Pentecost Sunday, 4 June 2017
Queen Camel, West Camel TeaTime, Weston Bampfylde
What is the Spirit of God? How can we know when the Spirit comes to us?
Well, if we take the description form the Acts of the Apostles of the Spirit coming to the disciples, we see that the Holy Spirit comes when people are together, people who may be very different from each other, uniting them in fellowship and understanding, bringing comprehension and celebration.
This happened on that Pentecost in Jerusalem. And it happens all over the world today.
They were all together in one place. The supporters of the West Country football club on a day out at Wembley Stadium, seeking a victory for their team which would get them promoted to a higher league. And in the last minute, with the match evenly balanced, a long ball landed at the feet of their lone forward upfield, and as he ran goalwards, they all stood, as one body; as he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper’s body into the back of the net, their arms went up and with one voice like the sound of a violent wind, they roared: YES - YES - YESSS!
That’s the Spirit.
They were all together in one place. It was the final of Britain’s Got Talent and you could hear a pin drop as the Missing People Choir - consisting of people looking for their loved ones who had left home a long time ago and not yet returned - sang a song of loss and longing; a song which captivated everyone in that vast arena, touched their hearts deeply and brought tears to their eyes. As the last note sounded, a brief silence. And then a ripple of applause, and then a wave of clapping and then a loud ovation. [1]
That’s the Spirit.
For the Holy Spirit is to be found where people unite in fellowship and understanding, comprehension and common purpose.
They were together in one place. And from heaven the sound like the rush of a violent wind filled the house. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. Filled with the Holy Spirit they began to speak in other languages, so that the people gathered there from every tribe and nation - in their own languages - heard and understood them speaking about God’s deeds of power.
Unity where there was division - that is the work of the Spirit. Understanding where there was rivalry and enmity - that is the work of the Spirit.
They were all together in one place. It was a busy underground train and ten minutes into the journey a man began racially abusing two young Muslim sisters who were passengers there. As his verbal abuse became more aggressive, first one other passenger intervened, then another challenged him, then virtually everybody on that carriage joined in the women’s defence; a group of men told the offender to leave the train at the next station, and the whole carriage applauded when he did. [2]
That - I suggest - is the Spirit.
For the Holy Spirit is to be found where people unite in acts of generosity and humanity, fired up to take risks together for the sake of goodness.
They were all together in one place. St Anne’s Square, Manchester, in a vigil the day after the Arena bombing. People of all backgrounds, all types, standing shoulder to shoulder in a minute’s silence for the victims and their families, for the city of Manchester and its people. And when the crowd sensed the time of silence had come to an end, in that moment a lone woman began singing the refrain of a popular song of the famous Manchester group, Oasis, “Don’t look back in anger.” And, their hearts strangely warmed, the crowd gently joined in.
… Her soul slides away
But don't look back in anger
I heard you say. [3]
Those who were there described this as a ‘spine-tingling moment’. [4]
Not to deny anger in response to acts of terror, but to determine never to be consumed by it.
That - I suggest - is the Spirit.
For the Holy Spirit is to be found where people combine to put the worst behind them and look forward together in hope.
We can open our hearts to the coming of the Holy Spirit every time we come together in this place of worship to sing and pray and listen out for God.
We can train ourselves to receive the Holy Spirit by praying often, praying by using words or by listening quietly, praying by kneeling down or standing with our arms raised high, praying by bowing our heads or lifting them to see the beauty around us. Praying by writing down our thoughts or drawing pictures or creating something beautiful for God. Praying by working for the good of others and for the world.
In a world where disaffected and disturbed young men perform violent acts against innocents on the streets of our cities, we could become overtaken by a spirit of fear.
In a world where political discourse is reduced to soundbites and evasiveness, downright lies and character assassinations, as we approach a General Election, we could be overtaken by a spirit of disillusionment and cynicism.
In a world whose leaders determine to tear up agreements which protect the earth for its future generations, we could be overtaken by a spirit of anger or despair.
But as Peter reminded those gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost, the prophet Joel, many centuries ago, said,
“In the days to come,” says the Lord,
“I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
And your sons and daughters
will prophesy,
Your young ones will see visions
And your old ones will dream dreams…”
Let us not be overtaken by a spirit of fear, anger, disillusionment and despair.
Let us be people open to the Holy Spirit; people of prayer; people who with the eyes of faith can see the Holy Spirit in the world around us, and join together to share in the Holy Spirit’s work.
What is YOUR vision for the world?
What is YOUR dream for the future?
Let us embrace the Holy Spirit - and with God’s help, begin to bring those dreams and visions into life.
Notes
[1] The Missing People Choir website: “Led by the charity Missing People, … supporting missing children and adults and their families left behind.”
[2] Kate Ng, Ruhi Rahman: Muslim woman thanks ‘Geordie angels’ who defended her from racist abuse on Newcastle Metro. Independent, 24 November 2015 (and widely reported).
[3] Noel Gallagher, Don’t Look Back in Anger lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.
[4] Manchester attacks: Don't Look Back in Anger sung at vigil, BBC, 25 May 2017 (and widely reported).
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