The Bible preaches that the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us, especially when things change. If that is true, and it is, then I say that we need a whole lot of Holy Spirit coming down to us in this world!
There has been so much change in the world this past year, and it is not ending. Just the other day, someone asked me in the grocery store if they need to wear their mask anymore. “I’m not sure what we are supposed to be doing!” I hear you! It is not possible to get back to a sense of “normal” when the earthquake has not stopped and the ground keeps shifting under your feet. Change just keeps coming.
Change is hard. Just the other day I read that a beloved professor of my father’s died. They called him “Pope John,” because his first name was John, and because he was a beloved professor of religion. When I heard the news, I grabbed my phone to call my Dad, to let him know, and suddenly realized that I could not. My dad has been dead for over a year now. Somehow, my mind still has not been able to get a handle of the changes that have been thrust upon it. We are rarely prepared for change.
In today’s gospel reading from John, we read that Jesus is preparing his disciples for change. He is about to go to the cross. He is about to be raised. He is about to ascend into heaven for a long, long time. After he has broken the disturbing news of his absence to his disciples, Jesus looks at them with compassion and says,
“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.”
What did I say at the top of the sermon? “The Bible preaches to us that the Holy Spirit is God’s gift to us, especially when things change.” Today, on Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate this gift from God.
Before we go on, I will answer the question that I thought was probably one of the stupidest questions that I ever asked during my pastoral training, “What is the Holy Spirit anyway?” When I asked it, I felt the eyes of the class all creep my way, as if I were a kindergartener who had suddenly invaded a graduate level religion class with peanut butter smeared across my face.
“That is a great question. Thank you, Jira.”
“Ha! Great question! Take that! At least I have great ignorance!”
Wait, that didn’t come out right.
In any case, the professor went on to teach that the Greek meanings for “Holy Spirit” are vast. They encompass a lot of ideas. You could translate the Greek as “Advocate,” someone who fights on behalf of someone else. “Comforter” is another good translation. “Counselor” or “Teacher” would also be appropriate. Thus, “Guide” gets at the idea.
In other words, the Holy Spirit is to us as Jesus Christ was to those who walked with him and talked with him. Jesus taught, and comforted, and healed, and guided those few who had the privilege to know him, and the Holy Spirit is the same power of Jesus Christ, present with us, walking beside us today.
And, boy do we need a teacher, and comforter, and healer, and guide, and advocate to walk beside us in today’s changing world.
When we see the Pandemic’s toll floating down the rivers of India, with no end to the horror in sight, we cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”
When the sparkle in the eyes of little four year olds cause them to bend down in wonderment at the new life sprouting from the ground, we cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”
When the job is lost and the home is no more, we cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”
When the young couple celebrates with a kiss, and bubbles are blown as they walk out of the marriage ceremony into their brand new, unknown life of love together, we cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”
When the hospital is your new home, we cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”
When new friends get in the car and set out on a journey together, full of joy and anticipation for the days to come, we cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”
When the one who used to be your friend now cannot stand to be in the same room as you, and you yearn for the days that were, and cannot understand the days that are, we cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”
When we look at each other, with excitement about the possibilities that God is providing us in our ministry together, not knowing where we are going to end up, but knowing that at least we are doing it together with each other and with Jesus Christ, we cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”
When the world changes, when saviors leave, when parents die, when the old ways remain old, when the new ways remain unseen, and when we are not in control, we cry out, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!” Because, we need the Spirit.
As the Bible says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” We live in a world that seems to have lost a grasp on the idea of truth. So, Come Holy Spirit, Come.
Because, when we cry out to the Holy Spirit to come, it does. It comes to us like on that day of Pentecost when it came down from the heavens as tongues of fire, speaking to us in a language that we can understand.
That is the gift of the Holy Spirit after-all. Jesus was only able to reach those who lived within walking distance. The Holy Spirit that Jesus sends, on the other hand, is able to reach the entire world.
And, it speaks to us all in ways that we can understand. When I was still in the theatre, it spoke to me from the stage in the form of a Christian, rock musical. To others, the Spirit speaks through the painting they see, or through the unique people they encounter around the world, or through the hard working hands of the farmer who cares for his neighbor, or the teacher who goes above and beyond to reach out to those who others view as lost.
The Holy Spirit speaks in all of these different languages, and it speaks yours as well.
When you sing, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!” it comes. Like a tongue of fire it comes, and it allows you to speak the truth of Jesus Christ, your teacher, and comforter, and healer, and guide.
And, the Holy Spirit fills you with the language you need in order to walk alongside someone else; someone who is lost in this changing world; someone who needs a special person right next to them.
Your soul cries out, “Come, Holy Spirit, Come.” And, the Spirit comes. And, after the Spirit walks with you and speaks to you, all of the constant changes in the world suddenly seem more eternal than chaotic. When we find ourselves walking with the Spirit, everything is right once again.
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