Join us today as we celebrate Mass for Pentecost Sunday, 6/5/22. To follow along at home, click here and print the Holy Communion Program. Text of today’s homily below.
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Homilies for Pentecost Sunday
Readings: Acts 2:1-11, Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34, 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13, Jn 20:19-23
Archdeacon Mitch:
The idea that objective truth exists and can be understood by the average person is not something we should take for granted. Today we see everywhere in our culture, and around the globe, the dire consequences of doubt in the idea of objective truth. If we encourage everyone to “speak their own truth,” ignore science, and deny unpleasant facts, should we be shocked when absurd fictions resurface, like “flat earth theory?” Should we wonder why each political and social tribe has its own set of “truths?” No, we shouldn’t be surprised by this at all. It’s perfectly natural.
Since the dawn of history, every tribe has had its own truth. Every indigenous tribe of North America had its own language, customs, laws, and pantheon of gods – the Powhatan, Cree, the Commanche – just as every European tribe did – the Vikings, Celts, Picts, Greeks – and that was story across the globe, in Asia, Africa, the Levant, South America, and so on. The truth has always changed based on where you went. Based on your tribe. No case was made for objective truth outside Christianity, especially not in sacred books. The Hindu Vedas, are recited for their sound, not for their meaning. They are intended to vibrate in tune with the cosmic chords of creation rather than to be interpreted. In Zen Buddhism, as Suzuki said, written texts are merely “fingers pointing at the moon.” Each Zen practitioner has his or her own personal encounter with truth through meditation. To Muslims, the Quran is the actual, literal word of God – written in Arabic and never to be recited in any language other than Arabic. The Torah are the written tales and stories of the Jewish people, and they are written, read, studied, and recited in Hebrew.
Certainly, all religions contain wisdom. And certainly, Christians understand that some truths are beyond words and must be experienced and embodied – like accepting into oneself the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ during Mass or Holy Communion. This is why we call them “the Sacred Mysteries.” But unlike other religions, Christianity makes the bold claim that there are universal truths that can be heard and understood by all people. Our God is the truth itself, and his son Jesus Christ – the Word made flesh – is “the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6). And so, in today’s readings, at the climax of our most sacred season, we read the eyewitness account of the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost – in which the apostles of Christ are given – by the power of the Holy Spirit – the ability to proclaim the truth to all people of all nations in their own language.
Don’t you see everybody – that’s why the Gospel has been translated into every human language! We never doubt the ability of the hearer to understand because we know the divine heritage of humanity. We see the potential in every beating human heart! And so, everywhere the Holy Bible has gone, people have heard the words of St. Paul in their own language, just as we heard them today: “For in one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jew or Greek, slave or free.” Everywhere the Bible has gone, people have heard Jesus – the Word of Truth made flesh! – speak directly to them in their own languages, saying “love your enemies and bless those that curse you,” that blessed are the poor, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the ones who are persecuted, that “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.”
There’s a reason why Christian believers are called “witnesses.” We believe in these truths and we have seen them for ourselves. Cry out brothers and sisters, “Come Holy Spirit come!” Proclaim, in your native tongues, the good news – tell the world that in Christ we all are one, that all human beings are brothers and sisters descended from the same two parents who were themselves made in the image of God. Wherever there is reversion to stale and backward ideas of subjective truth, don’t let the clock be turned back to bygone, tribal eras. Cry out “Come Holy Spirit, come! Shine your light into that darkness and make it bright!”
Bishop Erik:
This Sunday We Celebrate, the Feast of Pentecost.
Tonight, We Celebrate God’s Spirit, God’s Breath, God’s Love, Being Poured-Out, Upon the World.
This Spirit of God, which Saint John calls,
the Paraclete [ par-ah-klete ] [ EW-1 ] is Sometimes also called, –– the Holy Spirit, or
–– the Spirit of Christ. [ Cf. 1 Cor 12:3-13; Rom 8:8-17; Acts 2:1-4 ]
By What-Ever Name, We Give to It, the Love of God, is Being Poured Out Upon Us,
as was Promised by Jesus Christ.
This is the Life of God,
Being Poured-Out Upon Us,
[ John 14:26 ]
through which, we are Created, and Sustained.
[ Ps 104:30 ]
It is through the Breath of God, God’s Ruach,
[ EW-2 ]
that We Have Life.
All these Words, Flow Together,
Painting an Image of God’s Love for Us,
[ Ps 104:29 ]
of God Creating Us, Breathing Life into Us, Sustaining Us, and Calling to Us;
[ Gen 2:7 ]
Desiring that We Join His Divine Family,
Heirs of the Spirit of God ––the Spirit of Christ–– and that We Know, God the Father, as Our Abba,
Our Father, by Adoption Through Christ. [ Rom 8:14-17 ]
For We ALL Drink of One Spirit. [ 1 Cor 12:13 ]
In Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans, [ Rom 8:8-17 ]
Paul is trying to get us to Understand, that we Each, have a Choice to Make…
We can Follow the Path of the Flesh, the Way of the World; but that Path Leads, only to Death.
Our Other Choice, is to Choose Life, to Choose the Way of Christ, and to Allow His Spirit to Life Through Us, to Dwell, With-In Our Spirit;
And as a Result of the Spirit of Christ, Residing, Abiding, With-In Us, we Have Life.
And this Life,
is the “Spirit of Adoption,” [ Rom 8:15 ] and That Spirit,
–– the Spirit of Life, Abiding With-In Us –– will Testify for Us, As Our “Advocate,” to God the Father,
Claiming Us, as Heirs, as Children,
of the Spirit of Christ. [ Rom 8:16-17 ]
It is for this Reason, that We May All Acclaim, as Our “Alleluia” Proclamation Cries Out…
“O Come, Holy Spirit,
Fill the Hearts of the Faithful, and Kindle in Us, the Fire of Your Love.”
And in Our Gospel Reading for this Pentecost Sunday,
We Hear the Promise of Jesus, Calling to Us, Across the Centuries of Human History, and from the Eternal Sanctuary in Heaven, which, We Share,
During Our Celebration of the Eucharist.
Jesus Said, [ Cf. John 14:23-26; John 20:19-23 ]
“Whoever Loves Me will Keep My Word,”
This “Love,” is the Same Love that is Rooted in agape, [ S. 25 ] which we Spoke of Last Week.
This Love is Rooted in the Love of God, and in Loving in Such a Way, as the Love of God, for His Creation, is Manifested in Our Lives.
“...and My Father will Love Them, and We will Come to Them,
and Make Our Dwelling with Them.” [ v. 23 ]
This Word for “Dwelling,” is monen, in the Greek. [ S. 3438 ]
We Recently Encountered this Same Word, when Jesus was Speaking, of Preparing for Us,
“Many Mansions.” [ John 14:2 ]
This Word is only used Twice, in the New Testament, and both Times by Jesus, in the Gospel According to John.
And, I Remind You, this Has Nothing to Do with Buildings…
This is Christ Living With Us,
Abiding With-In Us, and the Meaning, is to be Understood as, Our Constant Companion.
Thus, when Christ Abides with Us, in this Way, it is an Eternal Event.
The Spirit of Christ, will be with Us, For-Ever.
Jesus, then Speaks of the Sending of the Holy Spirit,
–– the Advocate, the Paraclete –– that God the Father, Sends to us, in the Name of Jesus…
“The Advocate, the holy Spirit, that the Father will send in my name — will Teach You Everything, and
Remind You, of All that [I] Told You.”
[ v. 25 ]
Here, “All,” means “All,” as in ‘Everything that is Important,
Everything, that is Relevant,
Everything, that is for Your Benefit.’
[ S. 3956 ]
And the “Reminding,” is a Kind of Remembrance,
Due to Prompting,
Which Suggests to Me, that the Holy Spirit, is Not Only In-Dwelling,
[ S. 5279 ]
But Actively So!
The Holy Spirit –– if We Only Open Ourselves to It –– Will Teach Us Everything, that Jesus Taught, and Will Actively Prompt Us, Reminding Us, of Everything that Jesus Has to Share with Us.
This is an Active Love, and Active Participation, of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, in Our Life.
This Morning I Came Across a Homily,
Written by Father Richard Rohr, in 2014. [ I commend his books & web site ]
I’ll Share a Few Lines with You, and Provide a Link to His Homily in My Footnotes… [ EW-2 ]
“God does Not give God’s Spirit to those of us who are W orthy , because None of us are Worthy.
“God gives God’s Spirit, in this Awakened Way, to those who W ant It.
So, “On this Feast of Pentecost... Quite Simply… … Want It!
… Rely upon it.
… Know, that you Already have it.”
– Fr. Richard Rohr (emphasis & formatting mine +EW)
“Why Do You Ask for What Has Already Been Given?” June 8, 2014.
https://cac.org/podcasts/pentecost-why-do-you-ask-for-what-has-already-been-given-to-you/ https://cac.org/
And Jesus, Promises This Too…
‘My Peace Be With You.’ [ John 14:27 ][ EW-4 ]
This “Peace,” is Shalom… the Complete-ness, the Whole-ness, the Inter-Connected-ness,
That We May Only Experience, by Living in God’s Presence, Abiding with God’s Spirit.
This, is the Peace of Christ.
And this Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost, We Remember the Words of Jesus, and We Share them with Others…
“Peace be with you.”
And After Saying This, He Breathed on Them,
Jesus, Gifts to Us, the Breath of Life Itself,
Saying,
“Receive the holy Spirit.” [ v. 21-22 ]
And as Father Richard Rohr, Reminds Us…
“God does Not give God’s Spirit to those of us who are Worthy, because None of us are Worthy.
“God gives God’s Spirit, in this Awakened Way, to those who W ant It.
So… “On this Feast of Pentecost…
… W ant It!
… Rely upon it.
… Know, that you A lready have it.”
This is the Good News we share!
May you be Blessed, in the Name of, the Father, the Son ++ and the Holy Ghost.
Amen!