5.31.09 "What Language Do You Speak?"
WESTMINSTER PULPIT
The Rev. Robert H. Fernández
May 31, 2009 “What Language Do you Speak?”
Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 104:24-35
Acts 2:1-21 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
The Way Of Jesus Christ Is One Of Radical Transformation—Of Turning Things Up-Side-Down—Of Going, “Against The Grain!” He Demonstrated This Over And Over In What He Did And What He Said During His Short Three Year Ministry. He Healed On The Sabbath—Contrary To Religious Law—Because He Valued People’s Well-Being Above Rigid Law. He Associated With Outcasts—Contrary To Religious Law—Because He Recognized Human Value Above Purity Laws. He Accepted Invitations To Dine With Gentiles—Again, Contrary To Religious Laws—Because He Considered All People As God’s Sons And Daughters. Jesus Is Quoted Several Times As Having Stated, “You Have Heard That It Was Said.” (And He Would Quote The Traditional Saying), And Immediately Adding, “But I Say To You . . .” (And He Would State The Radical And Transforming Teaching). His Approach Began Early In His Life. Remember That When He Was Only Twelve, He Gave Joseph And Mary The “Slip” In The Jerusalem Crowds And Went To The Temple To Debate With The Leading Theologians Of The Day And Astounded All Of Them, As Well As His Parents When They Found Him!
We Have Just Finished Celebrating The Fifty Days Of The Easter Season Whose Central Theme Is Radical Transformation: That Death Could Not Hold Jesus Christ In Its Grip; That The Human Hatred, Hypocrisy, Jealousy, And Greed That Nailed Him To The Cross Would Not Prevail Because Love Transformed All Of That When He Said, “Forgive Them, For They Do Not Know What They Are Doing!” He Did Not Die A Victim But Became A Victor. Today Is Pentecost When We Continue The Theme Of Radical Transformation And Change! It Is The Birthday Of The Church, If You Will. This Is The Day When A Group Of About 120 Half Frightened And Dispirited Disciples Became The “People Of The Way,” As The Followers Of Jesus Came To Be Known And Were Accused Of “Turning The World Up-Side-Down.” Consider The Events Of That Day.
A Brief Aside Is Appropriate Here. I Do Not Want To Get Into A Discussion About Speaking In Tongues, About Whether The Flames Were Really Fire, About Whether All Of This Really Happened. I Am Sure You Know Much About Such Opinions And Discussions. A Thorough Examination And Speculation Of All Those Issues Would Take Long Hours Of Investigation And Several Lengthy Sermons, And We Do Not Have The Time To Do That Now. We Will Save That For Another Day. Instead, I Draw Your Attention To What Is Truly Important—To The Kernel Of Truth Imbedded In The Story. This Account Describes How The Way Of Jesus Christ Radically Transformed The Way In Which People Relate To God And To One Another.
We Are Left With A Most Important Question: What Does All Of This Mean? That Is The Question Asked By The People Experiencing The First Pentecost, And This Is Our Question Today. It Means That We All Have To Speak The Language Of Love So That We Can Understand Each Other And Be In Unity With God And With One Another. It Means That Alienation And Partisanship So Prevalent In Our Society Need To Be Transformed By The Power Of The Holy Spirit Binding Us Into A Community Called The Church—The Body Of Christ.
We Are Living In An Extremely Polarized Time In Our Nation And In The World. This Is What Makes Pentecost So Relevant Today. It Means That People Of All Races, Classes, And Nationalities Need To Come Together And Experience The Mighty Deeds That God Has Done. People Who Are Rich Or Who Are Poor, Liberals, Progressives, Moderates, Conservatives, Fundamentalists, Radicals And Anarchists; The Young, The Old, The Middle-Aged, Men And Women; People Who Are Straight, People Who Are Gay, All Need To Gather And Embrace The Reality That God Has Turned The World Up-Side-Down Through The Love, Justice, And Freedom Demonstrated So Vividly In Jesus Christ. Pentecost Is Not Only An Event In Past History; It Is A Recurring Event In Every Age And Day—Yes, Even Today, May 31st 2009.
Such A Reality Is Particularly Important For Us Today At Westminster Presbyterian Church. We Are Experiencing Turmoil And The Loss Of Our Pastor, David Thompson. We See Pain And Disappointment And Anger And Disillusionment All Of Which Most Certainly Separate Us From One Another. On This Pentecost Sunday, God Calls Each One Of Us Individually, And The Congregation As A Whole, To Let The Power Of The Holy Spirit Transform Us Once More Into A Community Whose Mission And Purpose Are Still In Effect. Westminster Has A Tremendous History And Witness In This City Under Girding It. Those Elements Are Still Intact. Nothing Can Take That Away From Us. We Simply Have To Recognize It And Claim It Wholeheartedly. Pentecost Means That The Church Must Always Become Once Again What We Already Are; We Must Open The Doors Between Us And Break Down The Barriers That Cause Sadness And Pain And Alienation So That Healing Can Come. That Is The Radical Transformation That Jesus Christ Offers Us This Pentecost, Even If Things Seem Hopeless.
Remember The Story From Ezekiel We Heard This Morning? There Was A Valley Filled With Dry Lifeless Bones. It Was A Hopeless Scene. But God Asked The Question: “Mortal, Can These Bones Live?” Of Course, God’s Power Could Make Those Bones, And Any Other Bones, Live. Thus Bone Began To Be Connected To Bone. Sinews Bound Bone To Bone. Flesh Formed And Human Bodies Took Form. The Story Concludes: “I Will Put My Spirit Within You, And You Shall Live.” The Valley Of Dry Bones Became A Joyous Celebration Of Life. Nothing Is Ever Hopeless For God.
All Over The World, Are Called To Join Ourselves With All Who Long For The Transformation Of The World Intended By God And Speak And Embody The Language Jesus Used—The Language Of Love And Justice And Peace And Healing And Reconciliation.
· Pentecost With Its Transforming Energy For Today Means That We Must Continue Reflecting The Power Of Jesus Christ In Our Social Values. In A Society Where Racism And Xenophobia And Homophobia Destroy Our Common Humanity As Children Of God, The Spirit Speaks To Us And To People Of Every Nation Under Heaven To Strive For Transformation.
· In A World Of Fear And Doubt And Confusion, The Spirit Inspires Us To Open The Doors And Speak Out Especially About Issues Of Justice And Peace And Oppression, And To Strive For Transformation.
· In A World Of Selfishness, Heartless Competition, Greed, And Control, The Spirit Gives Out Gifts That Are Shared For The Benefit Of All Especially Those Who Are Poor Or In Need.
· In A World With War, Violence And Terrorism, The Spirit Proclaims A Message Of Peace And Reconciliation To All. Pentecost Calls Us To Put An End To The Mutilation And Destruction Of Millions Of People By Weapons Of War Because This Destroys The Image Of God Which Each Person Carries.
· In A World Of Economic Problems, The Spirit Reminds Us That The Wealth Of The World Belong To God And Is Meant To Be Used For The Common Good And Not For The Aggrandizement Of The Few.
· In A World Where The Environment Is Abused And Over Used, The Spirit Calls To Reform How We Live And To Use The Earth With Care And Love.
During One Of His Last Discourses With His Disciples, Jesus Said: “I Still Have Many Things To Say To You, But You Cannot Bear Them Now. When The Spirit Of Truth Comes, He Will Guide You Into All The Truth.” Jesus Christ Is Still Speaking Through The Holy Spirit. Are We Listening? Or Have We Concluded That Jesus Has Already Said Everything That Needs To Be Said, Once And For All? Book Closed!
It Is Unfortunate That Today There Is So Much Dissention In The Church Of Jesus Christ. We Spend An Inordinate Amount Of Time Trying To Prove The Other Theological Point Of View Wrong. It Is No Wonder That The World Looks At Us In A Perplexed And Scornful Manner. Who Wants To Become A Part Of Such A Contentious Lot Anyway! But At Pentecost, God Always Gives The Church The Opportunity To Become Anew What We Already Are; We Must Tear Down The Borders Between Peoples And Break Down The Barriers That Separate Us From One Another. In The Church, There Cannot Be Those Who Are Forgotten Or Looked Down Upon Saying, “I’m Sorry, But You Cannot Fully Be A Part Of The Church.
You Are Welcome In This Church, But You Cannot Serve As Elders, And Deacons And Ministers.” In The Church There Are Only Full-Fledged Brothers And Sisters Of Jesus Christ. The Wind And Fire Of The Holy Spirit Is Powerful And Must Continually Break Down Those Barriers That We Men And Women Continue To Build Between Us; We Must Continually Pass From Babel - Being Closed In On Ourselves - To Pentecost. We Must Be Bold To Utter And Embody The Prophetic Language Of Jesus Christ Because It Sets In Motion The Movement Of The Spirit’s Compassion Into The Ambiguity And Pain Of The World.
May Christ Kindle The Desires Of Our Hearts And Of All People To Break Through The Barriers Which Divide, To Strengthen The Bonds Of Mutual Love, To Learn To Understand One Another, And To Pardon Those Who Have Done Us Wrong. Through Christ’s Power And Inspiration May We Welcome Each Other As Brothers And Sisters, And May The Peace We Long For, Ever Flower And Reign Among Us. May We Use The Language Of Christ’s Love And Speak It With Eloquence, And The World Will Understand And Be Amazed Once Again, Despite The Skepticism Of A Few.
So, Happy Birthday, Church! Let The Celebration Begin!
Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. Come! Fill The Hearts Of Your People. Come Holy Spirit That We May Be Aware: - Aware Of The People Around Us, Especially The Poor And Oppressed- Aware Of People Striving To Grow Into Their Dignity As Children Of God- Aware Of The Natural World Around Us - Aware Of The Structures Of Power, Especially Those That Keep People Poor Or Powerless Or Confused- Aware Of The Threats Of Violence, Which Are Not The Ways Of Jesus- Aware Of Our Bias And Stereotypes And All Our Lack Of Freedom- Aware Of All The Possibilities For Freedom And Joy And Life. Come Holy Spirit. Come! Fill The Hearts Of Your People. Give Us The Wisdom And Courage To Speak. Amen.
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