Dear Friends in Christ,
This year, during May we celebrate Mother's Day and Pentecost (both May 11th), Confirmation and Trinity Sunday (both May 18th) and Memorial Day (May 26th). In addition, some of you may also be celebrating graduations.
Given such a multitude of events, I began to wonder what single theme to use for a message for the month - maybe I need to write several articles!
As I stuggled with these thoughts, I read this sentence in Sundays and Seasons:
On the 50th day of Easter we celebrate the Holy Spirit as the power of God among us that heals, forgives, inspires and unites.
(Copyright © 2007, Augsburg Fortress, used by permission #26529)
"That's it!" I thought. The unifying thread for all the aforementioned celebrations is the Holy Spirit that heals, forgives, inspires and unites us in all things.
We Lutherans have a tendency to avoid getting too excited about the Holy Spirit. We believe all three persons of the Trinity are equal, but maybe the Holy Spirit is... less equal? Yet Martin Luther, in his explanation of the third article of the Apostles' Creed, writes,
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
(From "The Small Catechism" by Martin Luther, http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/smallcatechism.pdf Copyright © 1983, Concordia Publishing House - Used by permission.)
That's what makes Mother's Day, Pentecost, Confirmation, Trinity Sunday, Memorial Day and graduations so special for us - the gift of the Holy Spirit, unifying and directing our very thoughts and deeds in Jesus Christ. What a gift of power and love that God gives us to heal, forgive, inspire and unite us in our daily living as His people.
Feel the excitement of this gift in your life. See how it gives us "different" eyes to see and ears to listen. Understand that we become the living examples of the Easter faith proclamation, "HE IS RISEN!" Because He lives, we live!
Yes, it's a busy month full of opportunities to proclaim not only that He lives, but also that the gift of His Holy Spirit lives in us and brings healing, forgiveness, inspiration and unity to us and to all with whom we have contact.
May our Lord through His Holy Spirit bless and direct us as you celebrate in His name.
Blessings,
Pastor Les
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