Please allow me to use last week's Gospel Lesson from John 17:1-11 with the Pentecost story for this week. Partly because I missed sharing last week but mostly because I think this lesson has great significance regarding the Holy Spirit's purpose and work, I would appreciate your indulgence of me on this choice.
Jesus, in all authority over all people, desires that we be one with God. Just as He and the Father are unified, so God's will is that we be one with God. The introduction of Jesus between God and God's people was a re-introduction, necessary because of the corruption of the Temple Cult leaders of their time and the oppressive occupying force of Rome. God desires that we be unified in order that we may not fall to the destructive, oppressive forces of greed, lust for power and self-centeredness, but rather that we in strength resist these evils together and live in Agape Love. Jesus re-introduced us to God's love in the Gospels through what He taught, commanded and modeled for us.
The Pentecost is the introduction of the Holy Spirit's presence, power and guidance toward that unity with one another and with God. It is the great UN-DOING of the scattering of peoples at the Tower of Babel. This etiology tells the story of how God draws all people together at Jesus, in Agape Love. It is about unity, oneness with God brought by the atoning act of Jesus on the Cross. The Holy Spirit is introduced in the mix now, in power and strength. The Holy Spirit guides, draws and even drives us to Jesus by communication of the Good News of Agape Love. It is God's will and God's purpose that we be one people together, and that we be one with God. The deeds of wonder and power are not the purpose, so getting caught up on them as if they are the purpose is not helpful or faithful. God needs to prove God's power and wonder to no one. We should not be surprised by signs of God's power and wonder. No, the deeds of power and wonder are a means toward God's will - to draw people together in unity with one another and (therefore) with God.
Greed divides. Abuses of power divide. Self-centeredness sets people apart from others.
Jesus' Good News of Agape Love - his teachings, commands and examples of it, draw people together in unity, justice and peace.
This is the work of the Holy Spirit - to bring about God's will in THIS PART of God's Kingdom by transforming hearts, minds and lives of individuals and community toward unity with one another and (therefore) with God, as one Body of Christ.
So, how and to where is the Holy Spirit leading, guiding, drawing and driving you?
Pastor Jamie
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