Day of Pentecost: May 15, 2005.

Acts 2:1-21

Psalm 104:25-35, 37

1 Corinthians 12:3b-11

John 20:19-23

First Reading

In the Prayer of the Day we ask God to "Open our hearts to the power of the Spirit." What does it mean to be "filled with the Holy Spirit"? Judging from parallel texts cited in Nestle-Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece (p. 323), one could deduce that being filled with the Holy Spirit means especially having the power to speak the Word of God boldly in the face of opposition (see Acts 4:8, 31; 9:17; 13:9, 52; 19:6). In Luke's narrative of Pentecost all of the gathered disciples, not just Peter, are filled with the Holy Spirit. Speech comes pouring out of them, speech given by the Spirit. Luke would have us believe that what they speak is not their own, but they speak "just as the Spirit was giving to them to declare boldly." It's a gift, this speech of Peter, this "boldness" of the disciples. After all, had they not all been "together in one place"? It's as if this mighty wind had blown them apart.

Paul worked to build a community of Jesus in Corinth. Communication flowed back and forth between apostle and "congregation." Reading the letter, one can recognize that Paul was concerned with factions in the church. The problem was so great that some had taken pride in claiming Apollos, some Peter (Cephas), some Paul, some Christ (1:12) as spiritual leader. Paul knew that, while the gifts are diverse, one Spirit unifies the church, makes it one body.

Jesus and his opponents, "the Jews," kept trading barbs at the Feast of Tabernacles (booths), a harvest festival. It was also known as the Feast of Weeks, seven weeks after Passover. The festival celebrated the Torah, but its roots were agricultural (Lev 23:15-21; Deut 16:9). Many, many pilgrims were in the city for the festival. Prayers for rain were a part of this feast, and its high point was the "pouring of water from Siloam pool with a golden pitcher" (A. M. Hunter, John [Cambridge Bible Commentary, 1965], 84). Jesus assumed the place of the source of water. From him "living water" would come. (Moses had once received God's gift of "running water" from a rock, despite his initial unbelief, Num 20:1-17). The fourth evangelist explains that by "living water" Jesus meant "the Spirit." Scripture, Jesus, and Spirit are held together tightly here, the Scripture "testifying to Jesus," according to John.

Pastoral Reflection

"What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit"? Like you, I'll bet, people have accused me also of being "full of it." Usually, they aren't talking about the Holy Spirit. However, as a mission developer, I have come to understand that, indeed, God has given me the Holy Spirit. You, too!

Back in September of 2003, my second month in this call, after I had become somewhat familiar with the city, met the police chief, mayor, and other authorities, I put my key in the ignition one day and headed out to the first subdivision, where I began initial calling, ringing doorbells and knocking on the doors of total strangers, inviting them to become involved in a "new thing," the beginning of a new congregation. When I parked the car in a corner of the subdivision, I prayed ... and prayed ... and prayed, because I really did not know how to do this work, despite four days of training by the ELCA Division for Outreach.

I soon learned, however, that I was not alone. I could speak "as the Spirit was giving me to declare boldly." Door to door I went, not meeting much success as the world measures success but growing in faith and trust and even in confidence. For me it doesn't "get easier with practice." Perhaps this is true for you, too. What is easier is that I know I am not alone. (Neither are you, nor your people). We have been washed in the "living water" of God's promise. We are joined together with God's people as one, strong Body. We dare to speak, and we are bold to speak because the Spirit of God gives us the will and the words! TCG