May 13, 2007
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The Norwegian
Lutheran Memorial Church The Swedish retreat leader Peter Halldorf tells in one of his books about a visit he had in the Monastery of the Trinity, Sergei Possad, to the North of Moskow. There he met the thirty year-old Jevgenej, a fifth year student at the monastery’s theological seminary. There was a joy in his face. A modest confidence. Lightyears away from the advertisement poster’s stiff and impersonal smiles. ”I was baptized as an infant in the Orthodox Church”, Jevgenej says, when he is asked about how his spiritual journey began. ”But I knew nothing about my baptism, and as a child I was not taught what baptism means.” In his 20’s he made several trips to the West, went to England and the US. But he didn’t find any answers to what he was seeking. The existential crisis dragged him down, into a deep darkness. ”My heart was in pain, and I struggled to find meaning in everything.” At that stage he started to sense that there was something hidden in the baptism he once had received. Something he never had brought to conciousness. All he needed, everything he was searching for, was hidden in the soil he had grown out of. Back in Russia, Jevgenej attended church services. His longing found a home, finally. He describes it as a new birth. ”It was the start of my new life”, he tells. Jevgenej’s story has many parallels. Baptism is our new birth. But one has to be awakened to live the life of baptism. By regularly attending worship and holy communion, by conversation with their fellow struggling and doubting believers, people little by little can see the greatness of being a child of God. Jesus says: You need to be born again to come into the kingdom of God. The birth happens by means of water and Spirit, new life is created.This is the entry portal to God’s kingdom, according to Jesus. A new birth, by other words, a totally new start is needed. We have every reason to be grateful for the gift of baptism! The heavenly kingdom is given us for free, through the baptismal water and by The holy Spirit. Pentecost is approaching, the third of the annual Christian festivals. The most anonymous of them. This year, as the festival of Pentecost coincides with Memorial Day weekend, it becomes even more anonymous. Christmas and Easter might be easier to relate to. But what is Pentecost all about? And who is The holy spirit? The text for today gives help to understand at least a little bit of this mystery: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. The Holy Spirit is not some airy floating being. But a person. As Jesus gives the promise about his arrival, he bestows the Spirit with personal attributes. Above all, the Spirit is the Advocate. There is no single word in our language that contains the total, rich content of the Greek word for Advocate, ”parakletos”, or in Latin ”advocatus”. Literally it means ”one who is called to stand by the side of.” John uses ”parakletos” here, and 4 more times in his farewell speech on the night that he was betrayed. The Holy Spirit is a defender, a comforter, a mediator, guide, encourager. This word “parakletos” covers all these meanings. That the Advocate is a person, means that he has a personality. He has a character, his own “style” that is typical for him. As Jesus has his own character, and the Father has his. The Holy Spirit is not only a quality or characteristic of God. He is God. The Holy Spirit is the mediator. As God addresses us, the direction goes out from the Father, by the Son and through the Spirit. That is the triune God’s way towards us. We pray to the Father by Jesus and in the Spirit. That is our way to The Triune. So the Spirit mediates both ways! While still groping for God, before we have a clear picture of Jesus, The Holy Spirit is at work. As with Jevgenej. The Spirit created a desire within his heart. Had him start searching. Assisted him in his seeking. And because he searched where God’s word was being conveyed, he was led to clarity. Luther puts it so clearly in his Small Catechism. Namely in the explanation of the Creed’s third article. ”I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith.” This means that both salvation in itself, and that we can receive it and believe it and keep it, is the work of the Spirit. Many people are a little afraid of The Holy Spirit - feeling the works of the Spirit a little bit scary or at least unfamiliar. But the fear is without reason. 99% of what he is doing, you do not even realize. He does it in quietness, without your notice. He is careful, or to use the good English word gentle. He is close to earth and simple. He helps us to enjoy life, both the big highlights and the small things. The roaring wind and the quiet breeze. The most important job of his, is what we heard in the sermon text, that he teaches us everything and reminds us about all that Jesus has said to us. Helps us to remember Jesus, what he has done for us and what he has told us. The Holy Spirit is not very PR-minded. He himself never takes the attention. As a youth pastor once said: ”He is a real gentleman!” The vocation of the Spirit is that of a spotlight. Not to enlighten himself, but the object that he turns towards. The attention of the Spirit is directed towards Jesus. He helps us to see, and to remember Jesus, remind us about all that Jesus has said. That is good to know for us who live in the age of forgetfulness. In earlier times, important things were learned by heart, so that people could keep it. But now, in the society of information, we are getting ”bombarded” by information. Both what we need, and much more. To protect ourselves, we need to forget. I think we have developed a stronger skill in forgetting than previous generations. So, by our well developed oblivion, it easily happens that what we ought to remember, also vanishes from memory. But luckily we have by our side a person who helps us to remember the essential things. We need The Holy Spirit more than ever! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits. (Ps 103:2) Let us at last turn to the start of the text for today. Those who love me, will keep my word, Jesus says. How can we keep his word? By reading it, listening to it, take part in conversations with others about it, meditating over it, having it in our heart, and then acting in accordance with it. Also when it is unpopular, when it has a cost, we are to act according to Jesus’ word. Because as he says in another place: Not all those who say to me, ”Lord, Lord” will come into the Kingdom of heaven, but those who act according to my Father’s will. By acting in accordance to the word, letting him be our Lord, in this way we show Jesus our love. Our theme for today is not so easy to grasp. It is more for the heart than for the brain. God is not to be understood, it is just not possible. But he is to be, and should be praised and adored as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Who was, is and shall ever be one true God from eternity to eternity. Amen |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |