God Encounters

My message today comes from a desire to connect with God. What would that feel like? I don't have a really thought out, developed message. What I will do is ask you to try some Lectio Divina practice with me after I share a few thoughts. More on that at the end.  

Our passages today frame the 5 weeks between Jesus' resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene and the Apostles' ability to speak in different languages during Pentecost.   (John 20:16-22,  Acts 2:1-8, 11). 

My apologies to whoever will give a message on Pentecost Sunday.  A lectionary choice today was Peter's Sermon that directly follows our reading. Acts 2:14-40 is courageous, confident and compelling.  How did Peter get that way after the shame of denying Jesus three times?

These days and weeks after Jesus' crucifixion report many encounters with his risen form and with the Holy Spirit. I wanted to imagine how it felt to experience these revelatory encounters with the Divine.  It was a time of great turmoil within and around Jesus' followers. Fear and Courage. Despair and Exultation. Doubt and  Assurance. Confusion and Clarity. There was an energy which transformed the disciples into apostles and catapulted them into history and the future.  But initially they were vulnerable to the chaos of their own minds and their instincts for self preservation.

First there was Mary - Imagine her grief and despair and the shock and elation of recognition. Her very human desire and need to wrap her arms around Jesus.

  

Then - Jesus visited the disciples in their fear locked room and hearts.  He spoke  'Peace' to them so they could focus on the truth of his being.  He repeated 'Peace'  so they could hear their calling and begin to collect the courage to shoulder it. He breathed Holy Spirit on them.  I remember Ellen sharing Ezekiel with us 3 weeks ago,  Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.' 'Ruach.'

I learned Pentecost is the 50th day after Passover. It was the Feast of Harvests, the Day of First Fruits.  Devout Jews and converts from far and wide traveled to the New Temple in Jerusalem, the place where the Holy Spirit resided. Pentecost came 10 days after the disciples saw Jesus ascend toward heaven.

We did not yet read in Acts 1 that before his ascension, Jesus told the disciples they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days. They would receive power to be his witnesses when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:5,8). In our reading (Acts 2;1-4), on the day of Pentecost, a violent wind filled the house around them and tongues like fire touched their heads. Events like these would certainly stun our minds and bodies. Yet Jesus had prepared them with gentler encounters with the Holy Spirit. Instead of being struck dumb, I imagine them charged, electrified, with multiple gifts of language.  And many who heard them were astounded, amazed and perplexed.     

Now for our part.   Let's turn back to our scripture passages. If you recall or if you haven't done this before,  Lectio Devina unfolds something like this. During our first reading of the scriptures, did any words or passages stand out for you?  Instead of reading the passages aloud a second time,  we'll be present with them silently,  noticing what speaks to our hearts.  We'll try to open our hearts and minds, our feelings and thoughts, to God, without words.  And we'll rest in this stillness, in God's presence, receiving grace.  If you'd rather simply sit in stillness, that's fine too.  We'll do this for 5 minutes.  Then we'll continue with our time for shared reflections.