Life is God revealed as love becomes visible
Liturgy means, “the work of the people.” Christian liturgy happens in worship, sometimes informal and spontaneous, and other times patterned on practices that guide the church for generations. “Liturgical Churches” are known for traditions, like observing seasons of the church year based on larger biblical themes.
Two of these events are upon us. The biblical story shows the life and ministry of Jesus, then his crucifixion and the resurrection, and then on the 40th day after Easter he ascends to heaven as the disciples watch him being taken up into the sky. But first he promises the gift of the Holy Spirit to come to them, which then took place on Pentecost as the Spirit came with the sound of a mighty wind and as tongues of flame. Some 2,000 years later, these dramatic scripture stories translate into liturgical calendars as Ascension Day and Pentecost Sunday.
This year, Ascension Day was Thursday, May 26, while Pentecost is on Sunday, June 5. These conclude the season of Easter. Not all churches observe these types of markers, but for those that do, the themes of the season often help in timely ways.
We face a mix of beauty and brokenness every day. Headlines feature violence, racism, and international tensions. There are many complex issues that seem to defy simple solutions, from the safety of our families to the health of the planet.
Thankfully, Ascension and Pentecost are more than events; they are expressions of realities. More than one-time incidents, these stories are indicators, ongoing truths that express hope and faith. Easter joy is a gift that doesn’t stop after a few weeks of spring. The creative power of the Risen Christ and the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit are not theoretical but are experiential and transformational. God’s unitive love doesn’t ignore suffering in the world, but is deeper than it, able to transform it and carry it with compassion. Justice and love are two sides to the same coin that help us find rest and act. Not justice in a retributive sense, but in restorative ways based on wholeness, completeness, as the Hebrew “shalom” expresses.
One fun aspect of the tradition is to wear red on Pentecost to symbolize the Holy Spirit as that story uses fire and flame in the description. So, on June 5, feel free to wear red as an outward symbol of an inner hope, a visible sign to express the mysteries of the heart. Like those disciples that wondered what the future would hold, may we face our own fears and the barriers we put up. God is at work in Christ as love expands our hearts and renews our minds. The seasons remind us that life is more than words, calendars, and traditions; these are not ends but means. Life is God revealed as love becomes visible. As the Spirit helps us grow in faith and love, may peace and all good be with you.
Andy Kennaly is pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 417 N. Fourth Ave., Sandpoint. The church can be found online at fpcsandpoint.org.