Sunday was the Day of Pentecost, commemorating the Holy Spirit coming upon Christ's disciples following his resurrection and the beginning of their public ministry. All of the day's readings talked about the Spirit one way or another. They included Acts 2: 1-21, Romans 8: 22-27, and John 15: 26-27 and 16: 4b-15.
The Hebrew word for spirit from the Old Testament is "Ruach", meaning "breath" or "wind". In the New Testament the Greek renders it "Pneuma", with the same connotations. ("Pneuma", by the way, is where we get the word "pneumatic", as in "pneumatic tools". Those accomplish plenty of nifty things using moving air...a powerful force indeed!) These translations give us a whole new purchase on the person and work of God.
We're all familiar with images of God the Father and Jesus Christ, the first two persons of the Trinity. We're familiar with their works as well: earth created, people guided, Law given, sermons preached, healing bestowed, life redeemed on the cross. All of these witnesses, though, happened in the past. When we consider God's actions we're liable to think of cold, harsh laws inscribed on a page or the historical acts of Jesus 2000 years ago. They're beautiful, powerful, but also remote. We're tempted, therefore, to consider God academic, detached, distant, and solely "other".
The Holy Spirit, though, reminds us that God's being and God's work are as real, present, and intimate as our last breath.
Ever tried to hold you breath? Of course! Everyone has! How long can you accomplish it? A minute, maybe two? Consider this: that's about how long you can force yourself to live without God's Spirit. You can run. You can protest. You can wrestle and rant, believe as you wish, debate and worry. But you know what? Through all of that stuff, just wait. A couple seconds later: inhale...exhale...there He is. It didn't matter what you believe, what you were worrying about, how hard you were running. He is life, He is here, and He is yours.
The Holy Spirit brings life not only to our bodies, but to the Word, translating Jesus' actions into our every moment. The Spirit keeps God from being that dead, remote, academic word on a page in your dresser drawer. The Spirit shows us God is alive and working even today!
As we breath in the Spirit, as the Spirit sustains us, our moments are made holy. The smallest child and the most doddering elder have this in common: they are inspired by God. They have grace and love to share, opportunities to show God's presence. They are infused with God stuff and sustained every second of their lives. If you watch through eyes of faith, you can see the Spirit's work in places and people you wouldn't believe. People breathing? Is there life? Then God is tending to it.
Some of us finished our day by heading outside to fly kites. It was funny...when I left the house the wind gauge registered zero. I thought, "Oh great. Of all the days to have NO WIND on the Palouse!" But we had asked people to bring kites and they did. So after the service folks dutifully trotted them out there. No sooner had they gotten to the north side of the church than...WHOOSH! Up soared kite after kite.
It was the most amazing thing. You normally wouldn't expect to see kites flying outside a church. Even less would you expect to see kites flying above a cemetery, on Memorial Day weekend no less! But somehow when the wind took those kites and you looked at that precious plot of land with memorials at our feet, the Spirit blowing above us, and living, laughing children in between...it was just right. It was a reminder that God is still at work! The whole yard was full of life in that moment and, dare I say...Spirit.
Don't miss the work of the Spirit in your life! Start with breathing, give thanks for that, welcome in God, and then cast your gaze farther. The Spirit is blowing all around you. Watch and see!
--Pastor Dave (pastordave@geneseelutheranparish.org)
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