In the Spirit of Truth – sermon on June 9, 2019
John 14: 11-17, 25-27 Jesus said, “Believe me that I am in God and God is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to God. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that God may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask God, and God will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees her nor knows her. You know her, because she abides with you, and she will be in you.
I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom God will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
Acts 2: 1-18 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? People from countries far and wide, visitors from Rome, both Jews and converts, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “People of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
Sermon: In the Spirit of Truth by Rev. Doreen Oughton
This is one of my favorite days to preach! We have a gospel passage that I find incredible, inspiring, confounding and hopeful. It is the night before Jesus will be arrested and put to death. He knows things are going to be different for his followers, his friends, and he is giving them words of comfort and encouragement. He tells them he is leaving, going ahead of them, but they know the way. Thomas protests – no, we don’t know the way. Jesus tells him, “I am the way, the way to God. Thomas is still hesitant, saying, well then, show us God, and we get this passage. “Believe that God is in me, and I am in God. If you know me, you know God.” But then he goes on, even if you don’t believe that, look at the works, look at what I have done. And then comes the part that just blows my mind, because I am convinced that it is not meant just for those gathered with him that night, but for all of us who gather at his table even today, those who believe and follow. He said, “You will do greater works even than I did.” Jesus tells his followers they can do more than he did – more healing, more feeding, more forgiving, more loving. How, through him who has gone before us. He says to ask for anything in his name, and he will do it. And he talks about the Advocate, the holy spirit that God will send in his name to remind us, to teach us, to guide us in Truth.
Then we have the wonderful story of the follow up to this promise – the anointing of the disciples in the fiery Spirit. And after the rush of wind and the tongues of flame, the next amazing thing is this unification of people in their language. No matter what language they spoke, whoever was listening understood what was said. And I love both these stories in juxtaposition with the responsive reading from the book of Genesis. Jesus talks about the great works we can do, but in the Genesis story, God was not at all pleased with the great things being done. The story tells us God’s thought process – they are united, speaking the same language – there’ll be no stopping them! We don’t get information on why this was a problem for God, but it was enough of a problem that an end was put to it. God “confused” their languages so they couldn’t work together so well, couldn’t understand each other, and the people of Babel scattered. So God said the people should not work together because they’ll be able to accomplish too much, and Jesus encouraged the disciples to do even greater things than he, who is one with God, did. God scattered the languages of the people, and the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, brought the languages together again – not one language, but a sense of oneness and understanding even through the different languages. A complete reversal. Is God pleased with this?
I believe so – that it is part of the redemptive and reconciling work that Christ did, and that we are called to continue. We talked in the Word for All Ages about readiness. The people who built that city and tower of Babel weren’t ready, they weren’t ready to handle the kind of power that was in them, and they proved it by their actions in building. God had sent them to go populate the world, and they wanted to stop and stay in one place. They wanted to make a city and a name for themselves. They disregarded God’s plan to follow their own for selfish reasons. Now I don’t think this story is literal, but I do think there is truth in it. I suspect that in order to live in the beloved community, we need to hold lightly to possessions and place. Trouble starts when we get self-righteous about what is “mine,” instead of relying on God, remembering that everything we have is a gift from God in one way or another. Trying to “make a city for ourselves, or a name for ourselves” implies defiance, not reliance – we can do what we want, we don’t need to keep moving just because you say so, etc.
But God has imbued us with incredible power. And why would that be so if we were never meant to use it? Jesus gives us the key. Whatever we want in his name will be done. That doesn’t mean we use the word Jesus, or even Christ Jesus as a magical incantation. The word translated as “name” here is more accurately understood as his essence, his vibration, his energy, his way. And what is his way? He said it right in this passage – oneness with God. Self-giving, merciful, truthful, divine love. None of his miracles were done for his own gain. And though he became “known” even then, he said over and over that it wasn’t about him but about God. He never thought that because of his power he didn’t need God. He understood his power was of and for God. He was a channel for it. He constantly pointed people back to God, and told them the kindom of God was among them, in their oneness, there mutual care and mercy towards one another.
So what do you think? Are we ready yet to use the power God has given us? Can we do great things in the way of Jesus? I don’t think so, not many of us anyway. I bump up against my selfishness all the time. I get concerned about my own name / reputation. I have tried to hold loosely to possessions and place, but I think my vantage point is privileged. I certainly don’t envy nor even admire people who have no home or possessions. Maybe if it was clear that it was a religious commitment, like the nuns and monks, I might have admiration, but I would never want to make that commitment myself.
And so though I might be happy to have Jesus’ power to heal people, for them, and not seek even a name for myself in the work, I think I am just too far away from his true spirit overall for it to work. Wouldn’t I grow to resent the constant requests for healing – never a moment to myself? Wouldn’t I start comparing myself to others and start feeling pretty important, pretty special? No, I am way too much of this world to handle that kind of power. Instead of concerning myself with obtaining more power, even to do Godly things, I need to focus on growing more in the name, essence, the way of Christ. That is my work now. I can’t speak for everyone, but I suspect it is the work for most Christians.
To align myself more with his spirit, I need to let go a little more of my pride, my self- centeredness, my place and possessions. Maybe I can be a little more giving and forgiving. Maybe I can lean more on the holy spirit to lead me in truth rather than what I can deduce for myself. And I need you for that, for the kindom of truth is among us. We can, perhaps, try to understand each other better even through differences of language or perspective. We have wandered far enough away from where God would have us be. But Jesus, and the advocate sent in his name, can lead us back, back to God’s realm of truth, justice, mercy, and love, if we will but follow, little by little, step by step. And so it is. Amen.
