Musings for Pentecost

Sunday, June 12, 2011
Day of Pentecost

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Judy Lazenby

INTRODUCTION
Today's festival derives its name from the Jewish festival of Pentecost, observed fifty days after Passover. On the fiftieth day of Easter we celebrate the Holy Spirit as the power of God among us that heals, forgives, inspires, and unites. In the reading from Acts, images of wind and fire describe the Spirit poured out on disciples of all nations. In John's gospel the risen Christ breathes the Spirit on his followers on Easter evening. In the one Spirit we are baptized into one body, and at the Lord's table the Spirit unites us for witness in the world.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

O God, on this day you open the hearts of your faithful people by sending into us your Holy Spirit. Direct us by the light of that Spirit, that we may have a right judgment in all things
and rejoice at all times in your peace, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

READINGS

Numbers 11:24–30 (Alternate)
Psalm 104:24–34, 35b
Acts 2:1–21 (Alternate)
John 7:37–39 (Alternate)

FIRST READING (ALTERNATE)

Numbers 11:24–30

The Spirit of God rested upon seventy elders in Israel who had been chosen to share the burden of leadership with Moses. When some became jealous that two others also had the spirit and could prophesy, Moses said that he hoped that all of God's people would be prophets.

²⁴So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. ²⁵Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.
²⁶Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. ²⁷And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." ²⁸And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, "My lord Moses, stop them!" ²⁹But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!" ³⁰And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 104:24–34, 35b

Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. (Ps. 104:30)

²⁴How manifold are your ^| works, O LORD!

In wisdom you have made them all;

the earth is full ^| of your creatures.

²⁵Yonder is the sea, great and wide,

with its swarms too man- ^| y to number,

living things both ^| small and great.

²⁶There go the ships ^| to and fro,

and Leviathan, which you made for the ^| sport of it.

²⁷All of them ^| look to you

to give them their food ^| in due season. R

²⁸You give it to them; they ^| gather it;

you open your hand, and they are filled ^| with good things.

²⁹When you hide your face, ^| they are terrified;

when you take away their breath, they die and return ^| to their dust.

³⁰You send forth your Spirit, and they ^| are created;

and so you renew the face ^| of the earth.

³¹May the glory of the LORD en- ^| dure forever;

O LORD, rejoice in ^| all your works. R

³²You look at the earth ^| and it trembles;

you touch the mountains ^| and they smoke.

³³I will sing to the LORD as long ^| as I live;

I will praise my God while I ^| have my being.

³⁴May these words of ^| mine please God.

I will rejoice ^| in the LORD.

^35bBless the LORD, ^| O my soul.

Hal- ^| lelujah! R

SECOND READING (ALTERNATE)

Acts 2:1–21

Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival that marked the fiftieth day after Passover. Luke portrays the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the disciples before the gathered and astonished people assembled in Jerusalem for the festival. Filled with the Spirit, the disciples were able to witness to the power of Christ's resurrection.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ²And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.³Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
⁵Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. ⁶And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. ⁷Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." ¹²All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" ¹³But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
¹⁴But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. ¹⁵Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
¹⁷'In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
¹⁸Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;and they shall prophesy.
¹⁹And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
²⁰The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.
²¹Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

GOSPEL (ALTERNATE)

John 7:37–39

Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as living water, quenching the thirst of all who come to him and filling the hearts of believers till they overflow.

³⁷On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, ³⁸and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" ³⁹Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

REFLECTIONS

^“And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” How many people in Joplin relived this scripture when the great tornado winds came through their city? I’m sure many of them called on the Lord for help. We never know when the great winds of life will come upon us, but we always know the Sprit will be with us. Whatever befalls you; “Peace be With You.” We seek Gods Peace and the Holy Spirit will bring it to us.

QUOTATION

Peace be to you, fear not. ~Genesis 43:23

PRAYERS

Let us pray for

· Those who need peace in their lives.

· Those who live in fear of the powers of Mother Nature.

· Those who have lost everything but life itself.

· Those who need our support and love.

Musings for Easter 7

Sunday, June 5, 2011
Seventh Sunday of Easter

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ken Klassen

INTRODUCTION
In these days between Ascension and Pentecost, we gather with the disciples in the upper room, waiting for the Spirit to transform the church around the world. In today's gospel Jesus prays for his followers and for their mission in his name. Amid religious, social, and economic divisions, we seek the unity that Jesus had with his Father. Made one in baptism, we go forth to live our faith in the world, eager for the unity that God intends for the whole human family.

Boniface, Bishop of Mainz, missionary to Germany, martyr, died 754
Boniface was a native of England who became a Benedictine monk and was called to missionary work among the Vandal tribes of Germany. With fellow workers, he established churches and schools, and he also worked to reform the church.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW

O God of glory, your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to your right hand.
Unite us with Christ and each other in suffering and in joy, that all the world may be drawn into your bountiful presence, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

Acts 1:6–14

Today's reading is part of the introduction to the narrative of the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost. These verses tell of the risen Lord's conversation with his disciples on the eve of his ascension.

⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" ⁷He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ⁹When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. ¹³When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 68:1–10, 32–35

Sing to God, who rides upon the clouds. (Ps. 68:4)

¹Let God arise, and let God's ene- ^| mies be scattered;

let those who ^| hate God flee.

²As smoke is driven away, so you should drive ^| them away;

as the wax melts before the fire,

so let the wicked perish at the pres- ^| ence of God.

³But let the righteous be glad and rejoice ^| before God;

let them also be mer- ^| ry and joyful.

⁴Sing to God, sing praises to God's name; exalt the one who ^| rides the clouds;

I AM is that name, rejoice ^| before God! R

⁵In your holy habita- ^| tion, O God,

you are a father to orphans, defend- ^| er of widows;

⁶you give the solitary a home and bring forth prisoners ^| into freedom;

but the rebels shall live in ^| desert places.

⁷O God, when you went forth be- ^| fore your people,

when you marched ^| through the wilderness,

⁸the earth quaked, and the skies poured down rain,

at the presence of God, the ^| God of Sinai,

at the presence of God, the ^| God of Israel.

⁹You sent a bountiful ^| rain, O God;

you restored your inheritance ^| when it languished.

¹⁰Your people found their ^| home in it;

in your goodness, O God, you have made provision ^| for the poor. R

³²Sing to God, O kingdoms ^| of the earth;

sing praises ^| to the Lord.

³³You ride in the heavens, O God, in the ^| ancient heavens;

you send forth your voice, your ^| mighty voice.

³⁴Ascribe pow- ^| er to God,

whose majesty is over Israel; whose strength is ^| in the skies.

³⁵How wonderful you are in your holy places, O ^| God of Israel,

giving strength and power to your people! ^| Blessed be God! R

SECOND READING

1 Peter 4:12–14; 5:6–11

Our faith in Christ does not make us immune from the scorn of others. Nevertheless, we are to resist the designs of evil when we experience disparagement from others, because we trust God’s grace will strengthen and guide us.

Chapter 4

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

Chapter 5

⁶Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

GOSPEL

John 17:1–11

On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus prays to his heavenly Father, asking that those who continue his work in this world will live in unity.

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ²since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. ⁵So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
⁶I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; ⁸for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. ¹⁰All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

Reflection

John the apostle's writing style is often difficult for me to grasp. Rev. David Ewart explains, "As always with John, we must allow the circling repetition and non-sequiturs to be like the swirling eddies of a whirl pool. We don't try to manage them; try to make them line up; make them be sequential and logical. We relax in them; let them swirl around us; we soak in them; we let them become an environment in which we experience the true life that comes from Jesus."

So as I sit in John's verbal whirlpool, the experience I get from this week's gospel reading is the quality of unity and oneness. Jesus is praying for believers to be of one heart and one mind with God and Him. I am called to join the oneness of God and Jesus. This calling is for now and for eternity, when time will end. You are also a believer and are called to be at one with God and Jesus. So in God and Jesus, you and I are one.

From our first Sunday at Atonement Lutheran Church, Teddy and I have felt this oneness with God, Jesus, and you our Atonement family. Each Sunday we join our family at the communion table and experience this oneness. And once again we are reminded to be thankful for God's goodness in directing our lives to Atonement Lutheran.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom and patience to understand your scriptures. Help us to internalize oneness with you and your believers. Help us to listen to your voice. We ask that your protecting hand will be on all of those who serve our country and work for peace. Teach us compassion for the sick, the suffering, and those in need.