COME, O HOLY SPIRIT, COME

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1 COME, O HOLY SPIRIT, COME The Feast of Pentecost (Year B) May 24, 201 Lessons Acts 2:1-21 or Ezekiel 3:1-14 Psalm 104:24-34, 3b Romans 8:22-2 or Acts 2:1-21 St. John 1:26-2; 16:4b-1 Prayer of the Day Pastor David J. Risendal drisendal@stplc.org facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, CO voice: 303/ fax: 303/ facebook.com/stplc Mighty God, you breathe life into our bones, and your Spirit brings truth to the world. Send us this Spirit, transform us by your truth, and give us language to proclaim your gospel, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 1 Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. I know it s very Midwestern to start a conversation with commentary about the latest weather trends, but can you believe this past month? Yesterday s evening news reported that we have had rain during 22 of the 23 days in May so far. Some of you know our family just moved. My favorite spot in the house is the back porch, where we have a great view of the sunset. Unfortunately, we haven t seen the sky at sunset since we moved! The winds have been blowing in some wild weather patterns this year, and from what we hear it could last well into the summer. I think wind is fascinating. To me, it is complete mystery. I understand that meteorologists can often predict it, even here in Denver. And I know that if I took Walt out to lunch and picked his brain for an hour or so, I probably could come to understand some of the reasons why high pressure zones Sermon 1 Romans 1:, 1 st Corinthians 1:3, 2 nd Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 st Thessalonians 1:1, 2 nd Thessalonians 1:2, Philemon 3; New Revised Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

2 The Feast Day of Pentecost Year B (May 24, 201) 2 develop alongside low pressure zones and interact with the Gulf Stream to cause winds to blow. But I ll resist that for a while yet, because I rather like the mystery of it all. I prefer to watch the patterns of a flying kite, or the trajectory of a wildly curving pop fly, and do so in awe, than to understand the mechanics behind what is making it happen. I enjoy the fact that the wind seems to blow where it will, sometimes delighting us, and sometimes troubling us. I m talking about wind today, of course, because we are celebrating the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost is one of the primary harvest festivals in the Jewish calendar, and in the first century it was an occasion for people from all over the world, who came from various countries and regions (many of which are a bit of a challenge to pronounce), to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. People would gather fifty days after the Passover, and give thanks to God who sustained ancient Israel as it wandered in the desert after escaping from Egypt, and who continues to sustain the people of the earth through the miracle of agriculture. As you heard in the first lesson today, as the Feast of Pentecost arrives, during the year of Jesus death and resurrection, the disciples are gathered together in one place. All of a sudden, without warning (without lunch with Walt, or the meteorologist on the evening news), there is in the place where the disciples have gathered, a sound like the rush of a violent wind. And following the sound of that wind, it all begins: tongues of fire hovering over the disciples heads; the ability to communicate in languages they have never known; the sermon of Saint Peter that draws some three thousand new believers into the Christian church. This mighty stirring of the Holy Spirit begins with a sound like the rush of a violent wind. Think about that: for the untrained observer especially the first century observer the movement of the wind is an unpredictable phenomenon. And we well know how the wind can be a source of blessing and woe. It can power the generators of Wyoming wind farms, and propel the sleek yachts of the America s Cup. It can also blow tractor trailers off the highways and send roofs flying through the air. Unpredictable and powerful. Maybe that is why the ancients used the word wind to describe this presence of God. In the Hebrew language, the word for wind is ruach; the same word used for God s Spirit. And in the Greek language, the word for wind is pneuma; the same word used for God s Spirit. The Holy Spirit is indeed like the wind: surprising and powerful. So on the Feast of Pentecost, while the faithful are gathered in Jerusalem, the unpredictable and powerful wind of the Holy Spirit begins to blow through the witness of the disciples and the preaching of Peter, and what is the result? Some 3,000 people become part of the Christian faith. The words that Jesus spoke just before his Ascension come true: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 2 The Holy Spirit blows. The promise of Jesus is fulfilled. People come to faith in Jesus Christ. There is a lot of talk about the Holy Spirit among Christians these days. A good deal of this talk seems a bit self-serving to me. But when powerful events take place, and that which Jesus says will happen comes to be, it is hard to argue with the belief that the Holy Spirit is involved. That was Martin Luther s sense of it all in the 16 th Century. Luther was a strong believer in the power of the Holy Spirit. He believed, especially when a believer is reading the word of God, that the Holy Spirit can make a profound difference in a believer s life. Luther wrote about this in the Small Catechism: a book that many of you own; a book that some of you had to memorize when you were younger. In this book, Luther wrote some very surprising words. Listen to how he describes himself in his explanation of what it means to believe in the Holy Spirit: 2 Acts 1:8, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp cit.

3 The Feast Day of Pentecost Year B (May 24, 201) 3 I believe that by my own reason or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the one true faith This is most certainly true. 3 Did you hear how Luther begins his treatment of the Holy Spirit? He begins by admitting by confessing that if left up to his own devices, he can t even believe in Jesus Christ, or come to him. Now remember: this is the man after whom our denomination is named. And he can t believe in Jesus Christ? He can t come to Jesus Christ? What is that all about? Why would we name our denomination after someone who seems to be suggesting that he can t even believe in Jesus? We have done so, because Luther s inability isn t the end of the story. As God has done so many times, in the Bible and throughout history, a clearly incapable human being is chosen and empowered to play a significant role in the story of faith. Why is this possible? Not because Martin Luther is so capable, but because the Holy Spirit is so powerful. Despite Luther s doubts; despite Luther s struggle to believe in the grace of God; despite Luther s incapability, look what the Holy Spirit accomplishes in his life: It calls Luther through the Gospels. It enlightens Luther with its gifts. It sanctifies Luther (in other words: it makes him holy). And it keeps and preserves Luther in true faith. you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 4 I don t know if the Holy Spirit graces us with knowledge we couldn t otherwise have gained. I don t know if the Holy Spirit causes us to speak in languages that are unintelligible to our neighbors. I don t know if the Holy Spirit on some level prompts us to make decisions that turn out, in retrospect, to be life-changing. But I do know this: the Holy Spirit caused 3,000 people to begin believing in Jesus on the Feast of Pentecost; the Holy Spirit caused Martin Luther to remain a person of faith, despite his doubts and weaknesses; and the Holy Spirit today will both strengthen your faith, and empower your ability to share it with others. Why? Because that s what Jesus said it will do. And when powerful events take place, and that which Jesus says will happen comes to be, it is hard to argue with the belief that the Holy Spirit is involved. The Day of Pentecost is a day when we celebrate the presence of God s Holy Spirit in our world and in our lives. The Day of Pentecost is a day when we pray, Come, Holy Spirit come. The Day of Pentecost is a day when we encourage one another to be open to the possibility that the Holy Spirit is about to blow into our lives, to deepen and strengthen our faith, and to empower us for new and surprising ministries, that draw others into Christ. Perhaps the best prayer we can pray on this day is that when it comes, we will be open to the surprising and powerful ways the Holy Spirit blows through our lives. Come, Holy Spirit, Come. Amen. David J. Risendal, Pastor 3 4 Martin Luther; The Small Catechism; The Apostles Creed (third article). Acts 1:8, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

4 The Feast Day of Pentecost Year B (May 24, 201) 4 Gospel Lesson; English Text 1.26 [Jesus said,] When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 2 You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. 16.4b I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, Where are you going? 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. 12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 1 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 6 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: 1.26 Ὅταν ἔλθῃ ὁ παράκλητος ὃν ἐγὼ πέµψω ὑµῖν παρὰ τοῦ πατρός, τὸ πνεῦµα τῆς ἀληθείας ὃ παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκπορεύεται, ἐκεῖνος µαρτυρήσει περὶ ἐµοῦ 2 καὶ ὑµεῖς δὲ µαρτυρεῖτε, ὅτι ἀπ ἀρχῆς µετ ἐµοῦ ἐστε. 16.4b ἀλλὰ ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑµῖν ἵνα ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἡ ὥρα αὐτῶν µνηµονεύητε αὐτῶν ὅτι ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑµῖν. Ταῦτα δὲ ὑµῖν ἐξ ἀρχῆς οὐκ εἶπον, ὅτι µεθ ὑµῶν ἤµην. Νῦν δὲ ὑπάγω πρὸς τὸν πέµψαντα µε, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐξ ὑµῶν ἐρωτᾷ µε ποῦ ὑπάγεις; 6 ἀλλ ὅτι ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑµῖν ἡ λύπη πεπλήρωκεν ὑµῶν τὴν καρδίαν. ἀλλ ἐγὼ τὴν ἀλήθειαν λέγω ὑµῖν, συµφέρει ὑµῖν ἵνα ἐγὼ ἀπέλθω. ἐὰν γὰρ µὴ ἀπέλθω, ὁ παράκλητος οὐκ ἐλεύσεται πρὸς ὑµᾶς ἐὰν δὲ πορευθῶ, πέµψω αὐτὸν πρὸς ὑµᾶς. 8 καὶ ἐλθὼν ἐκεῖνος ἐλέγξει τὸν κόσµον περὶ ἁµαρτίας καὶ περὶ δικαιοσύνης καὶ περὶ κρίσεως 9 περὶ ἁµαρτίας µέν, ὅτι οὐ πιστεύουσιν εἰς ἐµέ 10 περὶ δικαιοσύνης δέ, ὅτι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα ὑπάγω καὶ οὐκέτι θεωρεῖτε µε 11 περὶ δὲ κρίσεως, ὅτι ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ κόσµου τούτου κέκριται. 12 Ἔτι πολλὰ ἔχω ὑµῖν λέγειν, ἀλλ οὐ δύνασθε βαστάζειν ἄρτι 13 ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ἐκεῖνος, τὸ πνεῦµα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὁδηγήσει ὑµᾶς ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ πάσῃ οὐ γὰρ λαλήσει ἀφ ἑαυτοῦ, ἀλλ ὅσα ἀκούσει λαλήσει καὶ τὰ ἐρχόµενα ἀναγγελεῖ ὑµῖν. 14 ἐκεῖνος ἐµὲ δοξάσει, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ ἐµοῦ λήµψεται καὶ ἀναγγελεῖ ὑµῖν. 1 πάντα ὅσα ἔχει ὁ πατὴρ ἐµά ἐστιν διὰ τοῦτο εἶπον ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ ἐµοῦ λαµβάνει καὶ ἀναγγελεῖ ὑµῖν. First Lesson; English Text: 3.1 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, Mortal, can these bones live? I answered, O Lord God, you know. 4 Then he said to me, Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, 6 A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at St. John 1:26-2; 16:4b-1, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America). St. John 1:26-2; 16:4b-1, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).

5 The Feast Day of Pentecost Year B (May 24, 201) and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord. So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. 11 Then he said to me, Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely. 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord. 8 Second Lesson; English Text: 2.1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 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. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 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. 6 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? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs in our own languages we hear them speaking about God s deeds of power. 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, What does this mean? 13 But others sneered and said, They are filled with new wine. 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 1 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 1 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. 18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord s great and glorious day. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved Ezekiel 3:1-14, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit. Acts 2:1-21, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit.

6 The Feast Day of Pentecost Year B (May 24, 201) 6 Second Lesson; Greek Text: 2:1 Και ἐν τῳ συµπληρου σθαι τη ν ἡµέραν τη ς πεντηκοστη ς ἠ σαν πάντες ὁµου ἐπι το αὐτό. 2 και ἐγένετο ἄφνω ἐκ του οὐρανου ἠ χος ὥσπερ φεροµένης πνοη ς βιαίας και ἐπλήρωσεν ὅλον το ν οἰ κον οὑ ἠ σαν καθήµενοι 3 και ὤφθησαν αὐτοι ς διαµεριζόµεναι γλω σσαι ὡσει πυρο ς και ἐκάθισεν ἐφ ἕνα ἕκαστον αὐτω ν, 4 και ἐπλήσθησαν πάντες πνεύµατος ἁγίου και ἤρξαντο λαλει ν ἑτέραις γλώσσαις καθω ς το πνευ µα ἐδίδου ἀποφθέγγεσθαι αὐτοι ς. Η σαν δε εἰς Ἰερουσαλη µ κατοικου ντες Ἰουδαι οι, ἄνδρες εὐλαβει ς ἀπο παντο ς ἔθνους τω ν ὑπο το ν οὐρανόν. 6 γενοµένης δε τη ς φωνη ς ταύτης συνη λθεν το πλη θος και συνεχύθη, ὅτι ἤκουον εἱ ς ἕκαστος τῃ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ λαλούντων αὐτω ν. ἐξίσταντο δε και ἐθαύµαζον λέγοντες οὐχ ἰδου ἅπαντες οὑ τοι εἰσιν οἱ λαλου ντες Γαλιλαι οι; 8 και πω ς ἡµει ς ἀκούοµεν ἕκαστος τῃ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ ἡµω ν ἐν ἡ ἐγεννήθηµεν; 9 Πάρθοι και Μη δοι και Ἐλαµι ται και οἱ κατοικου ντες τη ν Μεσοποταµίαν, Ἰουδαίαν τε και Καππαδοκίαν, Πόντον και τη ν Ἀσίαν, 10 Φρυγίαν τε και Παµφυλίαν, Αἴγυπτον και τα µέρη τη ς Λιβύης τη ς κατα Κυρήνην, και οἱ ἐπιδηµου ντες Ῥωµαι οι, 11 Ἰουδαι οι τε και προσήλυτοι, Κρη τες και Ά ραβες, ἀκούοµεν λαλούντων αὐτω ν ται ς ἡµετέραις γλώσσαις τα µεγαλει α του θεου. 12 ἐξίσταντο δε πάντες και διηπόρουν, ἄλλος προ ς ἄλλον λέγοντες τί θέλει του το εἰ ναι; 13 ἕτεροι δε διαχλευάζοντες ἔλεγον ὅτι γλεύκους µεµεστωµένοι εἰσίν. 14 Σταθει ς δε ὁ Πέτρος συ ν τοι ς ἕνδεκα ἐπη ρεν τη ν φωνη ν αὐτου και ἀπεφθέγξατο αὐτοι ς, ἄνδρες Ἰουδαι οι και οἱ κατοικου ντες Ἰερουσαλη µ πάντες, του το ὑµι ν γνωστο ν ἔστω και ἐνωτίσασθε τα ῥήµατα µου. 1 οὐ γα ρ ὡς ὑµει ς ὑπολαµβάνετε οὑ τοι µεθύουσιν, ἔστιν γα ρ ὥρα τρίτη τη ς ἡµέρας, 16 ἀλλα του το ἐστιν το εἰρηµένον δια του προφήτου Ἰωήλ 1 και ἔσται ἐν ται ς ἐσχάταις ἡµέραις, λέγει ὁ θεός, ἐκχεω ἀπο του πνεύµατος µου ἐπι πα σαν σάρκα, και προφητεύσουσιν οἱ υἱοι ὑµω ν και αἱθυγατέρες ὑµω ν και οἱ νεανίσκοι ὑµω ν ὁράσεις ὄψονται και οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ὑµω ν ἐνυπνίοις ἐνυπνιασθήσονται 18 καί γε ἐπι του ς δούλους µου και ἐπι τα ς δούλας µου ἐν ται ς ἡµέραις ἐκείναις ἐκχεω ἀπο του πνεύµατος µου, και προφητεύσουσιν. 19 και δώσω τέρατα ἐν τῳ οὐρανῳ ἄνω και σηµει α ἐπι τη ς γη ς κάτω, αἱ µα και πυ ρ και ἀτµίδα καπνου. 20 ὁ ἥλιος µεταστραφήσεται εἰς σκότος και ἡ σελήνη εἰς αἱ µα,πρι ν ἐλθει ν ἡµέραν κυρίου τη ν µεγάληνκαι ἐπιφανη. 21 και ἔσται πα ς ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται το ὄνοµα κυρίου σωθήσεται. 10 Optional Second Lesson; English Text: 8.22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 2 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 2 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 11 Optional Second Lesson; Greek Text: 8:22 οἴδαµεν γὰρ ὅτι πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις συστενάζει καὶ συνωδίνει ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν 23 οὐ µόνον δέ, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοὶ τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τοῦ πνεύµατος ἔχοντες, ἡµεῖς καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς στενάζοµεν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπεκδεχόµενοι, τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν τοῦ σώµατος ἡµῶν. 24 τῇ γὰρ ἐλπίδι ἐσώθηµεν ἐλπὶς δὲ βλεποµένη οὐκ ἔστιν ἐλπίς ὃ γὰρ βλέπει τίς ἐλπίζει; 2 εἰ δὲ ὃ οὐ βλέποµεν ἐλπίζοµεν, δἰ ὑποµονῆς ἀπεκδεχόµεθα Acts 2:1-21, The Greek New Testament, opp. cit. Romans 8:22-2, New Revised Standard Version Bible, opp. cit.

7 The Feast Day of Pentecost Year B (May 24, 201) 26 Ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ τὸ πνεῦµα συναντιλαµβάνεται τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ ἡµῶν τὸ γὰρ τί προσευξώµεθα καθὸ δεῖ οὐκ οἴδαµεν, ἀλλὰ αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦµα ὑπερεντυγχάνει στεναγµοῖς ἀλαλήτοις 2 ὁ δὲ ἐραυνῶν τὰς καρδίας οἶδεν τί τὸ φρόνηµα τοῦ πνεύµατος, ὅτι κατὰ θεὸν ἐντυγχάνει ὑπὲρ ἁγίων Romans 8:22-2, The Greek New Testament, opp. cit.