The Feast of Pentecost, Year C (2016)

Acts 2: 1–21; Psalm 104: 25–35, 37; Romans 8: 14–17; John 14: 8–17, 25–27

The following is a homily by Fr. Gene Tucker given at St. John's Church in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania; Sunday, May 15, 2016.

“GIVE ME GAS FOR MY FORD”

(Homily texts:  Acts 2: 1–21 & John 14: 8–17, 25–27)

The wisdom of the progression of the Church Year reaches a significant point on this Sunday, which is the great feast of Pentecost.  Up until now, we’ve been thinking about and focusing on Jesus’ mighty acts in the aftermath of His resurrection on Easter Sunday morning.

Now, fifty days later (which is the basic meaning of the word “Pentecost”, a title signifying the number fifty, that is fifty days after Passover), we arrive at the events which took place as the Holy Spirit was poured out in great and observable power on those disciples who’d gathered in Jerusalem to await the promise that Jesus had made to them before He ascended into heaven ten days before.

Next Sunday, which is Trinity Sunday, we will turn out attention to the reality of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  (More about that next week.)

But for now, for this Sunday, let’s take some time to look at the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

Luke, who is the author of the Book of Acts (as well as of the gospel account which bears his name) tells us that the Holy Spirit’s arrival was like “tongues of fire” which lighted upon each one gathered that day.  Luke also tells us that the Holy Spirit’s arrival was like the “rushing of a mighty wind”.  Furthermore, the Spirit’s descent on each one enabled them to speak in foreign languages, for each onlooker was able to hear the Good News (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ in his/her own native language.

(We might take a moment to explain what Pentecost was, and why it was so important that devout Jews from all over the known world made their way to Jerusalem for this festival, which was one of three major festivals that took place throughout the year.  The feast of Pentecost was a harvest festival, often better known by the title the “Feast of Weeks”, which was authorized in Exodus 23:16, and 34:12, and in Leviticus  23:15–21 and in Deuteronomy 16:9–12. This feast involved the offering of first fruits and of lambs.)

Turning our attention, then, to the person and work of the Holy Spirit, I’d like to use an automotive analogy, and I’d like to begin with a song we used to sing with our Middle School students who would attend weekend retreats. The song went like this:

          Give gas for my Ford, keep me truckin’ for the Lord,

          Give me gas for my Ford, I pray,

          Give me gas for my Ford, keep me truckin’ for the Lord,

          Keep me truckin’ ‘til the break of day.

So, the following illustrations won’t be perfect, but perhaps they’ll allow us to look at the Holy Spirit a bit more carefully.

Power:  Power is the first thing we ought to look at.  After all, Luke tells us about the powerful arrival of the Holy Spirit.  So our song says, “Give me gas for my Ford, keep me truckin’ for the Lord.”  The Holy Spirit is like the fuel which enables us to do things for God.  It is as if God has given each of us an engine and a vehicle to power it with, but we need the Holy Spirit to make things move.  The Holy Spirit, in this aspect of the Spirit’s work, is the fuel that makes things happen. 

Copilot/Navigator:  The Holy Spirit is like an adult driver who sits across from a new driver. The Holy Spirit tells us when to slow down, when to stop, and what to watch for in terms of danger as we make our way down the roadway of life. 

Counselor:  This is a term that Jesus applies to the Holy Spirit in our Gospel text from John chapter fourteen. (Sometimes, the Greek word is translated as “Paraclete” or as “Helper”.)  These terms can be likened to an experienced driver who stands alongside a newer driver when it comes time to answer charges which arise from poor driving or from accidents when charges are to be answered in court.  The term “Paraclete” in particular carries with it legal implications as the Spirit intercedes on our behalf with God the Father. 

Grabbing the wheel:  Sometimes, the Holy Spirit simply reaches over and grabs the steering wheel in order to avoid catastrophe.  Oftentimes, we think of the Holy Spirit as a gentle, quiet force. But the Holy Spirit isn’t always gentle. The Pentecost event shows that, for the Spirit comes with power, overcoming and empowering those who had gathered that day. There was nothing gentle at all about the Spirit’s arrival or power.

In summary, we would do well to remember that, absent the Holy Spirit’s work before we act in God’s name and in God’s purposes, nothing we will ever try to do will bring results which are pleasing to God. In this sense, then, the Spirit is like the fuel in a car….nothing will happen without that fuel to make things happen. Once the Spirit energizes us, then the Spirit will guide, direct, counsel, and will guide us away from error and catastrophe into the paths that God has in mind.

Thanks be to God for the coming of the Holy Spirit in power, to energize, guide and direct us into the pathways that God has prepared for us.

AMEN.