FEAST OF PENTECOST – 2008
This sermon was preached on May 11, 2008. Please pardon the tardiness in posting it. And please pardon the use of upper case. I’m not shouting at you. I write in capital letters so that my aging eyes can more easily see the text.
TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF PENTECOST. IT IS ONE OF THE 3 GREAT CELEBRATIONS IN THE CHURCH CALENDAR. THE OTHER 2 CELEBRATIONS ARE CHRISTMAS AND EASTER, OF COURSE.
THE WORD PENTECOST COMES FROM A GREEK WORD THAT MEANS 50 AND WAS THE NAME FOR THE JEWISH HARVEST FESTIVAL CALLED “SHAVUOT” THAT IS CELEBRATED 50 DAYS AFTER THE JEWISH PASSOVER. IN FACT, THAT’S WHY SO MANY PEOPLE WERE GATHERED IN JERUSALEM IN OUR 2ND READING FROM ACTS – THEY WERE THERE TO CELEBRATE “SHAVUOT”. SO, WE CHRISTIANS ADOPTED THE WORD PENTECOST AS THE NAME FOR THIS DAY WHICH COMES 50 DAYS AFTER THE RESURRECTION.
CHRISTIANS THINK OF THAT 1ST PENTECOST WE READ ABOUT IN ACTS AS THE BIRTH OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, AND SO TODAY WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING OUR CHURCH’S BIRTHDAY. THAT’S WHY WE HAD A CAKE WITH CANDLES FOR THE CHILDREN TO BLOW OUT.
WE YOU GET TO BE AS OLD AS I AM, YOU ALWAYS STOP AND TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR LIFE WHEN A BIRTHDAY ROLLS AROUND. AN ACQUAINTANCE OF MINE WROTE AT THE BOTTOM OF AN EMAIL HE SENT ME RECENTLY – IT‘S BETTER TO BE OVER THE HILL THAN UNDER IT. THAT’S TRUE!
BUT SERIOUSLY, ON MY LAST FEW BIRTHDAYS, I’VE ASKED MYSELF: HAVE I GOT WHERE I WANT TO BE IN LIFE? HAVE I ACCOMPLISHED THE TASKS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT ASSIGNED TO ME? IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR ALL OF US ON OUR BIRTHDAYS!
WELL, ON THIS 2008TH BIRTHDAY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH – SINCE YOU AND I ARE THE CHURCH – I’D SAY IT’S A GOOD TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHURCH’S LIFE, AND ASK OURSELVES “HAVE WE GOT WHERE GOD WANTS US TO BE AS THE CHURCH, AS THE BODY OF CHRIST?”
BEFORE WE TRY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, LET’S REFLECT ON THIS MORNING’S READINGS. I THINK THAT PART OF THE ANSWER IS THERE.
IN THE 1ST READING FROM NUMBERS SOME TATTLETALE COMES RUNNING TO MOSES. “FATHER MOSES!” HE SHOUTS BREATHLESSLY. “ELDAD AND MEDAD ARE PROPHESYING IN THE CAMP.” ELDAD AND MEDAD! DO YOU THINK THOSE ARE REAL NAMES OR ARE THERE JUST FOR COMIC RELIEF?
PROPHESYING MEANS HEARING THE WORD OF GOD AND PASSING ON THE WORD OF GOD TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS. IN MOSES’ TIME, ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE WERE CHOSEN TO BE PROPHETS, SO IT WAS BELIEVED. MOSES CERTAINLY HEARD THE WORD OF GOD AND SHARED IT WITH THE ISRAELITES. AND ACCORDING TO THE READING, THE SPIRIT HAD DESCENDED UPON 70 ELDERS GIVING THEM LICENSE TO PROPHESY, BUT ELDAD AND MEDAD WEREN’T AMONG THE 70. AND THERE THEY WERE, IN THE CAMP, PROPHESYING! HOW DARE THEY?
THE TATTLETALE WHO CAME RUNNING TO MOSES WAS OFFENDED. ELDAD AND MEDAD DIDN’T HAVE THE CREDENTIALS. SO, MOSES WAS EXPECTED TO ISSUE A PROPHETIC RESTRAINING ORDER TO THESE PROPHESYING SCALLYWAGS.
MOSES’ RESPONSE WAS PROPHETIC IN ITSELF. “I WISH THAT ALL GOD’S PEOPLE WERE PROPHETS AND THAT GOD WOULD SEND THE SPIRIT TO THEM”. MOSES BROKE WITH PROPHETIC TRADITION AND WISHED THAT WE WERE ALL PROPHETS.
THE READING FROM NUMBERS IS A SET-UP. IT PREPARES US FOR A MORE SPECTACULAR OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT – JUST WHAT MOSES WISHED FOR. WHEN JESUS WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE HIS DISCIPLES AND ASCEND INTO HEAVEN – WE WERE WITNESS TO THIS ON ASCENSION DAY AND LAST SUNDAY TOO – JESUS TOLD THEM TO GO TO JERUSALEM AND WAIT FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT. JESUS TOLD THEM THAT THEY WOULD BE HIS WITNESSES TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. BUT THE DISCIPLES DIDN’T REALIZE JUST HOW INCLUSIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GOING TO BE. THEY WEREN’T GOING TO BE THE ONLY ONES.
AND SO, ON THE FESTIVAL OF SHAVUOT, 50 DAYS AFTER THE PASSOVER, WHEN JERUSALEM WAS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE KNOWN WORLD, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME IN THE FORM OF FLAMES THAT DANCED ABOVE THE HEADS OF THE DISCIPLES, AND THEY BEGAN TO PROPHESY, TELLING OF GOD’S DEEDS OF POWER. THE STRANGE THING WAS THAT EACH PERSON THERE IN JERUSALEM HEARD THE GOOD NEWS IN HIS OR HER OWN LANGUAGE.
THE CROWD WAS SO INCREDULOUS THAT THEY SHOUTED OUT, “THESE GUYS ARE 3 SHEETS TO THE WIND. THEY’RE FULL OF NEW WINE”. WELL, AS YOU HEARD, PETER COUNTERED WITH “IT’S ONLY 9 AM. THE PUBS AREN’T EVEN OPEN YET. THEY’RE FOR REAL. REMEMBER WHAT THE PROPHET JOEL SAID. I SHALL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL PEOPLE AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY”. WELL, THERE IT WAS, THE FULFILLMENT OF JOEL’S PROPHESY AND MOSES’ WISH. THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME, NOT JUST UPON THE DISCIPLES, BUT UPON ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH. THE CHURCH WAS BORN. SO, THE QUESTION WE ASK OURSELVES ON OUR 2008TH “ARE WE LIVING UP TO GOD’S EXPECTATIONS? ARE WE INDEED PROPHETS?”
GOD’S MIGHTY DEEDS THAT THE INSPIRED DISCIPLES, AND THE INSPIRED CROWD IN JERUSALEM TOLD OF ARE GOD’S INCARNATION, AND GOD’S LIFE AS A HUMAN BEING, AND GOD’S CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION - ALL TO SHOW US GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT TAKES AWAY OUR SIN AN GUILT, AND PROMISES US ETERNAL LIFE. THOSE ARE GOD’S MIGHTY DEEDS. AND THE PEOPLE WHO HEARD THE DISCIPLES PROPHESY ON THE 1ST PENTECOST WENT OUT AND SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS. THIS IS THE OBVIOUS WHEN IT COMES TO PROPHESYING
BUT THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT PROPHESY THAT ISN’T QUITE SO OBVIOUS. PROPHECY ISN’T JUST WORDS – IT’S ACTION TOO. IN FACT A CHRISTIAN’S ACTS, I SUBMIT, ARE MORE IMPORTANT, MORE PROPHETIC, THAN HER OR HIS WORDS. BELIEVING THE RIGHT THING AND ALWAYS USING THE RIGHT WORDS TO EXPRESS ONE’S BELIEF IS CALLED ORTHODOXY. DOING THE RIGHT THINGS BECAUSE OF ONE’S BELIEF IS CALLED ORTHOPRAXIS. I THINK THAT ORTHOPRAXIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ORTHODOXY . ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
SOUTH AMERICAN AND CENTRAL AMERICAN LIBERATION THEOLOGIANS LIKE BOFF AND GUITERREZ HAVE SCOLDED US FOR ALL THE TIME AND ENERGY WE’VE WASTED ON WORDS. FOR THE 1ST 451 YEARS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, CHRISTIANS FOUGHT OVER WHAT WORDS TO USE TO EXPLAIN HOW JESUS COULD BE BOTH GOD AND HUMAN BEING. FINALLY, IN THE CITY OF CHALCEDON, TURKEY, IN 451, THE DEFINITION OF JESUS AS BOTH DIVINE AND HUMAN, THE DEFINITION YOU AND I ACCEPT, WAS ENDORSED BY A MAJORITY PRESENT.
BUT SOME DIDN’T AGREE, AND THE WASTE OF TIME AND ENERGY OVER THE RIGHT WORDS GOES ON. SOME BRANCHES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH STILL BELIEVED THAT JESUS HAD ONLY ONE NATURE, EITHER HUMAN OR DIVINE, BUT NOT BOTH. IN FACT, JUST AROUND THE CORNER AT THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE, THE OPPOSING SIDES STILL SQUABBLE OVER WHAT TO BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS. CHRISTIAN UNITY – ISN’T THAT THE PREFECT OXYMORON!
SUCH A WASTE OF TIME WORRYING ABOUT HOW TO DESCRIBE JESUS’ NATURE, LIBERATION THEOLOGIANS TELL US. WE CHRISTIANS, WE THE CHURCH, SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT JESUS DID – WE SHOULD’VE FOCUSSED MORE ON HIS ACTS OF LOVE AND FORGIVENESS, HIS FELLOWSHIP WITH THE MARGINALIZED OF HIS SOCIETY, HIS MESSAGE OF HOPE TO THE POOR, HIS STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE FOR THE OPPRESSED. THESE ARE GOD’S MIGHTY ACTS. JESUS SAID, “THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE, AND THE ACTS OF JESUS ARE THE LIBERATING ACTS THAT MAKE OPPRESSED PEOPLE FREE.
THIS IS THE NOT SO OBVIOUS MESSAGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THE 1ST PENTECOST WHEN THE CHURCH WAS BORN. THE HOLY SPIRIT, I BELIEVE, CALLS US TO DO MUCH MORE THAN JUST TELL THE WORLD WHAT WE BELIEVE. GOD CALLS US TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS, NAMELY TO DO WHAT JESUS DID.
THE DISCIPLES AT PENTECOST DIDN’T NEED TO BE REMINDED WHAT RIGHT ACTION WAS. THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS, AND THEY WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD AFTER PENTECOST TO BE AS MUCH LIKE JESUS AS THEY COULD. AND SOME OF THEM, LIKE STEPHEN, PETER, PAUL AND JAMES GAVE THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DID.
WHENEVER I DID A UNIT ON DISCIPLESHIP WITH MY CONFIRMATION CLASSES, I FOCUSSED ON DIETRICH BONHOEFFER, OR OSCAR ROMERO, WHO DIDN’T JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVED – THEY LIVED THEIR FAITH IN THEIR LOVING ACTS, AND GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE PROCESS. OR MOTHER THERESA! I DOUBT THAT MOTHER THERESA CONVERTED ANY OF THE POOR OF CALCUTTA TO CHRISTIANITY THROUGH WORDS – BUT I’LL WAGER THAT SOME BECAME CHRISTIANS BECAUSE OF MOTHER THERESA’S ACTS OF LOVE. FOR CHRISTIANS BELIEVING THE RIGHT THINGS IS IMPORTANT, BUT, DEAR FRIENDS, DOING THE RIGHT THINGS – DOING AS JESUS DID, IS ESSENTIAL.
IF I WERE PREACHING THIS SERMON BACK IN CANADA, I’D SAY TO THE CONGREGATION, “DON’T EVER THINK THAT ONLY PASTORS ARE CALLED TO PROPHESY. THE HOLY SPIRIT CALLS ALL OF US. BUT IT’S EASIER FOR ME BECAUSE I’M PROPHESYING TO THE CHOIR, SO TO SPEAK. I’M PROTECTED BY MY OFFICE AND THE TRADITIONS OF THIS CHURCH. I CAN TRY TO EQUIP YOU AS BEST I CAN FOR THE TASK, BUT YOU’RE THE ONES WHO HAVE IT TOUGH. YOU’RE CALLED TO PROPHESY IN AND TO A SECULAR, SOMETIMES HOSTILE WORLD OUT THERE. BUT JUST REMEMBER! YOUR LOVING ACTS WILL SPEAK LOUDER THAN ANY WORDS.”
IT’S DIFFERENT HERE IN JERUSALEM. IT’S A TOUGH, UNJUST, UNKIND, UNLOVING, WORLD OUTSIDE THESE DOORS, BUT SO MANY OF YOU ARE HERE IN ORDER TO ACT OUT YOUR FAITH, TO DO AS JESUS DID, AND WHERE JESUS DID IT. YOU’RE HERE TO DO YOUR BIT TO BRING JUSTICE AND PEACE TO THIS RAGGEDY OLD HOLY LAND. YOU ECUMENICAL ACCOMPANIERS AND CHRISTIAN PEACE MAKERS AND MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND WORLD VISION WORKERS AND SEBEEL, ALL OF YOU WHO WORK FOR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES – YOU ARE ON THE FRONT LINES - ALL OF YOU ARE HERE TO SET GOD’S PEOPLE FREE.
I BET YOU DON’T TALK VERY OFTEN ABOUT WHAT YOU BELIEVE, BUT, THEN, YOU DON’T HAVE TO. YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUD AND CLEAR.
THE HOLY SPIRIT CALLS US ALL TO PROPHESY. OF COURSE, WE ARE CALLED TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE ON THIS FEAST OF THE PENTECOST IS TO REMEMBER TO CONFORM OUR LIVES TO JESUS’ LIFE AND, LIKE JESUS, LET OUR LOVING ACTS SPEAK FOR US.
ROBERT, A DOCTOR FRIEND OF MINE, TOLD ME HIS SON THOUGHT HE WAS CRAZY FOR COMING HERE. IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS. ROBERT IS GOING HOME THIS WEEK, BUT WHEN HE RETURNS IN SEPTEMBER, HIS SON, ALSO A DOCTOR, IS COMING WITH HIM TO TEACH WITH ROBERT AT THE PALESTINIAN AL QUDS UNIVERSITY. ROBERT SAID WITH A SMILE, “HE DIDN’T LISTEN TO WHAT I SAID, HE LISTENED TO WHAT I DID.”
SO, ON THIS OUR 2008TH BIRTHDAY, WE THE CHURCH ASK OURSELVES, HAVE WE LISTENED TO GOD’S CALL? HAVE WE GOT TO WHERE GOD WANTS US TO BE? AMEN
Join us on an overview of a delightful trip to Cypus. Such a beautiful island, it's no wonder that over the 10,000 years of its history so many civilizations wished to possess it, leaving behind such a rich heritage.
Arriving in the early morning, we walked along the Foinikoudes promenade in the Laiki Geitonia (the traditional pedestrian quarter).
People were already renting their lounges and umbrellas and settling in for a day in the sun, sand, and waters of the Mediterranean. Tempting as it was to join them, having only five full days to see the island, we decided to devote our day to seeing as much of Larnaka as time and energy allowed.
Armed with our city map, we began our tour with Agios Lazarus Church in St. Lazarus Square. Built in the 9th century and restored in the 17th, it is one of the most remarkble examples of Byzantine architecture in Cyprus.
St. Lazarus is said to have come to Cyprus after being resurrected by Jesus, became a bishop and lived here for 30 years. His tomb can be seen under the sanctuary. We visited many of the main sites over the rest of our time in Larnaka, too many to include here.
The next day we joined a tour which took us to the eastern and northern sections of Cyprus which was invaded by the Turks in 1974 and which occupies 37 per cent of the island. We drove through the part of Famagusta (Ammochostos) called "the Ghost Town" where Greek homes were left empty when they were forced to flee south during the invasion. These homes have remained unoccupied with the Turks using them as a negotiating card. There are 200,000 Greeks living in refugee camps in the Greek section of Cyprus waiting to return to their homes in the north.
We were given free time to explore the Venetian Walls in the old part of town and
wander through the centre of town and explore the ruins of the Venetian Royal Palace. Here, the former St. Nicholos church has been the Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque since 1298 with both the exterior and interior retaining its Christian achitecture.
We drove through the main potato-producing area on the island known as Kokkinochoria, meaning "Red Soil villages" thanks to the fertile red earth in which they are grown. Felt some nostalgia for P.E.I. back home!
At Bellapais we stopped to explore Bellapais Abbey, built in the 12th century AD by the French King Hugh III, a fine example of gothic architecture.
It also offers breathtaking views of the northern coast of Kerynia.
We stopped in the city of Kerynia with its more than 3000 years of Greek history, had lunch and wandered through town
to the picturesque harbour and the Castle of Kerynia. Time and space do not allow the inclusion of more views of this beautiful city.
The next day we took our second tour which took us first to Nicosia (Lefkosia), the capital of Cyprus since the late Byzantine period (11th century). The history of this city dates back to the Bronze age.
We walked into the old city where we visited the Panagia Phaneromeni Church, wandered through the shopping district which headed for the Turkish occupied section of the city.
As you leave the Greek side of the city, there is a section under UN control (indicated by the coloured banners); the cones mark the entrance into the Turkish section. Passage into this part of Nicosia has been allowed only since January of this year. We walked into the Turkish section--no one indicated at that time that we needed passes--only to discover on our way out that we should have obtained them. After looking at our passports, the soldier on duty fortunately allowed us back into the Greek section to continue our tour!
Our next stop was the picturesque village of Kakopetria, a well-preserved village dating back to the 14th century.
We drove through the beautiful Troodos mountains where we stopped for lunch in the Troodos centre and continued on to the village of Omodos, dating back to the 4th century, and built around one of the oldest monasteries in Cyprus, the Holy Cross.
Here we were given an explanation by our guide at the Wine Press in the village as Omodos is known as one of the best wine producing areas of the island. Free wine tasting was available at the Gerolemo, Olympus, and Marion wineries.
The next morning, we rented our little Demio Mazda, our first experience with a right-hand drive car. We were forever turning on our windshield wipers with the lever on the left of the steering wheel when we wanted to change lanes. When we finally mastered using the turn signal lever on the right, the challenge was remembering that it's down for a right turn and up for a left! Undoing years of conditioning wasn't easy!!
The 2-hour drive to Pafos on a beautiful 4-lane highway went smoothly; however, trying to find the entrance to Kato Pafos, the Archaeological Park, proved somewhat challenging. But we made it! Above are the ruins of the House of Theseus, one of the three houses dating from the 2nd to the 5th centuries AD accidentally discovered by a farmer in 1962.
Here in the House of Dionysos is an example of the many mosaic floors for which the three houses (the third being Aion) are famous, and are considered masterpieces of mosaic art. Some of the mosaics in this house depict the god of wine.
St. Paul's Pillar, according to legend, is where the Apostle was flogged before converting the then Roman governor Sergius Paulus to Christianity. It is located in the ruins of the Chrysopolitissa/AG Kyriaki Church which was built in the 13th century over the ruins of the largest Early Byzantine basilica on the island. 
The Tombs of the Kings are one of the major archaeological attractions of Pafos. These monumental underground tombs carved out of solid rock date back to the 3rd century BC and some like these are decorated with Doric pillars. As they were used by high-ranking officials, it was the magnificence of the tombs that gave the area its grand name.
On the return to Larnaka, we followed Aphrodite's Cultural Route, stopping at breath-takingly beautiful Petra tou Romiou, Aphrodite's birthplace.
The last stop of the day was at Kourion, an important city-kingdom in antiquity. This magnificent Greco-Roman theatre was built in the 2nd century BC. The House of Eustolios which consists of a complex of baths and rooms with beautiful 5th century AD mosaics, and the ruins of the Roman Agora are nearby.
On our last day, we visited the Hala Sultan Tekkesi Mosque located just outside Larnaka on the Salt Lake. It was built in 648 AD on the spot where Umm Haram, related to Mohammed, fell off her mule and died. The construction of the mosque was immediately ordered on the spot. It is now one of the most important holy places of worship for Muslims, ranked immediately after Mecca and Medina (Saudi Arabia), and Al Aksa (Jerusalem).
The Angeloktisti Church in Kiti Village is an 11th century Byzantine church erected over the ruins of an early Christian basilica. Unfortunately taking photos of the rare 6th century mosaic of Virgin and Child between the 2 archangels Michael and Gabriel--which equals the mosaics of Ravenna, Italy--was not allowed inside the church.
The Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Five characteristic cylindrical-shaped dwellings have been reconstructed using the same construction methods and materials used in Neolithic times.
Remains of all phases of the Neolithic age are evident in the settlement, providing insight into living conditions in the region during prehistoric times.
The return to Larnaka was made more interesting by the beautiful oleander and bougainvillea planted along the highway.
After returning the car, we stationed ourselves at one of the many cafes along the promenade and enjoyed a leisurely meal across the road from 
the Mediterranean Sea until it was time to take a taxi to the airport for our return flight. If you're interested in seeing any more of the hundreds of photos not included here, please let us know when we return home. :))
