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A
Weekly Reflection on the Texts
of the Common, Ecumenical Lectionary
- Archives
Posted Monday, May 5, 2008:
The great fifty days from Easter to Pentecost comes to conclusion
now, with Pentecost this Sunday, May 11, 2008. The Lectionary
provides some options, in fact many options. I'll take Acts 2, I
Corinthians 12, and John 20, a nice Holy Spirit Triptych.
Acts 2: 1 - 21
It always seem a little odd, after
reading along in Acts throughout Eastertide, to now double-back and
get the Pentecost story, but whatever. Acts 2 is a long chapter with
at least four parts, of which our reading comprises the first two.
The four parts are, the signs and wonders of the Spirit's coming,
Peter's sermon text from Joel, Peter's sermon, and the response to
the sermon. You could say there's even a fifth part to chapter two,
the closing snapshot of the new community. As is true elsewhere in
Acts the signs and wonders portion does not stand alone, but is
interpreted by what follows it. And this is done so with reference
to Scripture, not only Joel (a traditional Pentecost reading for
Jews) but citations from the Psalms. In Acts Scripture and Spirit
are always held together, never torn asunder. And, as noted above,
event and interpretation are held together as well. Though we do not
get all of Peter's interpretation, preachers should read and study
it all. It seems telling that in the first 11 verses, what
astonishes those who hear is not that they don't understand but that
they do! We have become accustomed to not understanding one another
to such an extent that understanding seems disturbing! Note too that
those who asked, "What does this mean?" which is a very good
question are not the same people as those who provide a ready, if
dismissive, explanation: "They are filled with new wine." Awe and
wonder, not having the answer, open hearts are good things not bad
things. Or as Gregory put it, "Concepts create idols; only wonder
comprehends anything."
I Corinthians 12: 3b - 13
Paul's great discussion of the church
as the body of Christ reminds us that baptism is baptism "into
Christ," i.e. we become parts of his body. Paul here is wrestling
with one of those polarities that can only be managed, not reduced
to a problem to be solved. This is the polarity of unity and
diversity. One body, many parts. In some congregations that accord
people great freedom and emphasize diversity, verse 7 may be key:
"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common
good." For the common good would be the key words. The gift
given you is in service to the life of the whole, not to serve your
personal interests, agendas or self-aggrandizement. For
congregations that construe unity as uniformity, the key verses are
8 - 10 on the variety of gifts. Key in a different way is verse 3, a
kind of preface. How are we to take this, which superficially
appears to be a call for a kind of verbal test of allegiance? I
think it means something different, that the precondition of
participation in the Body of Christ is baptism by the Holy Spirit,
which is where the reading also concludes. None of this makes sense
apart from dying with Christ and rising with him, and thus partaking
of the Holy Spirit. It is, after all, the body of Christ with which
we have to do. The lens through which all of this is seen, and seen
rightly, is Christ.
John 20: 19 - 23
This is a second recent appearance for
this passage, which was part of the longer lesson for Easter II. It
is also John's version of Pentecost, which comes not 50 days later,
as in Acts, but on Easter Eve. Fear is the atmosphere. Peace is the
antidote. Not courage, but peace—isn't that interesting? Twice
Jesus says to his disciples, "Peace be with you." After the first
time, he shows them his hands and side. The risen Lord is the
crucified Christ. After the second "Peace be with you," he charges
them saying, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you," and then
breathes the Holy Spirit into them, as God breathed life into the
first humans at creation's dawn. We gather in worship that we may
breathe in Christ and be raised to new life. This seemingly gentle
scene is quite a contrast to the fiery complement in Acts 2, but I
am not sure how much should be made of that. The real point is the
equivalence of the words "wind" "breathe" and "spirit." The church
exists because of the Spirit Christ sends. We are not our own nor
are we on our own. We do best when we seek not our own agendas, but
Christ's. Without the Holy Spirit we aren't even an interesting
organization. "Breathe on me breath of God, fill me with life anew,
that I may will what Thou dost will and do what thou dost do."
Before we can be givers, we must be receivers. We receive the Holy
Spirit, we do not get it. Having received the Spirit we have
something to give/share, the power of forgiveness, a power that
breaks through the gridlock of the old age to the new age.
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