What a time to recognize the importance of Pentecost! On Sunday morning in worship we celebrate that we are people of the Spirit, not dependent upon a building. As we are scattered physically, may we celebrate what binds us together. We join for a time to worship in SPIRIT and in TRUTH as we lament, sing in native languages, and rejoice in Jesus Christ our Lord who came to set us free that we might live by the Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7).
This week we grieve the loss of life of so many people in our communities through a history of violence spurred by racial structures. We grieve the violent deaths of George Floyd, Breona Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others we know not by name but whose lives are precious. We grieve the more than 100,000 who’ve died because of Covid 19 in our country and the 370,000 in the world. We grieve the heartache experienced by so many through illness, unemployment, isolation and fear.
Gathering in worship is vital as we center our lives together on our God, who was, is and always will be. But, worship is not dependent upon a particular place. Jesus said as much to the Samaritan woman by a well, “God is Spirit and those who worship God must worship in Spirit and in Truth.” (John 4:24). No, we do not gather physically in one defined space. It is vital that we show our love for one another by NOT gathering in a place at this time. Rather we gather in unity by the Spirit.
On the day of Pentecost 2000+ years ago people from all the known nations did gather temporarily in the bustling, overcrowded city of Jerusalem. Many of these had been scattered (the Diaspora) to other nations because of exile from oppression, wars, and other injustices. They gathered to celebrate Shavuot – the Feast of Weeks, 50 days after Passover, and to acknowledge God as Provider and giver of the law that revealed God’s character of love and justice. Some in the crowd were just there – as happens in any big city. A few were there because they had followed Jesus, now risen from the dead, and Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem.
Into this expectant, faithful, discouraged, overwhelmed crowd – God acted. God moved. God’s Spirit descended upon this gathering of people who spoke the diverse languages of “every nation under heaven” we are told. And the disciples, now empowered by the Holy Spirit, shared the Good News of God’s love and salvation in the native tongues of those who are there. (Acts 2:1-6). And, then people scattered back to their various homes and countries empowered to live as people of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a very real energizing Presence. – God on the Move. The Holy Spirit convicts us to re-think how we view one another and ourselves. Our question today is NOT how do we meet in a place but how do we move in the Spirit for JUSTICE and PEACE and the end of racism? How do we live by the Spirit? Because of the Spirit, Jesus is not gone and God is not distant.
We are scattered physically, but not alone. Today will you trust that you have the personal presence of God who invites you to live as someone whose life is shaped by GRACE, GENEROSITY and GRATITUDE not by our culture’s values of prejudice, power and prestige which only divide and destroy?
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is not law against such things..
If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.” Galatians 6:22-26
*influenced by theme of movie Thor Ragarnok (thank you, Lydia Heberling for recommending!)
Renee Notkin