We have some decisions to make – as individuals, as a parish, and as a city. They are important decisions, not unlike the decision facing the disciples in today’s gospel (John 20:19-23) I say that in light of and specifically in reference to last Wednesday, May 24th, the first anniversary of the Robb School shooting. (Read the liturgy and the sermon.)

Some are stuck in that event. Some have either moved on or want to move on and get back to normal. Some want accountability and punishment of others. Some are hoping or working for change. Some feel powerless and despair of anything changing. And I don’t say any of that as a criticism or judgment of anyone. It’s just a recognition of some of the consequences of tragedies like May 24th. 

The decisions we make in response to the first anniversary of the shooting will shape our future, individually and communally, and determine the kind of world we leave our children, grandchildren, and all who will come after us. If you are at all concerned about the future – anyone here concerned about the future? – then Pentecost, the coming of God’s Sprit, just might be exactly what you and I need. I think Pentecost has everything to do with that first anniversary and what comes next.

In today’s first reading (Acts 2:1-21) Luke says Pentecost sounded “like a rush of violent wind” and it looked like tongues of fire. And everyone there, from every nation under heaven, heard the disciples “speaking about God’s deeds of power” in his or her own “native language.” Pentecost is a power filled day. 

I sometimes wonder if for many of us that is the extent of Pentecost – a rushing wind, fiery tongues, foreign languages. The coming of God’s spirit, however, is not an ending to or a completion of something, it is a beginning. It is a starting point. It is a day to prophesy, see visions, and dream dreams. 

Prophesy for the Spirit has come upon you. Look with insight at what has happened and is happening. Speak with foresight. Tell the truth. Name the pain, injustice, and brokenness. Call for change. That’s what prophets do. They are not predicting the future they are naming what will happen if we continue doing the same old things we’ve always done. What is your prophecy for Uvalde and our country if things don’t change? And is that the world you want to leave your children, grandchildren, and those who will come after you? What do you see that needs changing? Tell about it. 

Cast a vision for the Spirit has come upon you. What was Jesus’ vision for life and the world? He says that the Spirit anointed him to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free. (Luke 4:18-19) I think he saw love, justice, peace, human dignity, healing, compassion, nonviolence, forgiveness, reconciliation, abundance. What is your vision? Does your vision align with his?

Dream dreams for the Spirit has come upon you. Dreaming isn’t about wishful thinking or fantasizing. It’s about sacred imagination. I don’t think our problem is a lack of know how, resources, or answers. Our problem is that we’ve let go of our dreams of what could be. We can’t imagine something new and different so we settle for what is. Dreaming is the first step in creating something that does not yet exist – a different world, new ways of being, deeper and more diverse relationships. What is your best dream for Uvalde and those who live here, your children and grandchildren, those who will come after you?

The Spirit is always connecting us to something larger than and beyond ourselves. It begins with prophesying, seeing visions, and dreaming dreams. It continues with the Spirit sending us “into the world in peace.” (Book of Common Prayer, 365) That’s John’s account of the Pentecost story (John 20:19-23). 

The disciples are afraid and hiding. They’ve locked themselves in the house. Who among us hasn’t done that, literally or figuratively? I wonder what house you’ve locked yourself in as a result of May 24th? The house of fear, stuckness, grief, indifference, denial, powerlessness, privilege? We all have houses in which we sometimes lock ourselves. But even there the Spirit shows up. Even in the locked houses of our lives the Spirit is present and persistent. 

Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” He showed them his wounds and said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” That’s what we pray for every Sunday at the end of the liturgy, “Send us out to do the work you have given us to do.” (Book of Common Prayer, 366) Pentecost is the answer to our prayer. (And maybe a reminder that we ought to be careful what we pray for.)

“Then Jesus breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” He breathed into them the life, breath, and wind of God. He inspired them and he sent them. Pentecost is an empowering day, a sending day. It was for the disciples and it is for us. 

I wonder what Jesus is breathing into you? What is Jesus’ inspiration in your life today? Where is he inspiring you to go? What is he inspiring you to do? And if you’re not sure how to answer those questions go back to what you are prophesying, the visions you are seeing, the dreams you are dreaming, and then do something to make a difference and bring about change. 

Shed tears for the pain of the world. Reach out in compassion. Hold another’s pain and listen to his or her story. Resist injustice. Oppose gun violence. Be antiracist. Forgive. Act with nonviolence toward yourself and others. Respond to the needs of the poor. Be peace for another. Love your neighbor, yourself, and even your enemy. Tell the truth and keep telling it. 

Inspired and sent. That’s who we are. We are people of the Spirit. The Spirit has come upon us and we have some decisions to make – as individuals, as a parish, and as a city. It’s the same decision the disciples had to make. 

Will we continue to breathe the same old stale and suffocating air of our locked house or will we unlock the door and go? 

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Image Credit: Photo by Miguel Bruna on Unsplash.