Love God. Live the Eucharist.

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Pentecost Sunday, May 20, 2018, by Fr. Kevin Anderson

Have you noticed that our Easter Candle is lit all through the Easter season? After today, we will return it to the Baptism Font in the main entrance, and bring it out for special occasions like baptisms.

 

Well, I want to explore more about the candle, so I need three volunteers to come up and hold a candle. [Give each a volunteer a different looking candle . . one large white candle, one thin blue candle, one tiny tea light]

 

Now each of you have a different looking candle and we can’t say one candle is better or nicer. Because watch this. [I lit all three candles from the Easter candle] The flame not only looks the same. But as St. Symeon (who died 1022) said, “When you light a flame from a flame it is the same flame.”

 

In the first reading, it says that the disciples had tongues as of fire which parted and came to rest on each of them. That’s why paintings of this event have a flame on the top of their heads. Was there really a flame? Probably not, but the scripture said “AS OF” or “LIKE” fire.

 

But here’s the cool part, this flame that you hold is no different than any other flame that is lit today anywhere in the world. And this flame is just like a flame that a disciple would have seen (or hold) back then. Meaning . . . the holy spirit that the disciples received at Pentecost is the SAME spirit that we receive. We don’t receive an imitation, or a second hand Spirit. It is the same Holy Spirit.

 

Think of each of us having a divine wick within in us. That’s just the way it is. We can’t deny it or explain it. And the search for the deepest part of you, is the search for God. And the search for God is the search for your deepest self. As you find God, you will find yourself. As you discover who you really are, you will discover God.

 

And you might think that you are not deserving of such grace. For you think that your past, or your sins puts out the flame [Have the candle holders blow out their flame.] You can’t do it. God is relentless. [I relight each candle.] God continues to ignite you, to enflame you. It is gift. It is not because you are worthy or holy or perfect.  As St. Paul said in Romans 3:3-4,

“Can our lack of fidelity cancel God’s fidelity? That would be absurd. God will always be true even through everyone is false.”

 

That flame is Christ. And God cannot not love the Christ in you. The risen Christ is the personification of this one light that includes all light, which is why he is always described as the “dazzling white” or “like lightening” (Matthew 28:3)

 

 

 

 

And just as we come in all sorts of sizes, colors and shape (like these candles) God doesn’t pick and choose. God doesn’t say, “Hm, I am only going to light the blue ones” No. All of us are included and all of us are important, just as Paul was trying to express in the second reading with the imagery of being ONE body. Just as one body part can’t say to another, “We don’t need you.” For example, an eye can’t say to an ear you are unimportant.

 

We all have this flame (same objective gift) but how we use it up to us. For you can keep it ourselves. You can hide it [invite the candle holders to shield or hide the flame.] Or you can share it. [Have the candle holders go into the congregation and light other candles.]

 

Your words and actions can hurt others, can burn others, can torch them. OR you can enflame them, bring out their God presence. Fire them up. Acknowledge their goodness and model for them how to keep spreading joy . . . and insight . . . and love.

 

There seems to be lots going on these days that seek to extinguish acceptance and difference. As Jesus said in the gospel, may the Holy Spirit guide you to truth.

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