I spent a few days on a reading week near Whitehaven. It is
a beautiful part of the country, with places to walk as you
reflect on the words of wisdom you have pored
over. It is called the green coast; wherever you look
it doesn’t take long to see a windmill or even a wind farm
- Those amazing white aeroplane propellers that are now
providing a significant part of our nations energy.
And the great thing is there is plenty of wind, so the
turbines keep turning and the energy keeps flowing.
Down the road is Sellafield another source of energy,
relying on nuclear power. The museum at Sellafield is free
very informative and well worth a visit, from it you will
learn that nuclear reactors are a long term source of
energy, having a life of at least 25 years. But then you
have to get rid of radioactive waste, radioactive buildings
and radio active machinery, and start again. Every
time you split the atom energy is produced. The wind
turbines will keep turning till the machinery needs
replacing. But the wind will never stop blowing.
On the day of Pentecost the disciples experienced the
Spirit. Jesus speaking in his last teaching before his
trial and crucifixion in Johns Gospel predicted it would
come to them. To a small group of anxious men hiding
in fear of their lives The Spirit came as wind and tongues
of fire. The same wind or breath of God that inspired the
Prophets in the Old Testament, the same Spirit that drove
Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted, the same Spirit he
proclaimed in the synagogue as the being upon him, giving
sight to the blind, making the lame walk and
bringing good news to the poor.
There is a story in Genesis where the people of Babel’s
arrogance and pride made them want to build a tower that
would reach up to the very heavens so they could be like
God. Gods answer to their folly was to sow confusion
in their language so they could not communicate with each
other and the tower was not finished. On the day of
Pentecost this disorder was reversed the Gospel was
understood by many from many different races and countries,
and people of many races and countries understood each
other.
That is the good news of Pentecost, a rapidly growing
Church, and people empowered to do things they never thought
was possible. Perhaps we ought to sing happy birthday to the
church today. There is a lot to celebrate. But the
comparison between the new fledgling church with lots of
keen people who literally gave up everything to join a
movement, with an old institution with lots of history and a
big superstructure to maintain, is a like comparing wind
turbines with old nuclear reactors.
The Spirit is often depicted as a dove, I noticed yesterday
in the recital we have two very owl like floral displays
either side of the Sanctuary, in nice hot colours.
Canon Trevor Dennis writes theological stories; when he
describes the Holy Spirit, the same one who hovered over the
waters of chaos before the world was created in Genesis. He
talks of a multi-coloured rainbow bird, that keeps changing
colour as it gracefully flies above the water, dipping up
and down with the skill of a swallow.
This graceful bird was captured by a hunter and presented to
a church which put it in a cage and hung it high in the
sanctuary. Week by week its colour faded and became a
dull brown. Every year the church had a big
celebration and paraded the bird through the streets and
celebrated it with special hymns.
A child saw the plight of the bird hung up high like a
trophy, celebrated annually with great pomp and ceremony and
sadly ignored for the rest of the year. And so……… the child
sneaked into the church when no one was there, climbed along
the chain holding the cage, reached out and opened the cage
door. The bird flew for the first time in many years and as
it flew across the surface of the earth the colours returned
in their full glory.
The Spirit of God in its true form is free. We claim its
authority in synods, committees and numerous
services. But do we listen to what it really has
to say in this day and age. As Archbishop
William Temple said; When we pray “Come Holy Ghost our
hearts inspire” we had better know what we are about. He
will not carry us to easy triumphs and gratifying successes.
Some years ago I was on course at Whalley Abbey, the retreat
house is what is left of a big Medieval monastery. The
reforms of Henry the VIII put paid to the magnificent
cathedral-sized church, it is now a ruin. As I
wandered around looking at the history, I couldn’t help but
think; this as a building is gone, but we are still here.
The church has seen change again and again but the Spirit of
God still inspires people today across the world to meet
together to worship, to give money and time for Gods work,
to pray, to do acts of service - all in the name of Jesus
Christ.
And when the excitement of the day of Pentecost does not
seem to be part of your day to day reality of being a
Christian. Remember Pauls words to that tiny Church in Rome
that was an underground organisation not large enough to be
important. Persecuted by those in authority, fearing it to
be undermining the very values of Roman society. The
church in Rome felt weak and ineffective to change Roman
Society. Paul likens the experience to Child birth
reminding them that in their very weakness, God's Spirit is
at work. Taking their groans and utterances and praying for
them. After the labour comes the joy of a child and when the
Spirit works within us who knows.
Our first holiday to Rome involved a tour of one of the
catacombs. An elderly Catholic Priest took us around,
English was not his first language so the commentary at
times was a bit limited. But he kept repeating words I
have not forgotten. A revolution from under the ground, a
revolution of love: a revolution from under the ground, a
revolution of love. And we all know, what was a persecuted
minority in Rome, that continued to love and to pray and
follow Jesus could not be contained by the might of an
empire.