Preaching Pentecost by John's Gospel Alone

 

Sermon. 28/05/2023 Pentecost

Gospel: John 20:19-23

 

We are here to mark on the Day of Pentecost, and to reflect on the gospel of the day. This immediately raises – if not a problem, then – an issue. For the gospel makes no mention of Pentecost at all. Indeed the word Pentecost is found nowhere, in any of the gospels.

 

We need to go back a stage. “Pentecost” comes from the Greek, meaning 50^th, and in particular the 50^th day after Passover, which brings us to the second of the three Harvest Festivals of Judaism. But this harvest festival takes on a new meaning in the story - not from the gospels but - from the Book of Acts. You know it, I think. There is a violent wind. There are tongues as of fire. Each tongue rests on one of the apostles. They speak new words, in new tongues. What could be more dramatic?

 

Today’s gospel is in some tension with this. It does describe an encounter with the risen Lord, on that first Easter Day. So, yes, it has a drama of its own. But! But what actually happens is: Jesus breathes. He breathes out. He breathes upon the apostles and says, in all simplicity: “Receive Holy Spirit”. And this Spirit is associated with the peace Jesus has already brought, and with a new pattern of forgiveness. Jesus breathes, breathes forgiveness,  and the capacity to forgive.

 

Do we have to choose between the two accounts of the coming of Holy Spirit? Surely we need both. We may long for – either boldly and publicly or secretly – long for the drama of the Day of Pentecost. And if we can’t have tongues of fire, then can we not have fire in our belly? If we can’t have tongues of fire, can we not have it so that our hearts burn within us. Such things are certainly part of the story of the Church. Such fiery and spirited passion is to be welcomed, always after testing.

 

But! But let us not forget the other story. The story that the Spirit comes from simple intimacy with Jesus. An intimacy with Jesus that is possible because his followers had gathered in one place. They wanted to be with each other. At least as much as any drama, we are to long for the closeness to Jesus that comes from feeling his breath on us. Feel his breath on us, so that we can receive some new gift from him. Feel his breath, so that we can bring forgiveness into the world.

 

I hope this speaks to you. But I am also aware – say it bluntly – that it may not speak to the people we long to reach out to, who have no connection with the story. They may say: “I can do forgiveness. Someone says sorry. I say that’s okay. We both move on. Why does it have to be more complicated with Gd?”

 

We need to be clear that forgiveness here isn’t a word of pardon. It isn’t any sort of transaction. Remember Jesus is with his friends, but his friends are the ones who have let him down. They fled. They let him die. And… not one of them has said sorry. It is even an open question if they feel guilt or shame. Yet Jesus is there, already there, fully there, reliably there, speaking peace. Because this forgiveness is not a pardon. It is Gd’s own determination to form a new community, one were recrimination – even justified recrimination – just has no place.

 

This is the divine forgiveness from the breath of Holy Spirit. This is for us, and it for us to help move and grow in the world. There’s something dramatic here – as dramatic as any wind, or any fire.

 

Amen.