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The Reading
Acts 16.9-15
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
John 14.23-29
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
Scripture quotations are from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
The Sermon
Prepared by David, Reader at St Mary's.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Around 20 years ago, while a student, I attended a talk entitled "Where was God in history?" put on by one of the Christian student societies. I'd gone with a couple of friends, along with a priest and a Buddhist. The talk focused quite narrowly on Jesus's earthly ministry, with some Old Testament texts, that are often used to point to Jesus' birth, thrown in. At the end of the talk we were invited to ask questions and someone asked about where God was in the concentration camps of Nazi Germany and other events of the last 2000 years. I don't remember the answer that was offered, I do remember it not coming close to exploring the question which was being asked.
Following this question the priest put up their hand, and when called upon stated "I think you could have answered that last question more fully if you had referred to the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit." There was a few moments of silence, while we all digested that he'd essentially called them non-Trinitarian heretics, and then the event continued. Afterwards the priest went to mend fences with the speakers, while the rest of us chatted with the Buddhist about why the omission of the Holy Spirit was such a big deal.
You may have noticed that I started the sermon with the same words we start each eucharist. Turn to the top of page 2 in your order of service if you'd like a reminder. Using this is optional, but we do this for a number of reasons. Most importantly its a reminder that everything we do in our services is done in the name of the whole Trinity, one God in three persons, Father, Son and Spirit. It's also why it's commonly used at the start of sermons, all that is preached is to be said in the name of Triune God.
I'm not intending to unpack the Trinity. It's very easy to stray from metaphor to heresy and Trinity Sunday is only three weeks away. But I do want to focus on the third member of the Trinity, the Spirit. Many of you will have read, or had read to you the Narnia stories by C.S. Lewis. In these Aslan, a giant lion and a proxy for Jesus, is described as not being a tame lion. The Gospels definitely show Jesus as an untame lion. Challenging the religious authorities, turning over tables in the temple and so on. What is true of Jesus, God the Son, is also true of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not a tame lion.
A few verses before our Acts reading begins, Paul and his missionary team have tried to speak the Word of God in Asia and the Spirit had stopped them, the same then happened when they tried to go to Bithynia. The Spirit then calls them to Macedonia. God the Holy Spirit sets the agenda for Paul's missional activity, not the other way around.
Outside of Philippi Paul and his companions meet Lydia, likely a gentile worshipper of God who hasn't fully converted to Judaism. The Lord moves her to be baptised, along with her whole household. That she is head of her household is striking, she's likely a widow, and in a position of authority. She's also a business leader. Purple cloth was expensive, due to it's association with royalty, and she has space to host Paul and his companions, just as the women who supported Jesus' ministry did.
Our Gospel reading forms part of the preparation Jesus gives his disciples prior to his crucifixion and sits within a larger conversation, where several times the disciples ask questions which prove they don’t really understand what is going on. It’s perhaps no surprise that the gift of the Holy Spirit is needed, given here the title of Advocate. Someone who can interpret and speak for another, in this case Jesus. We don’t need the last 2000 years of history to know that in our own strength and wisdom we can’t comprehend, let alone live up to, our calling to live out Jesus’ life and teachings. Engagement with the Holy Spirit will be essential if we are to live life as we are called.
This engagement takes many forms, public worship, private prayer, enjoying the beauty of creation, reading of scripture, creative arts like painting or music, providing hospitality to strangers (as Lydia did) to name but a few. It will look different for each of us and this is not an exhaustive list. We need to create space in our lives for the activities which are life giving, that allow the Spirit to breathe into us and transform us into the likeness of Christ.
I’m going to close with a prayer that is the traditional companion to the one I opened with. It’s a reminder that having tried to speak in the name of Trinity, to follow the advocacy of the Spirit, the preacher carries no authority or special skill, save that which comes from God.
And now to God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, and God the Father, be ascribed all might, majesty, dominion, and power, as is most justly due, now and forevermore. Amen.
The Prayers
In joy and hope let us pray to the Father.
That our risen Saviour may fill us with the joy of his
glorious and life-giving resurrection.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
That God may grant us humility
to be subject to one another in Christian love.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
That he may provide for those who lack food, work or shelter and
that by his power, war and famine may cease through all the world
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
That he may reveal the light of his presence to the sick,
the weak and the dying,
to comfort and strengthen them.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
That, according to his promises,
all who have died in the faith of the resurrection
may be raised on the last day.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
That he may send the fire of the Holy Spirit upon his people,
so that we may bear faithful witness to his resurrection,
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is used here is copyright (c) 2010 The Archbishops' Council