Pentecost is a day in the life of our church equal to Christmas and Easter. On the Day of Penteost, the church changed, experiencing radical disruption even as the Spirit sustained it. The first Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, three thousand were baptized by the Holy Spirit. And to this day, the Holy Spirit lives among us, surrounding us with mercy and grace, witnessing to us about God's steadfast love for God's people.
We are interdependent with all of creation around us, and the climate crisis is a challenge that threatens us all. The earth cries out. Will we hear and respond?
We started the month with a Star Wars reference, so why not end it with one? Released on May 25 (1977!), it was later re-titled "A New Hope." These lectionary readings for the season of Easter also share a "New Hope." That is, a hope of a new world, one where God is present, not just in creation around us, and not just in the person of Jesus Christ, but in the love that Jesus' disciples demonstrate.
It may seem like Easter is in the past, but Scriptures lift up many stories and signs of new life and beginning again. We are especially given the chance to begin again when we've faced hard or challenging things. Jesus and his followers show us and pave the way for us. As an Easter people, each day is a new invitation to seek and follow God in Jesus Christ.
Many passages from scripture speak to the nature of God's care, concern, and providence, both here and hereafter. This loving care isn't all that far from the nurturing, loving care of a good mother, whose love is made clear in how they nurture their children. Let us all reflect more of God's compassion, kindness and strength to those around us today.
For some, today is "Star Wars Day". While not a part of the church tradition, the movie tale of Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) reminds us that no one is beyond redemption. In real life, God casts his net far and wide, redeeming and calling people ranging from the disciples to Saul.
"Holy Humor" Sunday is a tradition in some churches to celebrate the joy of the Easter season with a morning of communal laughter. It is rooted in the joy that the disciples must have felt to see Jesus again, as he appeared again and again to his disciples. With this Sunday's liturgy of joy in Jesus, we seek to embody Jesus' exhortation, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Today, we gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Good News of Easter so wondrous, so magnificent, that we struggle to wrap our heads around it. We sing wonderful hymns that speak our praise, adoration, and joy! But, we also remember, that every Sunday in the Christian Church is an Easter Sunday, because we remember Christ's resurrection each week.
Today, we join Jesus in the final ascent to Jerusalem, knowing the depths we will descend on our journey through Holy Week. We join the disciples in declaring that Jesus, riding on a donkey, is our Ruler, the One who will bring peace and salvation for all. We remember the crowds in Jerusalem who laid their cloaks on the road, shouting "Hosanna" as Jesus passed. We know they were looking for a Messiah who was different from who God sent Jesus to be – not one of political power and military might, but one who came in compassion and mercy to heal, love, and save. Let us be confident that the Messiah for whom we long is Jesus Christ, the Anointed One.
Like Judas, we like to complain about God's generous ways, rather than living in His grace. The poor are always with us, we believe, which justifies our ignoring them. In our memories, we focus on a perceived golden past, and so we ignore the new things done in our midst. We are so enamored with our achievements that we are not willing to throw them away in order to follow Jesus. May our fears turn to faith, our seeds of grief produce a bumper crop of joy, and our tears turn into torrents of tenderness as we journey with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, to Jerusalem.