Readings for the Day:
Sermon:
It is a true joy to be with y'all this morning. It's the culmination of a lot of hard work, not just on my part, but on the part of others. I am in debated to everyone on the vestry here in particular for all their hard work in getting me to this point with y'all today.
I really want to take the time to just bask in being here. Right here, in this moment. I have been excited about being here ever since Sarah Sartain set up my initial talks with y'all back in Fall. I am truly looking forward to my time working with y'all in these coming years.
And let me emphasize the "with" in that statement. Because that is what we are called to do. To work with each other through the Spirit.
It is easy for us to see those who work in ministry as somehow being "better," or as a freshman at Sewanee once put it to me, as more "holy." And a cursory reading of today's lesson from Acts might give that impression.
Because on that first day of Pentacost, it is an exclusive group that receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, coming down "like a rush of violent wind." This Spirit doesn't just come down on anyone that happens to be there. The Spirit is very discerning and comes specifically to the disciples. To Jesus' core group of followers.
But that is not where the story ends. People from all nations witness the fruit of this outpouring of the Spirit. They hear the disciples talking in their own native tongues. All of them. This is something impossible. Beyond understanding as far as how this could happen. In short, a miracle.
And as the crowd is baffled as to what is going on, Peter stands up and speaks. He explains this great event that has occurred.
And he doesn't say that this is something great that is only imparted to a few. He doesn't claim that he and the disciples are wise men who have achieved some sort of enlightenment that takes a special mind and years of practice to achieve.
Instead he gives a message of hope and comfort. Because this gift, this outpouring of the Spirit, while it may have come to the disciples first, is going to be poured out "on all flesh." All will receive this gift.
And none are limited in this outpouring. It is coming for young and old alike (Thank God for all of us on either side of the spectrum!). It is coming to both "sons and daughters," to men and women alike. And it is even coming to the slaves, the downcast, the ones overlooked by society. And as Peter says "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
And Peter, in his speech, demonstrates one of the tasks the gift of the Spirit allows us to partake in. To proclaim the Good News of Christ Jesus and all that God has done, is doing, and will do in the world.
As our Church teaches, this task is shared by all in the church. For those who were fortunate enough to be present at my ordination yesterday, you heard that a deacon is called to make Christ known through word and example. To give glory to His name. But this task is not just for deacons, as well as priests and bishops, to accomplish alone. Our Catechism states that, "The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be."
All members of the church are called to make Jesus known. And we do that through the outpouring of the Spirit we all receive. That same outpouring of the Spirit through which Peter gave the good news about during the very first Pentecost.
We don't just need clergy in the church doing God's work. We need everyone. Because everyone receives the Spirit. And everyone is part of the great task of the church. Everyone is called on to make Jesus Christ known, just by being an example of His love for us, to the rest of the world.
I am looking forward to working and serving with all of you as we each use our gift of the Spirit to
further God's mission in the world. As a newly ordained member of the clergy, I hope there will be
a great deal that you will learn from me these coming years, just as I am sure there is a great deal
I will learn from you. So let us go forth, working together through the power of the Spirit, to do
the work God has given us to do.