Pentecost Sunday Cycle C May 23, 2010
Acts 2:1-11 1Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13
John 20:19-
23
I’ve had some great teachers over the years. From grade school to
high school. In college and in seminary. Teachers who not only knew
their material well, along with a few of them who “wrote the books,”
but also teachers who were outstanding at getting a point across, day
after day, year after year, creating a love in their students for the
material being taught.
A good teacher will be remembered by a student for the rest of their
lives. That’s how much of a mark a good teacher makes. That’s how
much of a positive effect a good teacher has. That their name, along
with much of their subject matter will be remembered in most cases for
decades. Where a teacher’s name and influence is inscribed on the
soul of a student. Where their names are carried all the way to heaven.
Or in my case to
Purgatory.
A good teacher. Jesus was a good teacher because of all the reasons
listed above, and then some. Here we are 2000 years later and we’re
still talking about his subject matter on a grand scale. Its purpose is to
bring out the best in our humanity. And I don’t see any end in sight to
this subject matter, despite the fact our world is becoming more
secular by the moment, and it’s said that we now live in a post-
Christian era. Which is quite an insulting label to a believer! (I’m sure
we’re all together when it comes to taking on some Apostolic zeal for
the purpose of changing that name back to “a Christian era,” removing
the word “post.”) One thing about God is that we can remove Him for
only so long. And then the heart of the creature is eventually drawn
back to the Creator. How long can the magnet avoid the
steel?
Once again, Jesus was a Good Teacher because his teachings remain
with us, and they very deeply affect the lives we live. But Jesus is quite
unique when it comes to the “Good Teacher” label. Besides telling
parables that have lasted. And giving commandments that we either
embrace or struggle with, or both. And besides being creative in his
style of teaching; such as sitting thousands on a mountain for feeding
purposes, feeding them more than loaves and fish; or welcoming
himself to the house of a tax collector with large crowds following to
have a big lesson on forgiveness; or sitting down for a small
classroom session with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, his dear friends.
Besides all that, Jesus gives us another dimension to teaching that
only he can give, and has given, and continues to give. This other
dimension of sending in another to take his place after he is gone. The
other dimension/power/teacher called the Holy Spirit. Divinity covering
Divinity. That’s Pentecost!
Yet, when the dimension and presence of the Holy Spirit becomes
apparent, as it does in the Upper Room in this 1st reading, Jesus is still
present in the Trinity. Jesus comes to the end of his physical presence
in this worldly dimension. But he cannot leave them alone. He cannot
leave us alone. So what does the Good Teacher do that only he can
do? He sends an Advocate. But here’s the difference. The Advocate is
not a substitute teacher. The Advocate is not a replacement. The
Advocate is Jesus’ own Spirit. Like upon Like. True God from true
God.
The heart that remains open to and embraces the Spirit of God, it will
speak languages for Christ that raise us beyond our present capacity.
The languages of charity and peace. The languages of mercy,
compassion and understanding. The language of evangelization and
spreading God’s word; the word that promises everlasting life. The
language of not being shy with our faith. The languages of kindness
and gentleness. All languages of Jesus. What the Spirit of Pentecost
does is to take these languages within us, and reveal in our lives the
capacity to express in real terms the power of Christ within.
St. Paul wrote that “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
And where there is true freedom, and not some pseudo-type of
freedom we presently have in this world, where there is true freedom,
there is Christ.
So, as we continue to stumble along in this world, trying to learn
things we still don’t know, such as how to cap a busted oil well one
mile beneath the ocean’s surface, and possibly prevent major
environmental disasters in the future that can alter our waters, our
landscapes, and the many species that are affected by such mistakes.
And as we continue to stumble along in this world, amidst the
continuous participation in and constant threat of war, where we have
become so adept at guaranteeing the job of gravediggers. And as we
continue to stumble along on this pilgrim journey, where we confront
our own close to home personal challenges day in and day out. As we
continue to stumble along with all this, and much more, may we
always center our existence in the gifts of the Good Teacher. Today
the gift is Like upon Like. Today that gift is the Spirit of
freedom.
The heart that remains open to the Spirit of God through faith, and
allows the Spirit to be sent into our lives each day – for every day is a
smaller Pentecost – such a heart perseveres and prepares itself for the
freedom that lasts forever.
Good teachers live and die. But the one Good Teacher, Jesus, lives,
dies, rises, ascends, and sends the Advocate as his promise of
continuous presence. Why? Because in the midst of stumbling along
in this world, he desires “Peace be with you.” Only the Teacher of all
teachers can give us this gift. The one who is Lord forever and ever.
Amen.