[sing “Bom-bo-le-la (Never Give Up)”]
There is a way in which we carry one another.
I love to tell the story behind this song: It comes from South Africa during the time of Apartheid -- where European white people treated African black people as inferior...and separated and discriminated, and committed acts of violence and hatred against them with an oppressive governmental regime. Liberty and justice was not for all. And under those and many other circumstances the native people had to figure out how to survive. They had to figure out how to feed their children, how to travel from place to place for work. And many of them used the train. But not a nice comfortable train -- they would often hang onto the back of freight trains -- for dear life, for work, for feeding their families and surviving. And it was hard to hang on. But the people would sing to each other as they hung onto the trains. They would sing this song “Never give up,” and they would support one another, root for one another, intercede for one another...
There is a way in which we carry one another.
This is Pentecost and our annual text from the book of Acts about the Holy Spirit rushing in and landing on the heads of those gathered is coupled with this reading from Romans 8, where the Holy Spirit comforts and carries the faithful. Like a song at the back of the train.
The Holy Spirit is always wrapped up in community. [slowly] In people gathering together to hold one another, to carry one another, to love one another. [pause]
We were at Margaret Blake’s funeral a few weeks ago. Margaret was our preschool director Mr. Ron’s mother. And it was an emotional service for him and for those closest to him, as anyone would imagine.
But I was doing OK. I didn’t know her like others did. We wanted to be there for Mr. Ron. And for the community there at Gethsemane Lutheran. And we brought our kids too.
You can judge me if you like, but Heather and I feel like children at a funeral is very appropriate and even good. We think it’s good for them, as they observe and even experience a part of life that is both real and beautiful, albeit very sorrowful. We also think it’s good for children to be present as a source of comfort and even hope -- certainly peace and joy -- amid those who are grieving. But it was 1pm on a Sunday, our kids are a little restless (lunch was to be served after, so tummies were rumbling a bit). And I was sitting next to Micah, who’s bouncing and distracted, trying to sit still, but struggling. And I looked at him and said -- not brusquely but directly -- I said, “Micah, I want you to sing.” (We were singing songs that he know, “Beautiful Savior”, “How Great thou Art”) “Why?” he asked me, not disrespectfully, but sincerely and curiously. “Because sometimes, in times like, the people who really want to sing, can’t sing because they’re too sad and they can’t get the words out...but we can, and they need us right now to hold them with our singing. Does that make sense?” And then I hear his little high-pitched voice. “O Lord My God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works thy hands hath made...” There is a way in which we carry one another.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, the Holy Spirit is multifaceted. God’s is a Spirit of both restlessness and gentleness, as we sang together earlier. It is a spirit of both peace and a spirit of agitation. It is a spirit of challenge, and a spirit of comfort. When we are doing well, comfortable, posh, peaceful, relaxed and even bordering on lazy -- the Holy Spirit breaks in and disrupts our quiet little worlds. The rush of a violent wind. “Get out there! Be my disciples! Take a risk, for God’s sake. Stop worrying only about yourselves, and get to work, in my name!” The Holy Spirit urges us gathered in this room, not just those gather in the room long ago.
And...infused this year with the words of Paul’s letter to the Romans, we are reminded too that the Holy Spirit -- when we are down, when we are grieving, when we are struggling to survive, when we are not at peace, when we are barely hanging on -- the Holy Spirit moves among us, and comforts us, carries us.
Paul says, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness” and “intercedes with sighs too deep for words”. Intercedes is such a powerful word: it means literally “go between”. [slowly] The Spirit “goes between, among, before, through” us with sighs too deep for words. The Spirit is in the space between us.
Have you ever been there, at either end of this Spirit work/ Spirit movement? Sometimes we don’t know what words to say to someone in tragedy or in grief? Any words we could come up with just seem empty or futile, even while we mean well. But something tells us just to give them a hug or place a hand on their shoulder, so that they know that we’re present.
Other times we’re the recipient of that...[pause]
All those moments -- the receiving of a hand on the shoulder or a hug or a card or a call -- all those moments: illustrations, glimpses of the truth of our Gospel message this day and every day...that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, not death, not life, not angels, not rulers, not things present, not things to come, not powers, not height, not depth, not anything else in all creation. This love of God -- this agape -- carries us, and is offered to us freely this day, and everyday.
We’ve got lots to remember this Memorial Day weekend. Let’s remember this truth above all: the love of God in Christ Jesus is upon us, and among us, and will never leave us...for the Holy Spirit has been unleashed. Thanks be to God. AMEN.
Memorial Day prayers
Eternal God, we give thanks for all those who have shown the greatest love by laying down their lives for others. We especially thank you for those in our military throughout history who have sacrificed their lives for their fellow citizens and for us who came after. As we remember their service, keep us mindful of all those for whom this day is a burden, and send your spirit of comfort to them. Be present with all the women and men who are serving in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard today, as they perform the duties of their calling. Give them not only true love of country but also love of you and an understanding of your love for all people; so that, relying upon your guidance, they may courageously defend our nation from every foe, promote justice, honor, and unity among our people, and be a means of fostering mutual respect and understanding among all peoples of the world. LIYM. HoP.
Lord of all the worlds, guide this nation by your Spirit, on this Pentecost Sunday, to go forward in justice and freedom. Give to all our people the blessings of well-being and harmony, but above all things give us faith in you, that our nation may bring glory to your name and blessings to all peoples. LIYM. HoP.
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