Pentecost - Belonging and Dreaming Dreams

We tend to celebrate Pentecost as the birthday of the church and it is as good a day as any to do so. Many of us also reflect at this time on where the church is now and how might we need to be revived and enthused again by the Spirit in new and life giving directions. Pentecost is much more about belonging in community than it is about receiving individual exotic gifts of the Spirit for our own salvation and self improvement. And Pentecost is an invitation to dream with God.

For a reflection on the origins of the meanings of Pentecost you may like to read:

Pentecost Overview

For a reflection on the cycles of change over history and the newly emerging church you may like to read:

The Emerging Church

 We are children of God and therefore heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. And we are called to belong for our sake and for the sake of those not yet aware that they belong. To be described as children, rather than simply followers or initiated members, is such an intimate and organic relationship of belonging. It suggests belonging by virtue of who we are not as those who have passed a test of dogma or performance. We belong because we are children of God. Others also belong because they too are children of God.

At Pentecost we remember the manifestation of the Spirit in those gathered. And sometimes I wonder if we in the contemporary church are not waiting for the Spirit to come again as though she has been absent? Dare we believe it, that as Paul describes it, we are already co-heirs with Christ, and as John says it, we are one with Jesus and the Father. Pentecost reminds us that we are already at the very heart of God not by our achievement but through the welcome and embrace of God. The Spirit that allows us to perceive this is given to those who turn up, to those who allow the gift to be received. While the Spirit almost certainly has more gifts to give we need not wait as though orphaned for we are already adopted and belong.

And yes, this belonging and gift is not without challenge as we are reminded that we are not to fall back into slavery. Our very belonging encourages and provokes us to grow into our true selves as individuals of mature faith and our true selves as members of a community of God. We belong not only for our own salvation and development but for the sake of others. Others who are in need and others without whom we are not complete. So often in the church we are concerned for the souls of others for their sake, and this is surely well founded concern and love, but what if we engaged with others knowing that without them we are incomplete and diminished?

How much of the story of Jesus’ teaching ministry, Easter, and church history is about disciples looking in the wrong place or direction? Peter, just having acknowledged that Jesus is the Messiah is then rebuked for looking at things with human eyes and not as God does! Outside the empty tomb the disciples are asked why they are looking for the living among the dead? And do we not tend to look up to the skies as though to glimpse the Ascended One rather than to look at things as God does? In the parable of the prodigal father are we not encouraged to keep looking to the horizon for the missing one? In the parable of the good Samaritan are we not encouraged to see God in our neighbour, in the one in front of us? And Jesus, according to Matthew, in his preparation for his departure reminds us that whenever we tend to a little or a lost one that we are tending to him.

Paul describes us as not only heirs of God but co-heirs with Christ. And as co-heirs surely we are being called to be co-workers with Christ? For so much of church history we have focused almost exclusively on what we believe and whether we are worshiping correctly or not. Both of which are very important to me as a priest but I don’t think this is meant to be our primary focus.

What if this Pentecost we were to celebrate all the ways in which God shows up in our lives – historically and here and now – and on all the gifts we have been given! What if this Pentecost we gave thanks for all those gathered and remembered with heart felt concern all those not present, all the lost ones that Jesus spent so much time searching for? What if this Pentecost we celebrated all the gifts of those in the church and acknowledged all that is missing and prayed earnestly for the eyes and ears to recognise those gifts in others and go search! Let this be a season of gratitude for all that we have. And let this be a season of soul searching and longing, of dreaming and hoping, of openness to what and who the Spirit of God might have in mind for us and from us.

Even so, even now, come Lord Jesus Christ, and stir up in us the Spirit of the Living God that we may dream the dream of God. Amen.

This is my work informed by everything I have heard, read and experienced. I am indebted to the wisdom of others. This week I am particularly grateful to:

John. T. Squire at https://www.insights.uca.org.au/ten-things-about-pentecost/