Readings: Genesis 11: 1 – 9; Acts 2: 1 – 21; John 14: 8 – 17, 25 – 27
This is the day in the church’s year when we remember and celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. As we heard in our reading from Acts tongues of fire descended on the apostles as they were all together in one place. I would like you to know that Hampstead Parish Church is prepared. We had all the fire extinguishers serviced last Thursday!!
The Acts reading gives us a dramatic description of what happened when the Holy Spirit came. Much could be said about how literally we’re intended to take the account. Some things, however, are clear:
There was an outpouring of power and inspiration which descended on that group of very ordinary, rather bewildered men, transformed them and propelled them out to tell the story of Jesus.
Up to this point in the history of Israel the Holy Spirit had only been given to a few people or for a particular event. Now, as Peter proclaims, the Spirit is poured out and is available for everyone. A new age has dawned.
The event is described as a kind of benign explosion; the centre is Jerusalem, the heart of the Jewish faith, but the effects reach far beyond. It feels chaotic and unsettling. There’s a lot of noise and confusion. And yet, amidst it all, Peter receives wisdom and speaks clearly showing how present events relate to the ancient Scriptures. And Jews visiting Jerusalem from across the known world are able to understand despite the language barrier.
The Holy Spirit – bringer of new life, power, inspiration, order; chaos, understanding; confusion and clarity. The Holy Spirit unsettling long-held expectations and ways of doing things. Because new wine just can’t be put into old wine skins. They’re too hard and dry to be flexible and will burst.
The Book of Acts has sometimes been called the book of the Holy Spirit. As we read on there’s conflict, difficulty and danger as well as deep joy and rapid growth for the young church.
We don’t live in the first days of the early church. We’re not pioneers. There has been a church on this very spot for over 1,000 years now. We have 2,000 years of church history behind us. We have resources, we’re well-educated and well-organised. Very different from that bunch of twelve ill-assorted apostles. But we do still live in the age of the Holy Spirit “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life” as we are about to say in the words of the Creed.
I wonder, what is our expectation of the Holy Spirit’s work amongst us and through us in our church now?
To explore this, I’m going back to our first reading, the story of the Tower of Babel. At first sight, this story appears to be an aetiology – an explanation – as to why the world has so many different languages. They are plenty of other such aetiologies in Genesis. But I think it is more than this. It also appears to be a story about God punishing people for their pride. They’re going to build a tower so high that its top reaches up to heaven. An alarming prospect for God if He wanted some quiet! But I think it is more than a story about God punishing overweening pride.
Adam and Eve were commissioned by God to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28). They and their descendants were to be stewards of the whole earth and its living creatures. Again, after the flood Noah and his descendants are told to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 9:1). This seems to have been God’s plan for the good of the whole of humanity. But the builders of the Tower of Babel have come together in one great city. They resist being scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. They have forgotten their commission from God to be stewards of the whole earth. So God disrupts them because to be scattered is for their own good and according to His Divine plan for humanity.
These are stories, of course, not history. The point is that human beings have a tendency to close down on God, to forget what we understood to be His will, and to give up listening or really depending on Him. We often make our own grand plans instead. If we don’t listen, God’s unsettling can be for our good.
The more competent and in control we are the more likely it is that we don’t make room for God. It’s often only when we know we are weak that we truly learn to rely on God. The Holy Spirit can’t break in unless we let Him (or Her).
I discovered this when I was a Mum looking after small children with my husband working long hours or away during the week. I think it’s the hardest job I’ve ever done. There were days when I really felt I couldn’t cope. It was often only then that I remembered to pray. And when I did pray, I also relaxed and the day would be transformed. I seemed to be able to access new strength.
The apostles were confused, bewildered, and very ordinary. But they had been praying. They welcomed the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and transformed the world.
Here in Hampstead Parish Church I wonder if we run the risk of being a little like the tower builders of Babel. We are a well-resourced and intelligent bunch of people. We have good jobs and high expectations of ourselves, our families and one another. We have working parties, projects and schemes in the church. We’re active in the community and in music and drama. We strive always for the best.
All of this is good, but it won’t have a transforming effect unless we are in step with God. Alongside our work we need to be prepared in prayer to open ourselves more and more to the dynamic and disturbing power of the Holy Spirit. Are we ready to listen to God; to be unsettled; to give up our own cherished projects; to see the new things the Holy Spirit might inspire amongst us; to grow and to change?
I’m so pleased that in this last week we have joined in with the Archbishops’ call to prayer. Perhaps this might be a beginning of something new.
Let’s put the fire extinguishers firmly back where they belong and use these months of interregnum to pray for a deeper awareness of God and of His Holy Spirit for ourselves and for our church. Then we shall be ready for our new Vicar.
Amen