June 8, 2025 Sermon
Pentecost readings, exegesis the interpretation of the readings, relates to the theology of the Holy Spirit. Application, involves drawing practical lessons from the text and applying them to contemporary life. Challenge of preaching application is too general, applying to different lives and life circumstances.
Context of the announcement of my upcoming retirement from active ministry. November 23 will be my last day as your priest-in-charge. Gathering of MAP 2.0, listening to the Spirit, in discernment, to lay out our plans for the immediate future along three domains – first How we grow as disciples, that is followers of Christ; second, how we act as a community to foster such discipleship and function as a Christ’s body; and third how we participate in the fullness of God’s life in with our neighbours.
With respect to my retirement I want to tell you that I spoke at length with Bishop Susan on Friday, she wanted my perception of St Barnabas, nothing but praise and appreciation – blush. She said wow, you are doing a lot. Anglo-Catholic (St Mary Magdallen’s), who we are and what we are to do. Both of which are part of an interim’s role, Short-term interim. Anglo-catholic priests are not growing on trees, but she does have some in mind. I am not a part of the process of choosing a successor, so speak to your wardens with your questions, concerns and thoughts.
The Spirit at work.
First reading tells of the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jewish feast of Weeks, harvest festival and thanksgiving for the gift of the Law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. Diaspora Jews in Jerusalem, brought together to celebrate the law but united through the Holy Spirit.
A new thing, the church.
Echo in the psalm “When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.”
Gospel tells of Jesus promising the Holy Spirit to his disciples. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.
14:17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”
The 4 short verses in Paul’s letter to the Roman which tell of the experiential impact of the Holy Spirit on the ordinary follower of Jesus, like you and I. Paul not the brainiac with complex rhetoric but one who by the Spirit has been transformed and sees God, himself and all creation differently because of the indwelling Spirit.
So what might we expect as we open ourselves up to the indwelling Spirit given us in our baptism.
Intimacy with God – Abba from fear- spirit of slavery to a spirit of adoption.
Welcome into the family of God
Jesus – the Son of God by nature, welcomes us into the divine family as adopted children. Lose the shackles of duty and fear and trust in the eternal love of the Father – even in the difficult times of life.
That welcome into the family of God is the basis of the unity of the church.
We are heirs of the reconciling work of Jesus Christ. Wonderful work of loving our neighbour. But work that necessitates our own change and renewal. The guardrails of the law but the spirit writes the law of love in our hearts. Paul himself encounters the risen Christ while he was persecuting the early church, welcomed into the faith. Guided by Barnabas – Son of Encouragement. Celebrate his feast on June 22.
Expect suffering. We will strangely find us less concerned about our own suffering and find us drawn into the suffering of the world, with Christ. Which draws us back into the circle of the Father’s and Sons love poured out on us and all of creation.
Heirs – holds out a sense of promise – at some point all that the father has will be fully realized in us. But before that full realization, we should expect that as we avail ourselves to the Holy Spirit working in us we will grow in the fruits of the Spirit, that is in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I see these fruits growing in our community of faith known as St Barnabas Church. This is the promise of Pentecost being realized in our day. Thanks be to God. +