Loving God, you continue to send your Holy Spirit, empowering your people to share your love with others.  Grant us the eyes to see and the ears to hear your word for us this day, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            One of the tendencies that we all have as human beings is to be both self-focused and self-centered.  In many ways, this is the original sin – focusing on our own wants and needs rather than on God.  The pandemic, it seems, has only amplified this tendency to focus on ourselves.  Those who live alone have lots of time to think and can be self-indulgent if they wish.  Those who are juggling work and kids who are at home are very much focused on themselves and their families.  In fact, even those who spend their time caring for the sick and the dying are always concerned about bringing the virus home to their families.

         Others are focused on the families that they cannot see – either due to local restrictions or to distance that would involve travel.  Some are focused on their own health or on the health of loved ones.  And some are simply focused on survival through layoffs, unemployment, or businesses that are on the brink.  In the midst of all of these things, it is easy to slip into a sort of holding pattern – just trying to hold on until the pandemic comes to an end – which makes any new restrictions all the more depressing.

         Then today, in the midst of all of these things that might lead us to focus inward, God pours out the Holy Spirit, in order that God’s people might look outward and share the good news about Jesus.  On that day of Pentecost so long ago, the gift of tongues – or speaking in other languages – is given – not for their own benefit, but in order that people from many races and nations might be able to hear and understand what God has done through Jesus Christ.

         All through the New Testament, as the story of salvation continues, the Holy Spirit is always given in order to focus people’s attention outward.  In today’s reading from Galatians, Paul writes about how the Spirit is sent into our hearts crying, “Abba! Father!” (Gal. 4:6).  The Spirit assures us that we are members of God’s family, which is so much more diverse and numerous and far-flung than our own earthly families.  We all have many more brothers and sisters and parents and children and grandchildren than we generally think we have.

         Paul also writes about the desires of the flesh and the life of the Spirit.  The things that he refers to as “works of the flesh” are pretty much all self-focused – wanting what I want when I want it, regardless of how it affects others or my relationship with God (Gal. 5:19-21).  By contrast, when we are led by the Holy Spirit, fruit is produced that shows love and respect for others and reverence for God.  Things like patience and generosity and love are all part of our witness to others – qualities that show the difference that faith in Jesus makes.

         Today, the Holy Spirit continues to be given in order to focus our attention outward.  Who are the people in our lives who have never heard the good news about Jesus?  Who has God been preparing in our lives that might be desperate to experience the love of God?  And how do you share God’s love with all people in the midst of a pandemic?  

         Congregations, too, are tempted to focus inward.  Some worry about finances and about survival.  Some that are featured in the news are very much focused on my rights and my church and what I need and want – regardless of how it might affect others and their health and well-being.  And for some, it just seems simpler and more comfortable just to ride things out until we can get back to doing what we’ve always done.

         The thing is, though, that the thirst for healing and forgiveness has not stopped in the midst of the pandemic.  The need to experience the love of God for all people has not disappeared.  The call to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth has not been revoked.  Our purpose as a congregation continues to be to share God’s love with all people.  But how do we do that right now?

         Even while asking this question, I am aware that some of you simply do not have the capacity to think about this right now.  Some of you are worn down and worn out and need more than anything to be able to rest in God’s love.  At the same time, some of you are stuck at home without much to do and perhaps need to look outward and to ask how you (or we) could share God’s love with others right now.  In fact, I would be happy to hear from any of you if you have any ideas about how this could be done!

         In the meantime, all of us are invited to breathe deeply, to be aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and to listen expectantly for God’s Word to us today.  For, it is the Spirit who gives life, who produces love and peace, and who empowers us for all to which God calls us.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Pentecost (NL 3)                  Acts 2:1-4; Galatians 4:1-7; 5:16-26

May 23, 2021

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison 

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