Holy Trinity Sunday
“What is born of the
flesh is flesh and what is born of the Spirit, is spirit.” --Jesus, John 3:6
I turned on the fan.
The blades quickly spun to life, pushing the air forward. The four children’s hair fluttered in the
breeze. The altar candles
flickered. I was afraid they might blow
out, but they didn’t.
“Can you see the wind?”
I asked the children arranged in a tight row on the chancel step for the
children’s sermon..
“No.” The littlest
one said. He was the only one brave
enough to speak. The rest shook their heads in agreement.
“Then how do you know it is there?”
A puzzlement.
“When you are outside, how do you know it is windy?” I tried again.
“The trees move.”
Said the littlest one.
Jesus was trying to explain the movements of the Holy Spirit
to Nicodemus, who had come to him in the night with questions. Deep questions. “The wind blows where it chooses, and you
hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.” Jesus said,
“So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
“How can these things be?”
Nicodemus asked.
A puzzlement.
“So,” I said to the kids sitting on the step, “How do you know
when the Holy Spirit is blowing?”
Blank stares.
I rephrased the question.
“How do you know when God is at work in the world?”
Suddenly, a spark lit in the oldest one’s face. “When you see things moving.”
I smiled. “Yes. When you see things moving.”
Like the wind, the Spirit of God is unpredictable. Like a breath, the Spirit of God gives life
and daily we are born again from above.
Day after day, the Spirit animates our flesh, blowing within us and
around us and through us. If you dare to
look, you can see the Wind of God moving
things in the world.
Can you hear the Spirit’s love and forgiveness rustling
lives like leaves?
Can you see the Spirit flickering flames of compassion and
justice?
Can you feel the Spirit’s mothering touch upon your face?
Where do YOU see things moving? Look closely.
Likely, you will find God there.
I see signs of the Creator’s love for the world
everywhere. Born on a cross. Born from an empty tomb. Born on Pentecost. Born in the community of faith. Born in the world around us. For you.
For me. For everyone.
Peace,
Bishop Mike Girlinghouse
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