A Homily for Pentecost, Commonly Called Whitsunday
The Rev. Canon Michael D. Vinson, Rector
Today, we have gathered to celebrate the great Christian feast called Pentecost (literally meaning "fiftieth"), which marks the 50th day after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We might think of the resurrection as the first upward movement in the grand orchestration of our salvation. The first movement: God descends from heaven, making himself low in the incarnation of the eternal Son. The second movement is a further descent, as this same Son, Jesus Christ, is crucified for our sins, dies, and descends into Hades, the place of the dead.
But then, after three days, he arises from the dead (beginning his ascent), like spring flowers emerging from the earth. Yet the aim of his ascent is not fixed on earth but on heaven. After forty days, the resurrected Lord ascends even higher into the heavens, armed and raised in blessing as he departs the company of the apostles. And, today, the Holy Spirit descends from heaven just as our Lord had promised, for “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you” (Jn 16:7).
The record of the Pentecost event found in St. Luke’s Acts of the Apostles certainly proves that Jesus isn't a liar; he keeps his word. For the Comforter has come. The gift of the Holy Spirit has been given to bring comfort to the uncomfortable, to the sad and sorrowful. The disciples were beside themselves and filled with fear and sorrow when, before his death and resurrection, Jesus told them he was going to leave them. And because he said these things, sorrow filled their hearts (Jn 16:5). Their sadness arose from the thought of losing Jesus.
To be without God is the source of all human sorrow. Within all of creation lies the haunting memory of paradise lost—the memory of humanity once enjoying a perfect and unbroken union with God and others. However, through sin, humanity was dispossessed of that joy and became sorrowful. Now, sorrow defines the human experience. A world without God and a person without God is most certainly sad. Isn't this, ultimately, the source of the lingering sadness within the soul—a sadness stemming from having lost God in the Garden?
In the first place, scripture tells us that all are born in sin and estranged from God- we begin outside of the Garden and alone, naked, and afraid. St. Paul calls this sorry estate death. We "were dead in [our] trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1), he says, "and being alienated from God [we] were hostile in [our] minds, engaging in evil deeds" (Col 1:21). Apart from Christ, death begets more and more sorrow.
Try as they might, no one can overcome such profound sadness on their own. Instead, they must be saved from sorrow by the gracious mercy of God. The sinner needs to be brought from death to life, born again through the power of the Holy Spirit, forgiven of original sin, made clean, and clothed with Christ. This return allows them to walk again in the Garden in the coolness of the day. It is by the blessed ministry of the Holy Spirit, working through the sacrament of baptism, that human sadness is first replaced by joy.
Baptism begins the reversal of sadness, restoring joy because, through the efficacious grace in baptism, we are reconnected with God. We once again possess God, and more importantly, He possesses us. In having Him, we have joy, and being held in Him, we have life. This is our great comfort in this world, made real and made known by the Comforter, who dwells within our souls.
But why are Christians sad? The short answer is that we live in a fallen, broken, and unjust world. Life often brings great sorrow and sadness through no fault of our own. All sorts of tragedies befall us. Relationships crumble, and friendships are lost; dreams and ambitions fade away; death comes to those we love (sometimes suddenly and without warning). In all of this, we grieve in sorrow. Yet, we are not alone in suffering because Jesus (though he presently abides in heaven) is with us through the presence of another comforter, the Holy Spirit.
The Greek word paraklētos literally means "one who is called to our side." When we are made sad by the circumstances of life, the Spirit is there, within us, to console our griefs. Through the ministration of the Holy Spirit, we are brought into the remembrance, presence, and comfort of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you remember what Jesus promised his disciples? "The Comforter, (he said) which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (Jn 14:26). When the sorrow of this world overtakes us, we find comfort through the Holy Spirit who brings to remembrance the consoling words of Jesus who said,
"I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb 13:5).
"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33).
"Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it" (Mt 16:25).
"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Rev 22:12-13).
Jesus said, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me." In the midst of sorrow, the comforting words of our Shepherd come to our remembrance through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who speaks not of himself but of the Son. The Spirit speaks the consoling words of Christ, and thereby, Jesus never abandons us in sorrow for "Behold, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age" (Mt 28:20).
Sometimes, we Christians are sad because of the choices we make, suffering sorrow from sin and a guilty conscience. Yet again, the Spirit brings comfort by leading us to repentance. Jesus said, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (Jn 16:7-8).
It is the conviction of the Holy Spirit that makes us sorrowful for our sins. But with Paul, we should rejoice, not because we were grieved, but because such grieving over our sins led to repentance. "For godly grief (sorrow that comes from the conviction of the Holy Spirit) produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death" (2 Cor 7:10). Such repentance leads to salvation because the Holy Spirit, through conviction, leads us to our Savior, Jesus Christ, who forgives and absolves us from our sins and restores our joy. David knew that repentance, true repentance, leads to the restoration of joy, confessing,
“Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit” (Ps 51).
Whether sadness comes from within or from without, Pentecost signals that another Comforter has come, in the person of God the Holy Spirit. And today, this same Spirit through the Bride, which is Christ's Church, says “Come, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you" (Mt 11:28).
The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price" (Rev. 22:17). By the same Spirit, Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (Rev 3:20). Beloved, let the Spirit of the Lord lead you into the comfort of Christ. Let not sadness starve your joy, but come to the Lord's table and feast on him who wipes away your tears and fills your heart with gladness. Let us pray,
O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
