Several questions …
When you watched the television images of destruction caused by Alberta’s “beast” of a forest fire and witnessed the evacuation of thousands of residents from Fort MacMurray, did you see God’s spirit at work in it all?
When you were going through the most difficult situation in your own life, did you feel God’s spirit with you?
A story - When Jesus returned to heaven, he and God had an “exit interview.”
God: How did things go on earth?
Jesus: I did all you asked me to do.
God: What plan did you make to continue your work?
Jesus: I appointed 12 men.
God: How are they doing?
Jesus: So so. One denied knowing me, one betrayed me and the others ran away.
God: What is your plan B?
Jesus: I made no other plans.
That is why Jesus’ followers were waiting – patiently and impatiently – in a house outside of Jerusalem for many days.
The longer they waited, the more irritable they became.
Some may have wanted to give up.
SUDDENLY … it happened …
A noise, like a rushing mighty wind, filled the house. Tongues of fire touched everyone. The followers of Jesus were filled with God’s spirit and began talking in many languages.
A curious crowd gathered to see what had happened. Typical reaction. Some wanted to learn more; others dismissed them -‘they’re drunk’.
God sent people the Holy Spirit for many reasons – to help, advocate, guide, protect, comfort, encourage and lead us in our daily living; as well it was a reminder that God is always with us.
That is why we have to see God’s spirit in events and interpret its presence. But to do so we need to adopt the right attitude and perception.
Several examples …
Eric left Newfoundland some years ago and became a truck driver in the oilfields of Fort Mac. His family rented for several years and in January 2016 bought their first house. In April he purchased a new truck. Life was going well for the three of them.
Then came the beast. They fled to Edmonton with a few treasured possessions. Now they are back in Newfoundland. His truck is in Edmonton. Eric found out the house they rented was destroyed by the fire, but the house they bought escaped the blaze. He is waiting to return to his home and job in Alberta. Do they see or feel God’s presence or spirit in their lives? Do we? I hope so.
The singer/songwriter THE WEEKND has won 6 Junos and has a song nominated for an Academy Award. He donated $50,000 to the Toronto church where he grew up and where his parents still attend. His minister said the money was important but more importantly he was glad THE WEEKND was using the gifts God had given him, and he still sees this church as his church. Do we see God’s spirit working in the life of this person? In our own life? I hope so.
During the 1992-95 war in Bosnia, a famous mosque was bombed to pieces. The peace agreement of 1995 guaranteed people could return home and rebuild. In 2001 people began to collect, from rivers and garbage dumps, fragments of the former mosque. Approximately 3,500 pieces were collected. It took 15 years to rebuild the mosque.
On May 7, 2016, 10,000 people gathered to celebrate its reopening. In addition to political leaders, representatives from the Serbian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church and Jewish community were present.
A leader of the Islamic Community told the gathering, ‘Our differences are not a historical mistake. They are God’s gifts and any violence against those differences is an act against God’. Did the people see God’s spirit at work in rebuilding the place of worship? Do we? I hope so
That is what Pentecost is … God being with us at all times, under all circumstances, in all situations.
Margerie Pezzack – the first woman ordained a priest in Toronto Diocese – taught “Pentecost” to her Sunday School children in a unique way. Every Sunday morning at St. John’s York Mills Church in Toronto, the Sunday School would gather in the chapel and Marg would get them to repeat these five words of Jesus, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS (Matthew 28:20).
She would get the children to raise a closed hand and repeat one word as they extended one finger.
At Marg’s funeral I told the story of the five words. One of her former students had loaned me a needlepoint working of a hand and the 5 words of Jesus.
After relating what Marg did to begin her Sunday School class every week, and knowing the majority of those at her funeral were former students, I asked, “how do you respond when I do this?”.
I raised my hand – the congregation did the same.
I extended my thumb – the congregation shouted – I
And so on for the other four fingers.
That day nearly 600 people repeated what Marg had taught them in Sunday School to help them cope with life.
At Pentecost God sent the Holy Spirit to help us be God’s people in the world.
(I ended my sermon by asking the congregation to follow Marg’s example.
I raised my hand – they did the same – and as I opened each finger we said “I am with you always”.
I suggested that later in the day people should do it once more … and in the future whenever needed.)
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