"Interpretation" for Presbytery of Grand Canyon
June 9, 2007 * by Rev. Cynthia Jennison
Scriptures: Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-12, 21
Today we gather under the dual theme of Pentecost and Communal Discernment. Though the church has already celebrated Pentecost Sunday and moved on past Trinity Sunday, it is appropriate to understand this Season not only as "Ordinary Time," but also the "Season of the Spirit." It is the season when we as the One Body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, reflect on what it means to be "a sign in and for the world of the new reality which God has made available to people in Jesus Christ." [G-3.0200a] It is the season of Mission, when we act out of our identity as "the new humanity, a new creation, a new beginning for human life in the world." [G-3.0200b]
As we were sharing ideas for the service today, our worship planning team recognized that today's Presbytery agenda holds the kind of promise for our church that is represented in the Biblical story of Pentecost. As a Presbytery, we continue to ponder the challenge and opportunity presented to the whole church by the General Assembly when it commended for reflection and action the report and recommendations of the Task Force on Peace, Purity and Unity of the Church.
Today, we will open ourselves to the continuing reformation of the Holy Spirit as we try to learn a method of talking with one another about issues that so often divide and tear us apart. We will receive new candidates and members and commission new ministers as the Spirit continues to enlarge and enrich our circle. We will hear about ways this Body expresses its call to Mission and how we are reaching out to seek others who are willing to invest in this Kingdom business.
Just as the Holy Spirit was at work on the Day of Pentecost to bring to birth a new community who would represent Christ in and for the world, so today the Spirit continues to be at work in the life of our Presbytery, calling us and empowering us to be the Body of Christ in the places we live, work, play and worship.
Accordingly, we sought to craft a service that would not only retell the themes of this epic story through music, prayer, scripture, and movement, but would also embody it in the participants themselves. We wanted to use music from a vast treasury of styles and cultures, and we sought to lift up the wonderful diversity of our Presbytery by inviting folks from the many cultures represented in our churches.
Of course, we are still living on THIS side of the full reality of God's new kingdom. So things are never as perfect as we would like. We could not find readers to represent all the languages and cultures that are part of our Presbytery. The music being shared today does not include as much diversity as we had hoped. But even in these weaknesses, we believe we are witnessing to the ever-creating power of God. As one poster puts it so eloquently: "Be patient with me: God's not done with me yet!"
We begin our scriptures today with the story of Babel-a community that became enamored with the idea of human perfection. They decided that they would build a tower reaching up to heaven itself, and thereby ensure for themselves security and immortality. No longer would they need to trust in God, for they would be self-sufficient and all-powerful. They believed in the fantasy that human might and ingenuity could bring about a perfect life.
God saw the arrogance and idolatry in this idea. Forestalling the potential evil that comes from such absolute power, God scattered the people across the face of the earth, and confused their language so that they no longer shared a common tongue.
This ancient story is the tragedy of human separation. The people could no longer understand one another, and their unity was shattered.
Eons passed before God's plan for healing came to fruition. As the Spirit of Christ descended upon the waiting disciples on the Day of Pentecost, the divisions began to close and the misunderstandings were bridged. The effects of Babel began reversing themselves. From diverse places and cultures, the people were gathered together in Jerusalem, from every nation on earth. As they listened in amazement to the Spirit-filled disciples, they heard the gospel message in their very own language. They heard-and they understood. The power of Christ's Spirit began to create a new community that would be united in mission and love.
The church today is still living in between these two narratives. We are sometimes caught in confusion and separation, painfully aware of how far short we fall of this picture of God's new community. But we are also living into the reality of the new community created at Pentecost.
We are reminded of this every time we gather as one Body to share our one faith, to proclaim our one Lord, to partake of the one loaf that makes us one in mission and unites us with the faithful of all times and places.
So today we celebrate our diversity, for we are a living picture of God's beautiful creation. And we celebrate our unity because it is a visible sign of the present and coming realm of Jesus Christ. And we celebrate our community, for it is possible only by the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit.
We recognize our imperfection, for we know that God is not finished with us yet, and we yearn for the promised Day of the Lord. But we proclaim with one voice the message that has been entrusted to us: "Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved!