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The Gospel of Matthew Bible Studies
The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
January 2008
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The Day of Pentecost (A) Today we are celebrating Pentecost – the Day of the Holy Spirit. On this day we remember that the Holy Spirit came to the first Christians who were gathered together “like the rush of a violent wind” and like tongues of fire. Wind and fire are the images that we usually use when trying to visualize the activity of the Holy Spirit. They are images that convey power and action. But there is also another image that Jesus often uses to describe what the Holy Spirit is like – the image of WATER. Water which quenches our thirst and gives us life. As Jesus says in today’s gospel: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive… Jesus and the rest of the Jews were celebrating the festival of Booths. In this festival, people commemorated how God had provided for their ancestors during their forty years in the wilderness before they finally entered the Promised Land. People would construct tents or “booths” in which they would live for seven days. One of the special rituals of the festival was recalling how God had provided water for the Israelites during their desert wanderings. When the people had complained of thirst, God commanded Moses to strike a rock with his staff – and then water flowed from the rock in abundance so that everyone could drink and be satisfied. (Num. 20:2-13) In commemoration of that event, at the Festival of Booths in Jerusalem water would be carried in a golden pitcher from the Pool of Siloam to the temple to be poured on the altar each day for seven days. On the last day, the so-called “great day”, this ceremony would be repeated seven times. It was on this day that Jesus referred to himself as being the source of “living water” through which people could know and experience God’s love. As our gospel tells us, Jesus was saying this about the Spirit which believers in him were to receive after he was “glorified” – that is, after his crucifixion and then his resurrection and ascension into heaven. After that, Jesus is telling people, God’s love would begin flowing like water from a spring – pure and refreshing and never-ending. And this water – this love – would satisfy the deepest needs and longings of their souls. For now they would know, in a way unlike ever before, how real and personal God’s love for them was – and is. The image of the Holy Spirit as being the “living water” of Jesus is perhaps not as familiar to us as the “wind” and “tongues of fire” images that are mentioned in our first reading from Acts, but it is an image that certainly speaks to me. “Living water” is not just remembering what Jesus was like in the past – it is rather experiencing his love right now. Through the Spirit of Jesus – the risen and living Jesus – we can know and experience to the depths of our being how much God loves us – just as we are and often in spite of what we are. Through the Spirit, we know and experience forgiveness of our sins each day. Just as water keeps bubbling up from a spring, so the Spirit of God’s love through Jesus keeps coming into our hearts day after day after day and will never run dry. And then, as Jesus goes on to say, “Out of the believer’s heart (that is, out of our hearts) shall flow rivers of living water.” As we receive the Spirit of God’s love, we can then share it with each other and with all we meet. We too can love each other and forgive each other and comfort and strengthen each other. That is what happened at that first Pentecost. It wasn’t only the wind and the flames that the believers received. They also received the “living water” of God’s love – and then began to share it. And that “living water” has become a mighty river that gives life to the world which needs it so very much. Today, we know that there is so much cruelty and hatred and injustice in our world – and it is easy for us to focus on that. But Pentecost helps us to understand that God’s love through Jesus is still flowing – like a river in the desert. God’s love through Jesus is still giving life and hope to us – and through us to others. And so it will always be – until finally all the earth will be filled with the “living water” of God’s love, joy, and peace. Pentecost is when the Holy Spirit began to be poured out on Christ’s believers, and it is still happening among us today. Like a mighty wind, like flames of fire, and like a mighty river giving the water of life – God’s love is with us and empowering us to be his people now and forever! Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Happy Pentecost, everyone! Amen! -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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