The Gospel: John 20:19-23 - 19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
So many different languages were spoken on the day of Pentecost. The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to speak in various tongues the language of peace and forgiveness, the great works of God in Christ. The language of peace is now spoken to us in English, Spanish, Polish and German in our community. Our two children have the Spanish and Korean languages in their heritage. In 2004, when I was about to receive our adopted daughter Maggie from her foster mother, I was able to speak a word of peace to her in Korean. I learned to say “hananami bachshenul chukbok hashimnida”, which means God bless you. We speak the language of peace.
Today is the day of Pentecost. We heard from Acts 2:1-21 how the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to speak in various languages. They were lit up with a powerful spirit that allowed them to communicate in a way they couldn’t before. The sole purpose was of this empowerment was to move them toward telling people about the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ. They were given this ability to speak in various languages in order that disciples of Christ would convey this forgiveness so that the repentant might find life and warn those that forfeit God’s mercy.
The disciples were hiding a few weeks after Jesus had died. They had been told about the resurrection yet still that wasn’t enough. Jesus just showed up. He stood in the midst of them. The first thing he offers these friends who had denied and ran was a gift. Peace! What do you give someone who isn’t sure what to do after they’ve lost a loved one? You pray peace! Peace! He spoke words of peace and forgiveness.
He says it again! Peace be with you! As the father has sent me so I send you! They are being commissioned! They Jesus breathes (emphoosa) on them and says receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus gives them a gift, undeserved, yet Jesus keeps on giving after they have failed. Jesus breathes new life into them in the midst of guilt, shame and uncertainty. Jesus gives them BREATH as he continued to draw life out of them that the whole world would know God’s grace!
What is the sign of this life giving breathe; the work of the Holy Spirit? Forgiveness! What is the language of the Christian faith? To forgive and be forgiving! The language of peace is given to the community of faith so that when there is no peace, you may go to those you have spoken a language other that peace and share it. This is why we share the peace with one another. We’ve made our confession to God and have heard words of forgiveness at the start of the service. We messed up and fessed up and God cleaned up our messed up lives in Christ. We then offer that word to one another. We will find some huggers and most hand shakers. We can’t connect with everyone, but those nearest, families especially. We need to speak words of forgiveness to one another.
Today is also Mother’s Day. I still recall the only time I preached when my mother was in the audience on a mother’s day. After reading the Gospel and then inviting all to sit, I said Happy Mother’s day. I then said it is a privilege to have my mother with us today at worship and the congregation clapped as I invited her to stand. I then said, “Now it’s my chance to say whatever I want to about my mom and she just has to listen.” She then said, “I’ve got stories about you too.” On with the sermon, I stated.
As it is mother’s day and Pentecost, this passage speaks to me. Jesus showed them his scars, the reality of the cross he bore. But these words of Jesus are from the other side of the grave and I think they are words of peace for all those who face a mother’s day with a distance between family members. Today is the first Mother’s Day for me without my mom and the words of Jesus brings healing and peace. This is a good word, a word of peace to all who have a distance for whatever reason with a mother. What is that word? PEACE! The language of peace!
The peace of the Lord is with you all! C: And also with you! Let us pray – Gracious God of peace, you speak words of peace to us today. Bring us healing and peace here in this place that we may be your peacemakers who have a peace that goes beyond our human understanding; in Jesus name! Amen
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