We are now upon Pentecost, the day on which the Holy Spirit was given and poured out on the gathered disciples. What a day that must have been! We are right to remember and celebrate it two millennia later.
A question seldom asked is “Why was the Holy Spirit given?“ Part of the answer is the Spirit was given in fulfillment of the promise Jesus gave – the same promise Peter refers to when he quotes from the prophet Joel on Pentecost day: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people” (Acts 2:17). No longer will the Spirit be given to particular people for particular tasks at particular times. The Spirit will now be poured out an all people – young and old, men and women, rich and poor alike. Pentecost is the fulfillment of that vision. The Holy Spirit is the promise of Jesus and the Father (Luke 24:49).
Yet promise and fulfillment is only part of the reason why the Spirit was given. The Spirit has a purpose, and our readings for this coming Sunday remind us what that reason is. In John 20, Jesus commissions the disciples “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” and then breathes the Spirit into them. In Ephesians 4, Paul tells us the gifts of the Spirit are given “To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12).
The Holy Spirit is given for ministry. That’s it, the primary reason the Spirit was given! The gifts of the Spirit are to empower and equip ministry, for the building up of the body and advancing the kingdom of God.
The job of the Spirit is not primarily to edify us or to makes us holy, though we pray that takes place. The Spirit is not there to give us comfort, though thankfully that happens too. The Spirit is there to shake us up, strengthen us, and move us out into the world. The Spirit is given to empower us to serve Christ and to make him known. So it was on the day of Pentecost, when three thousand people responded to an ordinary, so-so sermon Peter gave! So it can be for us as well “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
The Commissioning This Sunday
No, this is not an ordination. I promise we will give you plenty of advance notice when the Bishop and God decide the time is right for Steve to be ordained! Sunday is a commissioning, a setting aside and giving of authority for an important task. In the same way Jesus commissioned the disciples and gave them the Spirit, so we will do on Pentecost Sunday!
Wear Red?
The color red is associated with the fire and intensity of the Holy Spirit, and it is traditional to wear red on Pentecost. Keep in mind the Memorial service for Dona Barton is taking place at 1pm on Sunday, and many of us will simply remain at church after our Pentecost service and IITB. It is perfectly acceptable to wear red to both, and I think both God and Dona will understand – they might even smile! But then, I am in no position to comment or judge any fashion faux pas…
See you Sunday!
-Bill
