PENTECOST, A – May 11, 2008

SCRIPTURES – Ps. 104; Num. 11:24-30; Acts 2:1-21; John 7:37-39

How fitting that this year Mother’s Day falls on Pentecost Sunday! Or, perhaps I should say that it is fitting that Pentecost falls on Mother’s Day this year. For, there is no question that Mother’s Day, even for Christians, is the bigger holiday.

q   Did you get anyone a card or a gift for Pentecost?

q   Will you be going out for a Pentecost lunch after church? Will Dad be firing up the grill and taking over the meal preparations today in honor of Pentecost?

Mother’s Day is considered a far bigger holiday than Pentecost, the festival of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Even so, it is fitting that the two be celebrated together today. For, there is a lot of similarity between the Holy Spirit and mothers. Just consider what today’s readings say about the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is credited with:

q   Kindling within us the fire of love – love for God.

q   Bringing forth life, as the Introit credits Him with creating and renewing the earth.

q   The Collect of the Day calls Him the teacher and consoler.

The giver of life, and love; the one who teaches and consoles – yes, God the Holy Spirit is indeed like a mother. Or, better yet, good, godly mothers are like the Holy Spirit.

And so, on this day of celebration we certainly give thanks to God for and pray God’s blessing upon all mothers. But, above all,

 WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 I.              THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LIFE: LIFE WITH, AND FROM, JESUS.

 We see this from the incredible events that took place on the day of Pentecost – the sound of a mighty wind, and the apostles suddenly speaking languages they had never learned. Peter explains these things by quoting the Old Testament prophet Joel: “In the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.” The outpouring of Holy Spirit is God’s work. Peter goes on to say, “Jesus has poured out [what] you are seeing and hearing.” (Acts 2:33) Jesus is God, and gives the Holy Spirit!

 But, what kind of gift is the Holy Spirit? Jesus, in John 7, speaks of the Holy Spirit as water: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Water is life; it is essential for our lives. The Holy Spirit is this, and more. He is “rivers of living water,” abundant and unquenchable life, eternal life, from God.

Unfortunately, in our life with God we are so often like children who have grown up to the point where they do not appreciate what their mothers have done for them or think they have much need for them anymore. I can do it on my own! We do, of course, reach the point in this life where we are able to succeed without our mother’s help. But, may we never think or act this way toward our God! If you want eternal life with God, if you want to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit, if you want the life with God that the Holy Spirit gives, then you must continually go to Jesus. Only He is the giver of the living water of the Holy Spirit. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink,” He cries out. Listen, and go to Him!

 II.            JESUS POURS OUT THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH.

 As an example of this, I’d like to tell you the story of Kim Phuc. Kim was 9 years old on June 8, 1972 when fire from heaven fell on her in her village in Vietnam. The fire was from a napalm bomb. Many of you have seen this picture of her:

 Kim’s clothes were burned off of her, and she was horribly burned. The man who shot this picture of her, naked and screaming in pain as she ran, took her to a hospital, where she stayed for 13 months. During her time there Kim and her parents prayed to their god Caodai, who was represented by an all seeing eye. He would see her suffering and determine how much suffering she and her parents would have to endure to redeem their lives and gain his favor. So, they prayed and tried to be better disciples of Caodai, that they might persuade him to help.

 Kim survived, but she was left with terrible scars and bouts of pain. She sought solace in her religion. She accepted that whatever wrongs she had committed in her past had not yet been atoned for, not even by the horrible pain and suffering she endured because of the napalm bomb. Still, she believed that if she devoted herself to Caodai, eventually he would accept her sufferings and give her peace of mind and heart. But, as the years passed, she sunk into depression. Her prayers remained unanswered. This is the way it is for all who seek to gain favor from God by their own efforts.

In 1984, 12 years after she was so horribly burned, fire from heaven again fell on Kim. This was not man’s fire, however,  but the living water of Christ’s Holy Spirit. Kim came to faith in Jesus. Now, this was no sudden event that was marked by convulsions and babbling in tongues. No, it took time. It began with her finding a copy of the New Testament in the library. She read it, but could not believe that Jesus could pay for one’s sins or that one could be certain of going to heaven. Then, she was introduced to a man named Anh, a friend of her sister. He was a Christian, and he began telling her about Jesus. He bought her a Bible, and they read and discussed it together. He invited her to his church, where she was befriended by a woman who also began to meet with her and discuss the Bible with her. The Holy Spirit used these people and their pastor, but above all He used the words of the Bible to bring her to faith in Jesus. Eventually, she confessed her faith in Jesus and was baptized, and she turned away from her former idolatry.

See how greatly Jesus has poured out His Holy Spirit: a woman from communist controlled Vietnam received Him. Christ has poured out His Spirit throughout the entire world! You, too, have been given the living water of His Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God!

But, we need to know this: Jesus pours out His Spirit upon us continually by His Word and Sacraments, and so we must continually receive them to remain in Him. Also know that Christ pours out His Spirit upon you that He might pour out His Spirit through you. “Even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy,” Scripture says. This is what our lives are now to be about: proclaiming Jesus.

This is what Kim Phuc’s life is now all about. She is now a spokesman for Jesus. As she travels the world and tells her story, the story of the girl in the picture, she also tells of her faith in Jesus.

You can do the same. Our stories are not so moving, of course. That’s alright. It is Christ’s story, His life, we are to share! And, just as He used simple people to pro-claim His life and bring Kim Phuc to faith, to eternal life, in Him, Jesus will use you to pour out His Holy Spirit upon others. And the Holy Spirit, like a mother, will bring forth the new life of faith in Jesus.