Today, we celebrate Pentecost, the third most important day of our liturgical year. On Christmas we celebrated the birth of Jesus, the Son of God who became the son of Mary. On Easter we celebrated his victorious resurrection from death. Today, we celebrate his giving of the Holy Spirit. This is presented on two occasions, according to Sacred Scriptures: on Easter day and on the Jewish Feast of Pentecost; we hear of both events in this evening’s readings.
As we just heard from the reading taken from the Gospel of John, Jesus first gives his disciples the Holy Spirit on the evening of that first Easter after the disciples had discovered that the tomb was empty and Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene. Jesus had told her to tell the disciples that he was risen, and she did, but they did not understand. So on that first evening they were gathered in a house with the doors locked, because they were afraid – afraid of being killed, just as Jesus had been killed three days before. And suddenly, Jesus was among them and the first thing he said to them was, “Peace be with you.”
“Peace be with you.” We all know that this was a typical Jewish greeting; shalom. But here, it takes on a new meaning because just three days ago Jesus had assured them with these words: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” And yet, there the disciples were, troubled and very much afraid. So, Jesus says it again; did you notice? “Peace be with you.” We are not to miss it. And in between offering this great peace that only he could give, he showed them the marks in his hands and sides, which he had suffered on the cross. Then it began to dawn on them. This was really Jesus, who had been crucified, who had died on the cross, but now he was alive. And it says that the disciples “rejoiced” when they saw “the Lord.” Their lives were changed from disabling fear into joy by the presence of the risen Lord.
“Lord” in the Bible is a word with many meanings. But here it does not mean only “Master” or “leader.” It is one of the names for God that the Jewish people used since they felt unworthy to call him the name he had given them through Moses: Yahweh. To say that the disciples saw “the Lord” is to report that they saw one who was not only their friend and leader but was truly the one sent from God; God himself. They had hoped that this would be true; they had stuck their necks out to follow him and become his disciples. But when he had been put to death on the cross as a common criminal, their hopes had faltered. Fear had replaced faith and sorrow had banished hope. Now Jesus’ coming into their midst as Lord, bringing the peace of God, reversed all that so they could rejoice.
We might think that this was the climax of this encounter, but it was actually only the beginning. “Peace be with you” is just Jesus’ opening line during this life-changing moment. As we hear in the gospel account, Jesus continues, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” God the Father sent his only Son from heaven to save the world and now that Son says, “That’s how I’m now sending you.” Can you imagine those disciples? Here they were, huddled in fear, hiding in a house with locked doors, just trying to save their own skins. And Jesus comes and says he is sending them to save the world. What a momentous turn of events. The disciples were on the defensive; now Jesus sends them out on offense.
Defensive driving is a good idea. An attorney for the defense is important. In sports a good defense is essential. But defensive Christianity is not a biblical idea. The posture of Christian disciples is not hiding in fear trying to protect themselves. No, disciples are sent. There may still be reason to fear; there may still be confusion. After all, if disciples are sent in the same way that Jesus was sent, that could be very frightening. But to be a follower of Jesus after his resurrection is to be sent. In fact, the word “apostle” means “one who is sent.” In Saint John’s gospel it is used over and over about Jesus, the one whom God sent to save the world. When Jesus tells his followers that they are now being sent, this is a divine commission: God is sending them. That’s why they were called and gathered in the first place: in order to be sent.
It’s like being on an athletic team. Practice is not the real thing; it’s preparation for the real thing, the game. So too, as Christians, when we gather for worship and study, pray and praise God, these are not all there is to being Christ’s followers. We too are sent. And, just as coaches provide the necessary training and tools to help the athlete perform well in the game, Jesus provides us with all we need to continue his work.
After Jesus had told them that he was sending them, we hear that he “breathed on them.” Now, those words should be familiar to all of us because we hear them throughout the Bible. In the book of Genesis, we read how God forms the first human beings from the dust of the earth. Then, we read that God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” In Psalm 104, we read that when God takes away a creature’s breath, it dies and returns to dust, but when he sends forth his spirit – or breath; in Hebrew, this is the same word – they are created. So, Jesus breathed on those disciples and if that was not plain enough, his words told them what it means: “Receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the breath of God.” In that moment, the risen Christ raised those fearful, faltering followers to newness of life.
This is the significance of Pentecost: the giving of the Spirit, the giving of new life, from the Father through the Son. The Holy Spirit is what makes it possible for people to go when they are sent. The Spirit is God’s active, personal presence that accompanies those who are sent. And the Spirit brings the content and the power for the task for which Christ’s followers are sent. We hear that in today’s first reading where the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, declare the mighty acts of God to all those in Jerusalem. In today’s Gospel account, we hear that after Jesus says, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he tells his followers to go and forgive sins. That’s at the heart of the good news: that the followers of our risen Lord may be forgiven and renewed, sent and equipped, in order that all people may be reconciled to God.
That’s why it is so important that we listen carefully to today’s readings and hear their message. We need to know that through his word, God again breathes the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, on us – recreating us as individuals and as a holy people, as his very own body, the Church. Pentecost was the day that the Church was born. The Spirit was given then. But that wasn’t the end of it. That was only the beginning. The mission goes on as God’s Spirit today bestows Christ’s peace, forgives sins and draws people together in Jesus’ name.
As the capstone of the Spirit’s work today we are offered Jesus himself, his own body and blood, so that we might be his body in the world. Before we come to the altar to receive our Lord in Holy Communion, we will echo Jesus’ words, “Peace be with you” as we exchange Christ’s peace to those around us. This is not merely a casual greeting but a concrete bestowal of the gift of divine peace that comes from Christ to our neighbor through us.
Each one of us has life only by the constant gift of God’s breath of life. Each of us has faith in Jesus Christ and hope for eternal life only by the ongoing work of God’s Spirit through the means of grace. Each of us, by the gift of that Spirit, is a disciple of Jesus Christ sent forth in God’s world in the company of the faithful.
The Spirit of God, the breath of God, the divine wind that blows where God wills, blows into our bodies in every moment, keeping us alive. It blows into our hearts and minds and souls, bringing us faith and new life. And it brings us the peace of God and sends us out – blows us out, really – where we will be swept up in the marvelous saving work of God.
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.