all of their social service programs can see God's language of love spoken fluently in LGBT people.   I prefer to donate such money to other organizations that are more inclusive.

One agency that does service everyone is Episcopal Community Services.  

At the same time, I do not think it serves the LGBT communities well, to be assuming that all churches and religious groups are anti-LGBT when we know how untrue that is.  The discomfort over the subject of religion for LGBT people is valid and religious organizations and churches need to exercise the greatest sensitivity and respect to LGBT people if they desire to become agents in healing that relationship.   Nevertheless, the work of LGBT equality is not well-served by an attitude of "all religion is no good, because they all are against LGBT equality."   Hate returned by hate does not accomplish anything good for either side.


As we continue through this season of Advent, may we prepare for the coming of the Lord by recognizing God's language of love "fluently spoken here" amidst many languages, religions and traditions.  May we be open to those who talk the language a bit different.  And may we be willing to talk the language of God's love, the love that invites, not the "store bought brand" that proselytizes.   And may the Christian Faith with all that is terrific about it, continue to deliver faith, hope and love to all who come seeking God's love spoken fluently here.




Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your servant Channing Moore Williams, whom you called to preach the Gospel to the people of China and Japan. Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of you kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 97).

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Book of Common Prayer, page 211).


Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 123).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.  (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).