May 24th
Pentecost
“Love Like I Love”
The bigger the Church celebration, the simpler its message, and it rarely gets any bigger than Pentecost! Now we might think today is all about the birthday of the Church, and indeed Pentecost is the Church’s beginning. But the birthing of the Church was not the PURPOSE of Jesus’ sending of the Holy Spirit! The birth of the Church was a NECESSARY RESULT of the sending of the Holy Spirit, but not the purpose of the sending… the Church serves the purpose.
So, what is the purpose of the sending of the Holy Spirit? It’s simple: to help us do what Jesus asks us to do in memory of him… to help us fulfill (each in our own unique way) Jesus’ parting commandment… his only ask of us…, “Love Like I Love”
Do this in memory of me, love like I love. The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us so we can love like Jesus loves…
A non-violent YET uncompromising to evil love.
A truth-embracing YET compassionate love.
A justice-seeking YET merciful love.
An unconditional YET not without holy expectation love.
The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us to empower us to love like Jesus loves! It is that simple. But SIMPLE does not equal EASY. Life’s woundedness gets in the way; our strength is sapped, our motivation to love is dried up. Guilt paralyzes us and our frozen hearts chill our ability to love. We become lost as our steps go astray, all the time the devil seeking to leverage all of this to separate each of us from Jesus and the flock…
It is not easy to love like Jesus loves. It takes sacrifice. It takes a cross. So, Jesus helps us. Jesus sends the Paraclete, the Advocate, the very Love between God the Father and God the Son… Savior, pour out the Holy Spirit upon us!
“And our inmost being fill! Where you are not, we have naught, nothing good in deed or thought, nothing free from taint of ill. Heal our wounds, our strength renew; on our dryness pour your dew; wash the stains of guilt away; bend the suborn heart and will; melt the frozen, warm the chill; guide the steps that go astray…”
Help us love like you love. Help us do this in memory of you. Help us fulfill your only ask, your command, your dream for your Church.