Pentecost
Sunday 23rd May 2021
Although we have been able to resume public worship not everyone is able to attend so this service was streamed live on YouTube and is still available now. The service can be found here.
Pentecost
Acts 2.1–21
John 15.26-27; 16.4b-15
Revd Preb Maureen Hobbs
I don’t know about you – and of course we are all different (thank the Lord), but me, I love a good gadget! One of my friends would tell you that I am addicted to technology! Well, I think that is going a bit far – but I am fascinated by new ways of doing old things – just as well during this last year…. It is part of what enabled us all to worship on the web and to look for new ways of reaching out from this building into the community!
But the problem with gadgets is that they need power from somewhere.
And today it is all about cordless gadgets! There is no doubt that the science of batteries and power storage is critical to our modern way of life. And will become more so as we all start driving electric vehicles…
Who here has a favourite cordless gadget?
I can’t quite decide between my cordless hedge trimmer (no more cutting through the cable! And my cordless vacuum cleaner.
(Clive was telling me the other day that he likes his cordless mower!)
But the problem with all these gadgets is that without their power pack or battery they are useless. And of course we have to remember to put them on charge – whether it is the phone or the tablet or other gizmos.
If we forget, then soon the gadget becomes just so much useless junk. No longer fit for purpose.
I don’t suppose the disciples thought of themselves as useless as they gathered 50 days after that first Easter. They were no doubt planning to celebrate Pentecost – 50 days from Passover which coincided – roughly speaking – with the first harvest of the Barley and was a time of great rejoicing.
And they had all known Jesus personally; they had been taught by him, prepared for the task that lay ahead. They had seen the risen Jesus and watched his final ascent into heaven. They knew his presence in their lives. But they were not showing any signs of venturing out from the safety of their comfort zone – each other – to talk to anyone else about Jesus and the things he had taught them. They had been commissioned by him to go and speak the Gospel to all nations, starting from Jerusalem. Primed and ready for action but lacking the one thing they needed – power from on high. And no-one knew what to expect. Jesus had told them to expect a visitor who would “fill you with all faith in believing.” More than that even, he would “prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement”.
Being caught in a powerful wind is not usually a pleasant experience. We may be afraid of things crashing down around us; trees, roof tiles, fences – all tend to get blown away. And if you are at sea like the fishermen – a strong wind might signal disaster. Sails have to be furled in or else the vessel is in danger of capsizing or being driven onto rocks. Even our pets get unsettled by stormy windy days.
And it is noisy! The wind itself can howl and whine in trees and there may be the sound of debris falling and blowing around. Sails flap, masts and ropes creak. It is as far away from the still small voice of God as you can think of!
And what about fire? Tongues of fire, so we are told appeared among them and rested on each one. Fire warms us – but it also burns if you get too close.
Power is a dangerous thing. We need it in order to get anything done, but it must be treated with respect if we are not to suffer – it can shock and even prove fatal if we mistreat or mishandle it.
One of Europe’s leading ecologists has said that the energy crisis we face is not so much in energy supplies, but in our own thinking. There is enough energy in the ebb and flow of tides, in the running of rivers, in the winds and in the rays of the sun to supply all our needs if we would give time and attention to developing these – and maybe think too of ways of living that are less wasteful of energy. But three things are obvious.
- Fossil fuels are limited and eventually will run out.
- Wrong thinking or lack of proper attention makes us do nothing
- All around there is power that we do not realise.
Too often the Church tries to function in its own resources and strength and forgets the need to re-charge regularly. To re-connect with the source of its power and inspiration. Then it is surprised when it runs out of energy and spends too long looking in the wrong direction.
The power of God is here; for the Lord is here; his Spirit is with us.
We need to recognise that – to wait upon the Lord at times (just as we wait for the phone, or mower battery to recharge) and to believe in his power.
And if we do that, then we will find that a surprising variety of people will cotton on to what we are saying! Last night’s Eurovision Song contest notwithstanding, there may be different ways in which we need to communicate to get the Gospel message out there to a world that is hungry for it – even when it doesn’t always know it!
So come now to God’s table, receive his peace and love in his body shared among you. Recharge your batteries and go out to work in his service in the world. Amen.