Sermon, Pentecost A, Acts 2:1-21

For Episcopalians, Pentecost is a little scary. We hear stories about tongues of fire resting on heads and disciples speaking in other languages. We come to church and some crazy priest has attached balloons to the pews. Some of us hear stories about liturgies with paper doves descending from the ceiling, liturgical dancing and other . . . festive . . . ideas. Pentecost seems to be the day when we can cut loose in the name of the Spirit, sort of like a liturgical Mardi Gras, and it makes us nervous.

But behind that nervousness and those liturgical free for alls lie two very important themes, and those are excitement and confidence. We have been through the ups and downs of Holy Week. We have deserted Jesus, watched him die, been welcomed back by the resurrected Christ, and have spent time reveling in his physical presence with us once again. We were stunned by his ascension, but hopeful at his promise that we would do greater things.

Today is when that promise is fulfilled. Today is the day we are given a share of the Spirit. Today is the day when we see the church living into that promise of Jesus where he says we will do greater things.

We should be excited today. We have followed Jesus for some time now and, whether we know it or not, we were being made ready for this day. We were being prepared to carry on the mission of Jesus. We were being prepared to be the leaders of the church. This is the day, to put it in terms we can relate to, this is the day we get our driver's license. This is the day we are free to go places and we should be excited for the opportunity and confident in our abilities.

In the immortal words of Dr. Seuss, "Oh the places we will go." Like the disciples today talking to the Parthians, Medes, Elamites and all the rest, we need to believe that we are destined for greater things and to go places. Does this mean that we are all going to go to Belize, Haiti, China or the Congo? No, of course it doesn't. You could, if that's where you were being called to; but most of us can go places without leaving home?

How is that possible? Listen to that Acts reading again: When the disciples began to preach, everyone present from diverse locations heard the disciples in the language of the listener. It was as if the disciples actually went to all those countries and were able to speak the native language. The disciples didn't leave Jerusalem, but in one sense they were able to meet the people where they were. And it was in that sense that they went to the people.

We don't need to go gallivanting all over the world; all we need to do is realize that we can meet people right where they are. We all encounter different people every single day. People different from us need to hear our stories. People we golf with. People we drink with. People we work with. People we socialize with. All these people need to hear our stories. We don't need to get them into the church before we share those stories; but we do need to meet them where they are and speak in a language they can here. And it is in that meeting and that sharing that we can invite them to join us.

Today is like Easter. On Easter, remember, we went from the dark to the light. We went from the sorrow and pain of death to the joy and excitement of resurrected life. And today we move from the disbelief and trepidation of the Ascension to the excitement of being baptized with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

I mentioned that excitement and confidence permeate today. Excitement because we have these tongues of fire upon us compelling us to proclaim the gospel and because we know that the gift of the Spirit that Jesus promised is upon us. Confidence because we know that with God backing us up, we will be protected.

Look again at the disciples. The Spirit came upon them and they immediately went out to tell the world. That's excitement! But also remember where they had been immediately before this: they had been holed up in a secret room for fear of being caught, arrested, and maybe put to death. They were afraid. But now . . . now with the power of the Spirit they were confident. They stepped outside of their comfort zone and boldly proclaimed the gospel.

Excitement and confidence. This is where were are today. We are members of that apostolic succession. We have been given the power of the Spirit. This should excite us! This should embolden us to move out of our pews and out of this building to meet people where they are, out there, and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today is Pentecost. The gift of the Holy Spirit has been given. We have been prepared well. Today a promise has been made. Today is the day we cut loose. Today is the day we go forth in the power of the Spirit. Today is the day we begin doing greater things.