SERMON, PENTECOST C, JOHN 20:19-23, ACTS 2:1-11

Today is Pentecost. It's been called the birthday of the church. A more appropriate symbol isn't the birthday, but the baptism of the church.

Baptism carries all kinds of symbolism with it. Through our one baptism, our sins have been forgiven. Baptism is our full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ. Through baptism we are raised to new life. And through baptism we acknowledge our need to repent and return to the Lord.

This theme of new life, repentance, death and resurrection is all through the bible. Which means baptism is all through the bible. We are baptized with water and the Holy Spirit. The water part is easy; but how is one baptized by the Holy Spirit? One way is to be breathed on.

In the first story of creation, a wind from God swept over the waters and the breath of God spoke creation into being. And in the second story of creation, God breathed new life into the human being he made. This is new life through the reception of the breath of God.

In the gospel today, Jesus does this exact same thing. He breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." Just as the breath of God created new life in the beginning, so Jesus creates new life in the disciples. This was to fulfill the prophecy of John when he said, "I baptize you with water . . . but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

In addition to symbolizing and creating new life, baptism is also the beginning of ministry. The earthly ministry of Jesus begins after his baptism. After his baptism he heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, and welcomes the sinner and outcast. After his baptism, Jesus works to proclaim the kingdom of God.

The same is true of the apostles, those first members of the church. They spent three years hanging around Jesus listening, watching and following. But it's sort of like watching the Keystone Cops and we wonder if they'll ever get it.

Today, though, they get it. Jesus appears amongst them and breathes on them giving them the Holy Spirit. With this act he gives them new life. This new life is made known when the disciples begin speaking about God in the language of the Parthians, Medes, Elamites and others. By the power of the Spirit they begin proclaiming the kingdom of God.

Baptism is our full initiation and inclusion into the church, the Body of Christ. In our baptism we are raised to new life. Our baptism also signals the beginning of our public ministry. Notice that after a baptism, whether by water as with Jesus, or whether by the Holy Spirit as with the disciples, people get to work. They get busy proclaiming the Good News.

Scripture doesn't tell us that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan and then spent his days quietly attending synagogue. Scripture doesn't tell us that the apostles were moved by the Holy Spirit to occupy the same pews every Sabbath. Scripture does say that these people preached the gospel, proclaimed the kingdom, fed the hungry and welcomed the sinner.

Being baptized isn't simply a free pass. Being baptized means we have been given a work order. It means we take seriously the work of the church. In a few minutes we will renew our baptismal vows. One of the questions you will be asked is, "Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?" Do you really believe being a baptized Christian is good news? If so, get out there and spread the word.

Our baptism makes us full members of the Body of Christ. Like a new kidney becomes a fully working member of its new body, or new eyes become fully working members, or even like an artificial heart becomes a fully working member of the body, we are fully working members of the Body of Christ. And I hate to break it to you, but that "fully working members of the body" bit doesn't include your rear end.

"As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Jesus was sent to proclaim the kingdom of God, feed the hungry and welcome the sinner and outcast. He sent his disciples to do just that. By virtue of our baptism, we are his disciples. By virtue of our baptism, we are being sent out.

Today is Pentecost. Will we recognize the Holy Spirit upon us? Will we be moved to action?

Today is Pentecost. May you be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ, making disciples of those around you.

Amen.