Wednesday, May 15, 2013

A Fire Alights Upon Us








And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—(John 14:16, New International Version)








In the story from which this verse is taken, it is the first time Jesus refers to the time when he will be gone from his disciples. He assures his disciples that he will intercede with God on their behalf and that they will not be left alone. This “advocate” (in other versions, “comforter,” “helper,” “paraclete”) will teach and guide them along their journeys. But it’s not just Jesus’ intercession that’s important to note here.  Consider the implications of this advocate who will “be with you forever.” Was Jesus speaking about his immediate disciples, and forever being defined by the duration of their lifespan?  Or when he said “forever,” did he mean for all disciples in perpetuity? Or does this “advocate” move from teacher to pupil, sort of like a contagious plague? Looking at this remark from another angle, one can infer that the Holy Spirit was not and had not been with the disciples at all up to the point until fire danced on their heads and they spoke in many languages. Of course, one might further presume the Holy Spirit was unnecessary when you have God in the Son right there with you.  (Imagine God being redundant…)

For the purposes of this blog entry, let us interpret the promise universally.  That is, Jesus intended the Holy Spirit for all of his followers through all time, for this is what we gain through baptism and recite in our creed. This Whitsunday, we will remember the descent of the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire, and we will redirect the focus of our spiritual guidance upon the Holy Spirit who moves within our own selves.  But, too, we must remember that we are each part of the larger corpus.  When we take Holy Communion together, we reinforce that bond with one another and God.  Therefore, while we examine the Spirit’s call in us individually, we must do the same with the larger body.  And that, my friends, brings the topic around to our new theme for the coming months.

Last autumn, Diocesan Convention passed a resolution to embark on a three-year mission to explore ways in which the Spirit is working through us in the Diocese of Vermont. Stirrings of the Spirit explores what it means to follow Jesus in today’s changing world. The concept of Stirrings of the Spirit is to not only discern the direction God is pointing us in, but to actually take those steps and follow His calling.  Stirrings is about innovation, creation, collaboration.  It’s about taking risks, having faith, trying new things. Stirrings of the Spirit offers parishes and the diocese support and tacit permission to “go for it!” and see what happens.  The word “stirrings” suggests both grand actions and tentative movements.  “Of the Spirit” acknowledges that nothing we done, either individually or collectively, is without God and God’s direction. Stirrings of the Spirit is the closest we are likely to come to someone saying, “Dream big, make it happen; we, with God, are right there with you!”

There are 48 parishes in the Diocese of Vermont.  Every single one of them is profoundly touched by God through the Spirit.  It is my hope to share through this blog just what kind of stirring the Holy Spirit has manifested in each one of these parishes and other diocesan holdings.  Some entries will necessarily include surveys of several parishes, while other entries may focus on a single parish.  This is not to minimize or discount the power of the Spirit moving in these parishes, but speaks to my own ability to learn and communicate.  I guess we’ll just have to see how the Spirit stirs within this blogger!

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