May 31 - Pentecost & Ross' Retirement
Deborah Laforet Acts 2: 14, 16-21
May 31, 2020 Revelation 22:1-5
“Apocalypse Now”
This Pentecost Sunday, I’m going to talk about the word, Apocalypse. (Image of Explosion). I bet you weren’t expecting that.
Friends, some have seen some of what’s happened recently around the world as apocalyptic, the shortage on store shelves, empty highways which once looked like parking lots, empty sidewalks usually jammed with people, and, most recently, riots in the streets. These are images right out of a Hollywood movie. And I would agree with them; our world right now is on the verge of an apocalypse, but our definition of this word would be very different.
In the past 200 years, the word apocalypse has come to have a different meaning. When people use it now, they are referring to the end of the world, sometimes because of nuclear bombs or devastating wars, other times by cataclysmic natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, or giant meteorites hitting the earth, and other times, invading aliens or zombies. There have also been movies about global pandemics. All these movies include a very large number of deaths, sometimes even the destruction of the earth, and they usually include heroes and heroines who are trying to survive or prevent the coming apocalypse. These movies are always means to invoke fear.
Apocalypse is a Greek word which means to uncover, to reveal or lay bare, or to disclose. The last book in our bible was once called The Apocalypse, but we know it as the Book of Revelation. The book is about an unveiling; it’s a story about a dream in which God reveals a new vision for the earth.
As Ross read for us, it’s about a new heaven and a new earth, one where God is always present, where death, mourning, crying and pain are no more, a world where all is made new. This is the new world revealed or uncovered in the book of Revelation; it is not about the end of the world, but about the beginning of a new world.
An apocalypse is usually a world-wide event but I think we all have our own times of apocalypse in our lives. We all have those times of upheaval, when we are broadsided by events beyond our control, times when we are afraid, when the world is turned upside down and made confusing. These are times when mysteries are unveiled, when answers are revealed, when pain is laid pare, when truths are uncovered. We begin to see in new ways. We begin to live differently. Our usual is not our usual anymore. We live in a new normal because of what has been revealed.
This week, we again saw the unjust murders of African Americans. A few weeks ago, a story was uncovered of a jogger accosted by a man and his son and shot to death. This week, a police officer killed a man in Minnesota by kneeling on his neck while other police officers watched, and then in Florida, a trans person was shot under dubious circumstance. Many are feeling traumatized, bewildered, helpless, angry, and no more than those of colour, especially black. It’s no wonder they are crying out. It’s no wonder people can’t be silent anymore. This is an apocalyptic moment. Truths are being laid bare. This could be a life-changing moment.
This is the story of Pentecost. The disciples followed and learned from a very wise and profound teacher or rabbi who changed their lives and then forcefully taken from them and hung on a cross. This rocked their world and changed everything they thought they knew. This was also a time of social upheaval. Some protested peacefully but were met with violence. And we all know that violence begets more violence.
Pentecost is referred to as the birthday of the church, because this is the day when the Spirit filled the apostles, when suddenly their eyes were opened, their tongues were loosed, their ears were unstopped. Everything looked new. Peter has a revelation about an old scripture passage from the prophet Joel. He becomes aware of what has been hidden in this old prophesy about God pouring out the Spirit on all humankind, about sons and daughters prophesying, seeing visions, and elders dreaming dreams. He has experienced in Christ’s death the darkening of the sun and the moon becoming blood and in Christ’s resurrection the coming great and sublime day of God. He realizes that he cannot wait around for Jesus to come back or for God save the world. It was time for him to do his part in bringing about God’s kingdom on earth. This revelation, or apocalypse, so moves him, that he can’t wait to share the good news with everyone he can. And this is what we celebrate on the day of Pentecost.
We are living during an extraordinary time. We are living during a time of upheaval. We are experiencing events that are beyond our control. The world is upside down, it’s confusing, and we are afraid.
Friends, this is when apocalypses happen. This is when we have epiphanies, when we discover profound truths, when what has been hidden is revealed. We have an opportunity, during these times, to create a new normal, to share the good news, to work towards a world of filled with love and justice, peace and abundance, God’s kingdom on earth.
Apocalypse. Maybe not literally an explosion, but metaphorically our minds are blown, our world is rocked, our spirits are on fire.
We are not alone in any of this. As Ross read for us from the book of Revelation, “God’s tabernacle is among humankind! God will live with them; they will be God’s people, and God will be fully present among them.” And we have each other. Thanks be to God. Amen.