The Day of Pentecost
Last August I moved from my 3 bedroom house (with a basement) where I had lived for 29 years into a 2 bedroom condo. Lots of downsizing. But the condo has a 3 season porch which I have always wanted. My brother and sister in law drove up from Arkansas to help with the move and I had a lot of help from many friends with packing and unpacking. About 6 weeks after moving into the condo, my nephew and his girlfriend visited for 2 days on their way to Indianapolis from Colorado.
Throughout this experience I found myself so appreciative of all the help I received. It was a reminder that I have many people in my life who care about me and value me just as I care about and value them. And as I think about how important that for each of us, it reminds me of the work of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus left this earth to live, once more, with the Father, he knew his friends would miss him and He wanted to give them some assurance that he was still there, as we would say, in spirit. When we are apart from someone we love and care for, we yearn for their picture or perhaps a piece of jewelry given by that person. Or maybe a poem or a card or a love letter. All of those tangible things are things we literally hold onto so that we can feel close to our loved one. Something to touch so that the feeling of being valued lingers.
Jesus could leave none of those things but He promised his friends that He would send the Spirit to be with them. In John’s Gospel we read, “And I will ask the Father, and He 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 Him nor knows Him. You know Him because He abides in you, and He will be in you.” (John 14:16-17, Lutheran Study Bible)
In Greek, the word for the Spirit is Paraclete which means “one who is called alongside.” It can also be translated as helper, comforter, encourager and intercessor. (Lutheran Study Bible)
If you ever engaged in competitive sports, you know the feeling of having a cheering section for you and your team as you are playing to win. I like to think of the Holy Spirit as one of those on the sidelines cheering and rooting for me. When I swam competitively I could hear the crowd yell, “pull, pull, pull!” Sometimes I imagine the Holy Spirit yelling “pull, pull, pull!” when I am struggling with something difficult in my life.
The third article of the Apostle’s Creed states, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.” In his explanation of the third article of the Creed, Luther writes, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ or come to Him, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; just as He calls, gathers, and enlightens the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church he daily and richly forgives me and all believers of their sins, and on the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will grant me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.”
While the Holy Spirit is not a tangible entity, the work of the Holy Spirit comes to us through the waters of baptism and the bread and wine of communion. The Holy Spirit is also part of our gathering as we join each other in worship each week. The Holy Spirit is present during the passing of the peace, when we minister to one another and when we cheer each other on. The Holy Spirit assures us that each of us is loved and valued by God. This is most certainly true!
Nan Schroeder