WHO IS IT?

Dr. Richard J. Henderson June 4, 2006

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Romans 8:22-27
Acts 2:1-21

Introduction

What causes strangers who have never met to jump together into the air shouting encouragement to their team? What is it that causes two grown men - who in other circumstances wouldn't talk to each other or might even be afraid of each other, to slap high fives and even hug? What is it that provides support for a team and encourages it players to do their best, offering so much help that it is known as the "home court advantage?" It is team spirit, of course.

I

There is another kind of Spirit.

Who draws people close together when they talk about their deepest worries, troubles or joys?

Who is sensed when a friend brings chicken dinner to the house on the day when Mom returns from surgery in the hospital?

Who nudges you when you decide to make a u-turn on the highway and go back and help a person whose car has broken down?

Who leads when a middle-aged woman speaks at the corporation's annual meeting decrying the company's unjust treatment of workers in third world countries?

Who draws us out of our self-righteousness and leads us to search for forgiveness and reconciliation?

Who is known when the congregation sings a powerful, resounding hymn at the top of their lungs?

Who strikes when you read a passage from the Bible and realize it is talking about you and your situation?

Who is known in the taste of bread on the tongue and a swallow of juice down the throat?

Who inspires a family to set aside ten percent of what they earn for people in need?

Who draws us together to make sacrifices, when everyone knows the practical thing is to just look out for yourself?

Who speaks when a talented young man decides to go to seminary, even though he holds his law school acceptance in his hand?

It is the one we honor today on Pentecost.

II

Pentecost is the celebration of God's Holy Spirit. This is the birthday of the Christian church. We exist as a church because God gave us the Holy Spirit. We continue - we are sustained - by the working of that Spirit. As a church we live by the Spirit of God.

And each one of us tries to live in the Spirit. As we go about making dozens of important decisions every day, the Spirit prompts the best in us - compassion rather than hatred, forgiveness rather than the grudge we would like to hold, generosity rather than stinginess. These are signs of God's Spirit.

III

The thing is to keep our lives open to that Spirit. As Christians we want to listen for God's Spirit. With all the clamoring sounds around us, it is often difficult to hear that "still small voice" of God.

A friend of mine who is retired left his work without really knowing what he was going to do with his extra time. Over several weeks, and even months, he felt himself drawn to help with repairing houses for people who were poor or who had been through disasters.

Now this isn't a guy who's been a handyman all his life - he didn't know about home repair when he started, he was a computer guy. But he checked books out of the library, read up on what to do, and now he regularly works with a group in his town that repairs homes for poor and elderly people. A couple of times a year he goes with a group from his church to another city to help with repairs. He, of course, has already been to Louisiana.

What would cause a person to do that? Maybe we should ask, "Who would cause a person to do that?" He listened to the Spirit rustling in his life. And he has never been happier.

IV

We are honoring our graduates today. They've completed a major part of their lives and are heading into a bright future. Our prayer for them is that they follow the Spirit of God all their lives. For all of us, but especially for these graduates, we pray that they may listen for God's Spirit speaking, leading them.

May they not always do what is practical, but always what is right. I pray that they don't always do the smart thing, but always the most compassionate thing. I hope they don't put success as their highest standard. The newspapers are full of stories of people who were successes - thought to be model business executives - who are now heading off to jail. If you must be a success, be a success in God's eyes. To find that path, follow the whispers of God's Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

A bright young man graduated from seminary, with his PhD. He knew he was called into the parish ministry, so he began looking for a church. He interviewed at one church and was deeply disappointed that they turned him down - they didn't feel he was a good enough preacher. Finally he found a church that accepted him and he began his ministry.

One day he got a call from a young woman. She had been arrested. She wasn't a member of his congregation so he had to decide, should he go help her out, or just tend to the people in his own church?

Amen.

©Richard J. Henderson 2006