John 14 Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
On this Rogation Sunday, it is fitting to hear these words from
Paul to the Athenians, “the God who made the world and
everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth.” (Rogation
comes from the Latin ‘rogare’ – to ask or beseech). If we were
in a more rural parish as I was last weekend, we might be
‘beating the bounds’ – walking the parish boundary – and
praying blessings on God’s creation and the crops that are just
emerging for as Paul goes on to say “he himself (that is God)
gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” What a
reminder of the nature of God with whom we have the privilege
to have a personal relationship; a relationship made possible
through the self sacrifice and resurrection of Christ,
remembered and celebrated at Easter just a few weeks ago.
At this point in Acts, Paul is speaking, having seen the promise
of the Holy Spirit we read about in our Gospel this morning
fulfilled. Jesus at that last supper tells the disciples “I will ask
the Father and he will give you another advocate to help you
and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” Paul has first-hand
knowledge of the outpouring of God’s love through the Holy
Spirit after his dramatic encounter with God on the road to
Damascus. He wants to share the joy of knowing God with
those Athenians who he perceived to be searching for a true
God.
People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very
religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your
objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to
an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you
worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”
His words could appear to us to be judgmental and perhaps
arrogant – especially in the context of our current experience of
living in a country where multiple faiths co-exist and intolerance
results in acts of hatred, persecution and even violence towards
the most vulnerable. Paul, we know had a fiery character –
exemplified both before and now after his encounter with God. I
admire his enthusiasm to share his personal experience and
the certainty of his faith even if I find his approach to be less
tolerant or curious than mine would be now.
My reality, which I am sure is not unique, is that I sometimes
feel uncertainty, doubt, and wonder where the Holy Spirit is. All
of these feelings are in tension with my faith in God. But this is
the reality of a living relationship with God.
So I find comfort and a path laid out in our Gospel and other
readings. In the Gospel written by John we are at a point in our
Easter journey, sitting at the last supper, with the early disciples
whose faith is about to go through the most enormous test; the
pretence of a trial and subsequent execution of Jesus which
would surely appear to be the end their transformative journey
which had started just a few years earlier.
And yet in the verses in 1 Peter, probably written almost 30
years after those momentous events of Easter, we see that the
journey before the disciples will forge a faith and trust in God
that they can not possibly imagine in those dark moments… vs
14 – “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are
blessed. “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be
frightened.”[c] 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.” How
different from the uncertainty in those early days following
Jesus death and resurrection.
What a great example we have then of faith in action, God’s
loving support poured out through the Holy Spirit and the
impact these disciples went on to make through their early
tentative steps with Jesus’ guidance, the growing confidence
after Pentecost and the evidence of Christs church on Earth
growing from those first 12 grains.
Where ever we are on that journey of faith, and like them – we
may not know where it will lead – let us remember to make
space to listen and acknowledge the continuing work of the
Holy Spirit through us, others and the whole of Gods creation.
As we go out of here, we may not be Beating the Bounds of the
parish but we can notice the beauty and joy in God’s creation
around us. It may be a bird, a child, an act of kindness, a wise
word – what ever it is that moves you, take a moment to
acknowledge and thank God.
From that point it is a smaller step to listen to those internal
stirrings, the still small voice of God, and to have faith enough
to act on them – an offer of help or support, even a smile can
have an impact that no except the other person and God will
ever know.
Paul points out “he (God) is not served by human hands, as if
he needed anything.” – we are not obliged to DO anything for
his benefit. Coming to church for example is not for his benefit,
but it is a chance for us to be still, listen and experience his
presence. [God takes delight in us spending time with him and
with each other… from Matthew 18, “where 2 or 3 gather in my
name, there I am with them”.] We are exhorted by Peter to
“always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks
you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this
with gentleness and respect, “that is to share generously and
gently our hope, joy and faith with those that are made curious
through our actions – the way we live our lives.
Thanks be to God