Recently, I was reminded of an important seminary lesson that was given, even before official classes started. The Dean of the Seminary said that it was very important to get the subject, the verb, and the object in the correct order. Yet, the subject must always be a person of the Triune God; this was of most importance. God (subject) creates (verb). God loves. God forgives. God raises the dead. We are the object of God’s doing. We are the object of God’s love, forgiveness, and restoration.
All of that makes sense…until Pentecost. The Holy Spirit, while a person of the Trinity, the Spirit is the action of God. In Luther’s explanation, all of the verbs change from passive action to present active: “The Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies.” God the Holy Spirit is active. God the Spirit is the active agent, doing whatever it takes to keep us united with Christ Jesus in the one true faith. God will do and use whatever situation necessary to join us to Christ.
Join us this Sunday and wear red as we celebrate the Festival of Pentecost and the gift of God’s self once again: The Holy Spirit!
Pastor Culynn