The Day Of Pentecost
Preaching
Hear My Voice
Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
(Occurs in all three cycles of the lectionary; see The Day Of Pentecost, Cycle A, for an alternative approach.)
After composing a long list detailing the processes of the earth, both of nature and commerce, the psalmist writes, "When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground" (v. 30). It is this reference to sending forth the spirit, renewing life and creating new life that draws this psalm into service on Pentecost Sunday in all three years of the lectionary cycle. The poem provides a powerful backdrop to the great Pentecost event when the arrival of the Spirit gave new life to the young church.
This is an important activity God performs for us. There is much in life that saps our energy and enthusiasm. Without a way to be renewed and restored, or in some instances re-made, life and its many turns can soon become a burden.
For instance, those who are involved in giving of themselves in acts of kindness for others are always in danger of giving out. The relentless demands on those who provide care for others in need -- especially those who attend to the chronically ill, disabled, or the elderly -- often create challenges that seem to have no end.
Also, there are struggles with our own pain and disappointment or even failure. The difficulties that are our own can easily result in sagging spirits and depleted energy.
Even success has its dangers. As we expend energy and creativity into our various life projects and then succeed, that success is sometimes followed by an empty feeling: a sort of, "Well, now what?"
The psalmist would have us believe that the presence of God in the form of the Spirit has the power to reanimate and reinvigorate. A renewal of our experience of God's presence can be a source for renewing our energy and our passion for our calling, or even for life itself.
How many times have we seen a football team that is behind and beaten suddenly execute one big play? As if by magic, players start running and jumping as if they weren't tired or behind at all. One play turns the whole team around, and suddenly the team that was playing poorly starts playing with confidence and verve. One play, one good play, and the team that was losing begins to win.
It is not enough that we are doggedly committed to some task. Unless there is passion and purpose, the redundancy of life will suck the joy right out of us. But if we can believe again in our purpose, in our cause, in our calling with a renewed passion, redundancy gives way to creativity, and every day becomes a new day. That is what God's Spirit can do. And when it happens, we can declare with the psalmist, "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being" (v. 33).
-- J. E.
After composing a long list detailing the processes of the earth, both of nature and commerce, the psalmist writes, "When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground" (v. 30). It is this reference to sending forth the spirit, renewing life and creating new life that draws this psalm into service on Pentecost Sunday in all three years of the lectionary cycle. The poem provides a powerful backdrop to the great Pentecost event when the arrival of the Spirit gave new life to the young church.
This is an important activity God performs for us. There is much in life that saps our energy and enthusiasm. Without a way to be renewed and restored, or in some instances re-made, life and its many turns can soon become a burden.
For instance, those who are involved in giving of themselves in acts of kindness for others are always in danger of giving out. The relentless demands on those who provide care for others in need -- especially those who attend to the chronically ill, disabled, or the elderly -- often create challenges that seem to have no end.
Also, there are struggles with our own pain and disappointment or even failure. The difficulties that are our own can easily result in sagging spirits and depleted energy.
Even success has its dangers. As we expend energy and creativity into our various life projects and then succeed, that success is sometimes followed by an empty feeling: a sort of, "Well, now what?"
The psalmist would have us believe that the presence of God in the form of the Spirit has the power to reanimate and reinvigorate. A renewal of our experience of God's presence can be a source for renewing our energy and our passion for our calling, or even for life itself.
How many times have we seen a football team that is behind and beaten suddenly execute one big play? As if by magic, players start running and jumping as if they weren't tired or behind at all. One play turns the whole team around, and suddenly the team that was playing poorly starts playing with confidence and verve. One play, one good play, and the team that was losing begins to win.
It is not enough that we are doggedly committed to some task. Unless there is passion and purpose, the redundancy of life will suck the joy right out of us. But if we can believe again in our purpose, in our cause, in our calling with a renewed passion, redundancy gives way to creativity, and every day becomes a new day. That is what God's Spirit can do. And when it happens, we can declare with the psalmist, "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being" (v. 33).
-- J. E.
