In the Gospel of John, Jesus is
about to be arrested and he tells his disciples that He asked God and God is
going to give them another to be with them, an advocate. “This is the spirit of
truth,” Jesus says. Not everyone can receive him because they cannot see him.
So, this invisible person will be with them. The disciples know who this is
because they have seen this being and the being will be in them.
So who is this being that Jesus
speaks of? This advocate, the person that is called the Spirit of truth may be
better known to us as the Holy Spirit. What do we know about the Holy Spirit?
If you listen to our Liturgy then you know very little about the Holy Spirit.
Of course we gather in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…we are
blessed in the same way, and our creed says, I believe in the Holy Spirit and
then we move on. We don’t sit and give the Holy Spirit its rightful due.
Sometimes it feels like the Rodney Dangerfield of the Trinity. If you don’t
know who he is, he was a comedian who always claimed he did not get any
respect.
We in the Lutheran Church as most
other Christian denomination believe in the trinity. We believe that the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are co-equal, God in three distinct forms in one
being. There was quite a battle over this when the churches first came together
during the time of Constantine. They almost went to war over this Trinity
issue. It was a hot topic that is still noticeable in the most obvious way and
I will tell you the secret to how public this debate is. When you look at the
Nicene Creed there is an asterisks right beside the portion that says “who
proceeded from the Father and the Son. This was all part of the Trinitarian
debate almost 1900 years ago.
So, today, the Holy Spirit is going to
get his day in Worship. Today, we hope to get a better understanding of who
this Holy Spirit is. First, it is not someone that we can see. That’s a help!
The disciples know who this is because they have been taught about the Holy
Spirit by Jesus. Jesus says they will know the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit will
be in them. So how is this advocate or Holy Spirit going to be in them?
That is where we, the reader, have the
edge over the disciples. We know how the story turns out. We know that Jesus
will return after his crucifixion. We know that three days later he will rise
and be among the living. It is because of this advocate being with the
disciples and with the followers of Jesus that they will be able to see Jesus.
It is this advocate that will help them through this time of human
understanding…when death seems to be the end, this advocate is in the
follower’s so that they see the risen Jesus and that they KNOW that Jesus has
been raised and that God will not let death have the last word.
This advocate stays with them the rest
of their days. Jesus says they will not be orphaned. This Holy Spirit will be
with them throughout the rest of their days because it is the Holy Spirit that
continues to be with them when they venture out into the world teaching of the
risen Son of God. This Holy Spirit will be with them when they face dangers and
persecution for believing in the risen Christ. The Holy Spirit is with them to
see the promises of God fulfilled through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Today we are witnesses to the promise
of Jesus. Jesus promises us the gift of this advocate this person to be with us
in our days. We witness with the disciples the last night of our Lord and
Savior Jesus. We are allowed to feel that his leaving might leave us feeling
orphaned or alone without someone that cares for us; and so Jesus asks for the
Holy Spirit to be given to us so that we know that we are not alone. So that we
know that God continues to care about us throughout all the days of our lives.
So who is this advocate, who is this
Holy Spirit? I believe it is that part of God, that active part of God that
reminds us about who we are. It is that active part of God that comes to us in
the waters of Baptism and tells us that we are no longer bound by sin, death,
and the devil; but we are claimed children of God. I believe it is that active
part of God that active part of God that puts people, family and friends, in
our lives to remind us that we are important, special, and loved.
There is a more modern phrase used in
some circles when speaking of the Trinity. For Father = Creator, Son= redeemer,
and Holy Spirit = sustainer. I think that is one of the best names for the Holy
Spirit. It is that part of God that sustains us when we struggle, the Holy
Spirit rejoices with us in good times, and comforts us in our challenges. It is
that part of God that calls us to bring our broken selves to the foot of the
cross and lay our burdens and to seek God’s grace and mercy when we have done
wrong.
The Holy Spirit is also that active
part in God that calls us into service for one another. Several months ago, I
do believe it was the Holy Spirit…that active part of God that called on a
fifth grade class to look to those in need. The Holy Spirit called them to hold
a fun run with all kinds of food and activities and raise money for the
ministry of Community Partners. I can tell you that those students were tired
after putting it all together but they admitted it was a good kind of tired
because they got to help people.
I also believe that the Holy Spirit is
that active part of God who called some of the bravest men and women in our
country to give their all in service. Today and this weekend is the time we
remember the men and women who gave their last full measures in service to
their country. We all remember our family member with warmth and thanks and we
are called to remember, on this Memorial Day weekend, that it was because of
what they gave and we give thanks for their service and their lives. I can tell
you that I have a lost a few good friends and remember them this Memorial Day
because they helped shape my work ethic and character; they were mentors and friends.
The Holy Spirit calls us all in many
different ways and speaks to us in many different ways. The one thing that is
common is that the Holy Spirit is active in our lives. I pray that we all look
and listen for the Holy Spirit to call us in God’s service. I pray that we all
see God’s Holy Spirit active in our own lives and may we all be sustained by
God’s Holy Spirit now and forever: AMEN
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