REMEMBERING

Dr. Richard J. Henderson May 16, 2004

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Psalm 67 (responsive)
John 14: 23-29

Introduction

Last weekend we had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate my mother's ninetieth birthday. All of her four children were there, and several grandchildren. We had lunch together as a family, and then had a reception for all her friends and neighbors.

My brother and sister put together pictures from all through her life. They brought back many memories. One picture was of the whole family sitting on the sofa in the living room - we made it for a Christmas card when I was about four years old.

The pictures started many conversations about growing up, being part of our family, things we experienced, and important events in our lives.

Remembering is really important for each one of us.

I

In his last days, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his leaving. He wants them to know he has to go; he also wants them to know he is not going to leave them alone. "I will not leave you as orphans," Jesus says at one point.

In this preparation, though, Jesus says something unusual. He says, "I will send you a paraclete." A what? In Greek it is "paracletos." The word can be translated counselor, advocate, comforter and instructor.

Jesus doesn't say, "I will be leaving and I'm putting Peter in charge. He will head up a council of six of the disciples. If you have any questions, take them to this council. The other disciples will form a court where decisions will be made about correct Christian behavior. These two bodies will help you remember what I taught you and help you understand what it means to be Christian today."

Jesus didn't say that. Instead, he said, "I will send you an advocate who will remind you of all that I have said; an instructor who will teach you about your faith."

Jesus leaves this world, but gives us a counselor - a powerful spirit - who helps us in our faith. Jesus said this to his original disciples, and to us, his contemporary disciples.

II

We have the gospels - four different accounts of what Jesus said and did. And we have the early letters of Paul, who tells us about his experiences with Jesus. Fortunately, within twenty years after Jesus' death and resurrection, some people wrote down what they remembered, saw, and heard.

So we can look up what Mark, for example, recalls of Jesus ministry. We can refer to John's account of events in Jesus' life. This paraclete - the Holy Spirit - is something different, though. The Spirit offers us something far greater.

Many years ago our family went to visit Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. We stopped at the visitor's bureau and got a lot of literature. We read about what had happened, we looked at some of the monuments and read what they said, but we were frustrated that we weren't getting a good picture of this important place in history.

Finally, we went to the main center where tour guides were available who get in your car and ride with you, telling you about the historic events as you go. All of a sudden, it was a completely new experience. The tour guide showed us the important sites in chronological order. He told about each battle and why it was important. We got not only the history, but also stories related to that battle. It was more personal and complete. We got some information you never read in history books.

In a similar way, the Holy Spirit helps us remember and learn about our faith in a personal way. We see what we hadn't seen; we understand for the first time.

III

You have experienced this Holy Spirit. Maybe you were reading the Bible and all of a sudden, a light went on, and you said, "Yes, I know what that means - it applies to my life. Maybe it came to you like a message from above."

A member of this congregation told me of reading a daily devotional and suddenly realizing that what he was reading applied to a situation he had been wrestling with for weeks at work. He hadn't been sure what to do - how to handle this concern - then, BOOM, one day the answer seemed to be so evident from this devotional reading. He talked to me because he wanted to tell someone how amazing it was.

Maybe you've been going through a hard time - feeling the loss of someone important to you, or a bitter sorrow. Then a friend visits you and demonstrates how much she cares. You feel your life turning, even if only a little bit.

Maybe you're feeling emptiness in your life, or a sense of wandering without direction. Then, in a worship service, you are reminded of God's promises to you, and you are able to begin putting your life in perspective.

Those changes came from somewhere - from someone. The Holy Spirit reminds us of Christ and what's important in our lives.

IV

We need this remembering because of what life throws at us. In tragic events, great celebrations and horrendous experiences, we all become theologians. When something major happens in the world, we rush to try to explain it.

After the tragedy of September 11th, many people were trying to explain how this could happen. Where was God in all this? Some said God mourned with those who lost family members and some said God was not involved at all. In a very famous (or infamous) comment, one televangelist said God did this to us to repay us for allowing gays and abortion and other things he didn't like.

When critical events happen, we try to understand what God's place is in them. The Holy Spirit helps us understand. The Spirit of God reminds us what Jesus said, and what he was about. In a very real sense, the Holy Spirit brings Christ to us. At a basic level, the Holy Spirit is the spirit of Christ.

V

Each worship service can be an experience of the Holy Spirit. That is true; Jesus promises that wherever two or three are gathered together in his name he will be present there with us.

We also experience the Holy Spirit in worship because we are here to remember. This whole service is about remembering - recalling what Christ gave for us, applying Christ's teaching to everyday living, and remembering God's will for our lives.

Because we remember Jesus here, it reminds us of who we are and where our true selves are. Because we remember, we have the courage to stand up as Christians and to face evil. We are free to live as God's people in the world. When we come to worship, we allow the Holy Spirit to nudge us into remembering. If we pass up this opportunity, we may miss being reminded of something important.

A while ago a member of the church came up to me after the service and said, "You know, I almost didn't come to church today. We had a small accident at home and with everything going on, I almost skipped church. But in this service I was so moved, my life was so touched. I hate to think I almost missed it."

It isn't new news here - it's mostly remembering: remembering what God wants, who Jesus was, who I am.

Conclusion

Much of what the Holy Spirit does is remind us. Sometimes we experience the Holy Spirit as a welling up of emotion that seems to sweep over us and fills our eyes, but not always.

Sometimes the spirit feels like a light going on inside our lives. Sometimes it is the warmth of being among people you like and respect. Often the Spirit comes as reminders - remembering what's really important, remembering why we are here, gaining perspective on life.

God's Holy Spirit doesn't always come with an emotional rush. Sometimes, it's a twitch that reminds us; sometimes it's a prodding to do the right thing. Often, the Spirit comes to us in powerful memories.

Amen.

©Richard J. Henderson 2004