You’re probably aware that this is Memorail Day Weekend (May 28). We’ll have a parade, hot dogs, various items colored Red, White and Blue. We will honor those who died in service to their country. One recurring idea throughout this federal holiday will be a call to Remember certain events where some folks risked it all for the greater good. To forget that our freedom isn’t free is not only dishonorable, it’s dangerous. People went to war because of the promise of a better future.
Pentecost happens to land on the same Weekend (May27). They are both unrelated and inseparable at the same time, since we
- Recall a promise (Jesus said “I’m sending the Holy Spirit”– a ‘better’ future)
- Mark an event (the promise fulfilled) and
- Remember the effect (people died for the greater good… of the Kingdom)
I’m not trying to Americanize Christianity or Christianize American pride. I’m just suggesting that we’re wired to remember BIG events. For the Church, Pentecost Sunday was a big event and continues to be. This Sunday we will mark the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Church, an event that happened once and continues today. We will worship, remembering that the Holy Spirit came and praying that the promise is fulfilled again in our gathering. And we will remember, since forgetting this would be dishonoring and dangerous for the Church’s mission to the world.
“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” – Romans 5:5b
What’s it like to live as though this really happened?
What’s it like to die for something (as many did, especially after Pentecost)?
(R) Adam Davidson 