Word to the Wise
Sunday, May 11, 2008 - Pentecost Sunday
[Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23]No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.
For many of us the event of Pentecost summons up the image of the disciples in a group (with Mary there, too) looking up at a white dove near the ceiling that seems to be radiating "tongues of fire" that dangle over the heads of everyone in the room. This picture is an effort on the part of artists to visualize the account in the Acts of the Apostles by St. Luke of the sending of the Holy Spirit that had been promised. This is the account in the first scripture of the day. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the Gospel of John looks at it a different way. "Pentecost" in that gospel occurs when Jesus' himself appears to the disciples after his death and resurrection/ascension. In that account, Jesus says, "'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit....'" This is the account given in the gospel scripture for today. One account has the event occurring 50 days after Jesus' death and resurrection, the other has it occurring the same day as his resurrection! Despite efforts by church fathers and older scholars to reconcile the two accounts, it becomes clear that the two authors were working from different sources of tradition. However, both traditions come together on these two points: the Spirit is sent to the apostles, and, the apostles are sent into the world on mission. St. Paul fails to mention the Pentecost event at all and assumes the presence of the Holy Spirit as the power by which Christ is present to ALL of us. He reminds us that "to each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit." All of us are called "in the Spirit" to proclaim "Jesus is Lord!" Thus, the Church chooses to take the two Pentecost "event" stories and place them alongside St. Paul's reminder of the gift of the Spirit to all believers and hands it to us in one big package for our consideration! Pastorally, my experience is that however the original event took place, it has continued taking place and sometimes in ways that we just don't expect. Jesus reminds us of this unpredictable aspect in his conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:8). St. Paul reminds us that we may expect considerable diversity in how the Spirit will be manifested. It can range from speaking in tongues to simple acts of administration! I once saw a sign that read: " No one is completely worthless. They can always serve as a bad example!" It may well be that the learning we get from "bad examples" may be an instance of the Spirit's influence. The celebration of Pentecost is often referred to as the "birthday of the Church." I would see it as the birthday of all who believe in Jesus' and his continuing presence in us as preachers of his message! Happy Birthday, Y'all! AMEN
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