a friend worth having…

May 14, 2023

Scriptures: John 14:15-21

        Normally we spend time talking about the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, the seventh Sunday after Easter, or 50 days after the resurrection, which this year falls on the Sunday after next. On that Sunday we read from the opening chapters of the book of Acts where all of the faithful gathered in Jerusalem witnessed the raining down of the Holy Spirit upon all who were there, appearing as tongues of fire resting or dancing on the head of each person. That is what is often referred to as the birth of the Christian Church.

In our reading today, in Jesus’ closing instructions to his disciples prior to his arrest and crucifixion, he shares that the Holy Spirit will descend upon them shortly. And as we heard in the upper room readings shortly after Easter, Jesus appeared to his disciples before ascending to the Father and ‘breathed on them’, thereby giving them the Holy Spirit. So according to our scriptures, there were at least two occurrences where the followers of Jesus were offered the gift of the Holy Spirit.

But there is another reason it is good to speak of the Holy Spirit on this day we celebrate as Mother’s Day. And that is to call to mind the truth that our social and cultural treatment of women historically, is far out of step with the words of our bible. Not only are there numerous women of great significance all throughout the Old Testament, but Jesus goes out of his way throughout the four gospel accounts to elevate the status of women and break down the social norms of his day that led to unjust and unloving treatment of women and girls in society overall.

Now, as I point this truth out whenever we come across it in our readings, I am sure that this is not really news to most of you. And neither is the fact that much of what Jesus taught concerning the role and status of women is ignored as much today as it was then. However, the subject of our reading today is interesting in this regard, as in both the Hebrew as well as the Greek renderings of the word Spirit are actually feminine nouns. In Hebrew the Spirit is called Ruah…even all the way back to the moment of Creation when this feminine presence ‘hovered over the waters’. And in Greek she is called ‘Pneuma’. And in our readings today is referred to variously as an ‘advocate’ or ‘comforter’, both terms of which fit well with the fact that the Spirit is cast as feminine.

But what, you may ask, does this have to do with Mother’s Day? Well at least for me, seeing the Spirit as a feminine presence of the fullness of God, somehow makes her just a little easier to relate to, and in fact not just a little bit more comforting…not too unlike my own mother.

And honestly, at least in our faith tradition, it seems that not too much time has been devoted to studying or truly getting to know the Holy Spirit. We spend quite a bit of time talking about God, and a good deal of attention talking about Jesus, but not so much focused on this third person of the divine trinity. I think we do ourselves and our faith understanding a disservice when we fail to lift up and give the Spirit the time and attention she deserves.

Jesus’ words to his disciples in today’s message reveal one of the greatest gifts humankind has ever been offered.  Jesus knew his time among his disciples was fast drawing to a close.  The die had been cast, Lazarus had been raised from the dead, the Temple had been ransacked and overthrown by Jesus, and all of Jerusalem was in a state of fear and alarm as this outsider from Galilee walked among them. And in those closing conversations Jesus tried once more to prepare his followers for the mission that was soon to be their own. Trying to instill in them a sense of community and purpose, he prayed deeply for them that their upcoming ‘scattering about in fear’, might be temporary, and that the movement he had begun might continue its saving work among humankind. 

And in our passage today, Jesus promises that even without his constant and daily presence, the fullness of God’s love and day to day, moment by moment guidance and instruction would continue.  His promise of the Spirit to come upon their hearts and minds, of the Spirit who would dwell deep within them revealing the plans and purposes of God, was solemnly offered just hours before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. In his closing words Jesus promised the gift of God’s continuing presence among them in the form of the Holy Spirit. This gift of the Spirit was an opening into the divine…an opening into a direct relationship with our God of love. 

As I have said in the past, over the course of my life I have gone through a number of different understandings and practices within the Christian faith. But it was not until the early 1970s’ when I was involved with an interfaith prayer and praise ministry up at St. John’s Church in Pawling that I began to hear people seriously talking about the Holy Spirit, and what seemed to me at least to be strange gifts of this Spirit such as ‘speaking in tongues’.

The early 70’s were a time of Spirit-renewal across many Christian denominations but particularly in Roman Catholicism.  ‘Cursillo’, ‘Tres Dias’, ‘Women’s Aglow Fellowship’, and ‘Marriage Encounter’ all seemed to have captured the attention of those I was in ministry with.  And in addition to all of that, there was a renewed focus on the Spirit brought forth by the Catholic Charismatic Movement, which actually offered classes and courses on how to be trained so that one could be ‘Baptized in the Spirit’.  All of which was both exciting somehow, but just a bit scary as well.  It seemed as though everyone involved was having some sort of profound religious experience, but it also seemed sort of ‘pretty far out there’ to me. 

But what that whole experience did do for me, was to educate me in the truth that there was indeed a third person of the Trinity who deserved just as much attention and study as the other God the Father and Jesus the Son.  And so I stayed in touch with the Charismatic Movement and tried to find the doorway in for myself, but honestly, could never quite convince myself that I was having a genuine encounter with the Divine. 

And it wasn’t until several years later that I realized that those early forays into the life of the Spirit were actually very important to the progression of my faith understanding, as I learned how to appreciate and to draw upon this most wondrous gift of God’s continuing presence within and throughout all of my life.

And in truth, at least for me, the Holy Spirit was the easiest person of the Trinity for me to truly fall in love with. Many years later I looked on with a sense of envy at my sisters in Seminary who were so in love with Jesus…but at the time I just couldn’t catch the same enthusiasm myself.  Perhaps it was easier for me to love the Spirit because she was portrayed as caring and compassionate, as well as a close and constant companion…truly there were many times when being able to turn to this womanly, nurturing presence, was what I most needed.

And so, over time I have come to know that this precious gift of the Holy Spirit…the gift of Ruah, or Pneuma, was given to us as one who would walk alongside us throughout all the pathways of our life.  A promise that no matter what we come upon as we seek to walk in ways of holiness and justice, the Spirit of truth, grace, and love will be right there with us…leading the way, guiding us onto the right paths, and being an ever-present help and comfort.  Jesus told his disciples that he would never leave them nor abandon them…and he kept that promise to us through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In trying to find a way that I might share with you just how special and how important the Spirit has been and continues to be in my life, I thought it might be easiest to just try and tell you…so…

*****

Let me introduce you to a dear, dear friend of mine.  A friend is always there for me, not just when I am in need, but at all times.  This particular friend has been around for so long that sometimes I even forget that she is there, so quiet and supportive is she.  I never need to look far, for she is always there, whenever I am quiet enough within my own self, to focus in and search her out. 

And in my searching, I sometimes do receive an answer to a question, an inner awareness or sense that a certain course of action, or a particular word, would be the most pleasing to the Lord. Other times I am just overwhelmed by her sudden presence and even brought to tears at the simplest of things, merely because of her sure, steady, and loving presence. 

And…at other times I may not get an immediate sense of how I should act or what I should think…and it is in those times that I know I still have steps to journey, and perhaps even faith to test and deepen.

But of one thing I am sure…she is particularly good at seeking me out in my most difficult times…in times of anger, of deep or unexplained loss, or even when gathering darkness threatens to overwhelm me completely, rendering me unable to do anything other than just stop. 

In times such as these she is a rock, a steady and unyielding force of love that just will not leave me alone in my misery. Rather, she just stands by, willing to let me stew in my misery for as long as I want, but making it very obvious that there is a better way…as well as important work that still needs to be done. It is in those times that I remember that this is all much bigger than my own little problems, and that the work of sharing the love of God must stay in the forefront of my conscious efforts.  All in all, this is the one who has never failed me, even though I have failed her countless times.

She also is the evidence in the bottom of my soul that God’s love and mercy knows no bounds whatsoever, that all people are beloved children of God, and that judgment of another to the extent that one might consider them unworthy of love, forgiveness, or acceptance, belongs not to us but to God alone…

…and as yet…my only sense of this divine judgment…is that of forgiving and unconditional love…a depth and purity of love that draws the one forgiven both to their knees in humility, and up into the presence of God in fullness.  And it is always my friend the Spirit, who accompanies my soul into the presence of God’s loving grace.

She is my friend, and it is her desire to be everyone’s friend as well…She is the Spirit of God’s love…that wind that hovered over the waters at the moment of creation…she is that breath that was blown into the lifeless clay form of humanity first molded in the hand of God, thereby bringing that earthen form to life as the pure delight of God.

In short…she is the internal person of the Trinity, the purest expression of unconditional love already present within you

…she is there for absolutely each part of who you are, the good, the not so good, and even that for which you are ashamed…waiting patiently without judgment, extending only love that calls you back into the fold…

…she is all loving, all forgiving, all merciful, and all encouraging…

…she is the one who finds you where you are hiding or broken, patiently and lovingly saying once again…‘Pick up your mat and walk with me’.

        …she is like a shadow, always there, as close as your breath and deep within your soul…

…she is a guide through the hardest of times be they of your own creation, or ones that come upon you from without…

…she is a teacher of how to give and how to receive God’s love…both for yourself and for all others…

…she is a source that can lead us to a place of overflowing joy and a sense of peace that runs deep…both of which are frequently beyond explanation…

…she is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to never leave us. She is the easiest to learn to trust and the hardest to hide from…

In short…she is so like my own loving mother…for whom I shall ever be grateful.

…this then, is my dear friend the Holy Spirit…won’t you call her your own?

…amen