Pentecost A

(Preached several days after the Cyclone in Myanmar)

Our lesson today starts with a great rush of wind, with fire and power and might. Some things that have been in too much abundance the past few weeks if you ask me. At least too much abundance in certain parts of the world. Tens of thousands of people are living in makeshift camps right now in Myanmar. Their homes and lives in pieces. Many people are dead, more are sick and dying. What a terrible rush of wind and show of the power and might of nature.

It is hard with this in mind to think about the good in such a show of force. It is hard to find a good message in it, except when we start to think about just where the great and mighty rush of the spirit came from on the day of Pentecost. And what its purpose was.

The story in our text today came from a time when everything seemed broken. When the whole world seemed to be falling apart. A time after Jesus was gone from the earth, the joy and glow of Easter was fading and the disciples were trying to figure out how to make it on their own, trying to find direction, trying to start a church from scratch. No model, no directions.

And so they all went to their old church. All the apostles and many other people went to the temple for a festival that happened that time of year. It was a first fruits festival actually where people took some of the very best from the first crops that they had grown that Spring and offered them to the Lord. So as they were all gathered in the temple, giving thanks for what they had been given, all of a sudden a great rush of wind came through the place, there were bright lights like fire all around and suddenly everyone present could hear the word of God spoken in their own language. There were people here from all over the place. Imagine. People who spoke Manderin and Thai, people who spoke English and Russian, people who spoke Swahili and Greek all in one place and suddenly they could hear the voice of the Spirit each in his or her own language. Clear as a bell, no translator needed. How fantastic. How amazing and unbelievable.

The funny thing about this story though is that it is all about being spoken to and hearing but we never find out just what was said. Just what people heard. At the end of this chapter as Peter is explaining what happened he encourages everyone to be baptized but that apparently isn't what they heard in their own languages. He also quotes the old testament but that apparently isn't what they heard in their own languages. So what did they hear?

I think we get a clue by looking back at the gospel for today. In the gospel lesson for today Jesus finds the disciples hiding out in an upper room after the crucifixion (we go back in time a little so we're before the resurrection again). The disciples were hiding in the upper room afraid, not willing to go out and be part of the world. Not willing to teach or preach for fear that a fate similar to that of Jesus will befall them. Then Jesus appears, a stranger whom they don't recognize suddenly in their midst and they are afraid. But once he is inside the room Jesus says simply, "Peace be with you". Don't be afraid have peace.

The disciples calm down when they hear. He shows them who he is, his wounds, proof that he was on the cross. And the disciples finally recognize him and they are get excited because all of their work hasn't been for nothing. Jesus is back and he's going to take care of everything right?!

Then again Jesus says peace be with you. Same words but this time they meant something different. Maybe this time to calm them down a little. To explain that his being back means the opposite of what they think. It doesn't mean that they have nothing to do from that point forward. No, with this second greeting of peace Jesus calls the disciples to be leaders and caregivers of the people of God. And the disciples did what they were told. At least they tried. They stopped staying behind a locked door. They started going out into the world again.

It was after this that they went to the temple to the festival of first fruits to give thanks for their time with Jesus and to begin the mission he had sent them on. I believe that after Jesus left though the disciples were still pretty directionless until the day of Pentecost. I think that might even be why they went to the temple. They thought they might as well go to worship to try to figure out what they were going to do next in this crazy mission.

In this state, confused and unsure of their next step, the disciples heard the words of Christ again. Peace be with you. But this time, this time the the disciples weren't the only ones who heard. The message was spoken to all within listening range. And even though the words were the same, again this time, "Peace be with you" told the disciples something entirely new.

It told them that they weren't the only ones that the message was for. It was for all people in the temple and outside of the temple. All people who were already members of the temple and those who had never been inside. Those people who spoke their native language and those they couldn't understand.

The disciples suddenly knew just what to say. They said the spirit is here. They said peace be with you. They said be not afraid. Though we have been persecuted. Though we are just starting out. Though we are not sure where to turn and we don't know what to do. Let us be not afraid because we know that we are not alone.

And I do think that Peace be with you might just be what each person heard the Spirit say, I believe that they heard many things, each one of them a unique thing.

Peter and the disciples likely heard: Peace be with you...now you know where to start your ministry.

Those who were brand new to the story of Jesus heard peace be with...don't be afraid, my church will care for you and show you where to go.

The priests in the temple heard: Peace be with you...I love you even though you haven't believed.

And the same thing happens today at Pentecost. We hear the spirit softly calling. It says the same words but means different things.

People in the U.S.A today worried about war and the economy and the elections and hear: Peace by with...I will give you strength.

People in all safe places hear: Peace be with you. Help those in need of peace and hope, food and water.

People in churches hear: Peace be with you, now share a sign of peace with your neighbors in and outside of these walls.

People in Myanmar and all other places where it feels like that world is coming down around them hear: Peace be with you I have not abandoned you even here.

And may the peace of the Lord be with us and bless us to hear and see and feel the Holy spirit moving in our lives this season of Pentecost and teach us what "Peace be with you" means in this age, in this place, and for these people around us.

Amen, peace be with you.

Now before the hymn, with a renewed understanding of the Spirit's peace, Let us share a sign of peace with the people around us.