THE POURING OUT OF THE SPIRIT IN FLAME, WONDERS, WITNESS AND ACTS

 

A Traditional Byzantine Icon, Here in a Russian Version, Showing the Holy Theotokos Seated in the Midst of the Holy Apostles, Receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost 

A WHITSUNDAY SERMON FOR ST. ALOPEN’S ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL

“In the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh.”

— Acts 2:17

INTRODUCTION

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, welcome to St. Alopen’s Cathedral Parish—the Western-Rite outpost of Holy Orthodoxy here in the Far East. Whether you have travelled many provinces or only a few paces to reach these doors, the same rushing Wind that once filled the Upper Room now gathers us into one household of grace. Today we celebrate Whitsunday, the crown of Paschaltide and the Church’s joyful doorway into the long, sun-bright stretch of the liturgical year that our great English forebears simply called summer.

In the Old English tongue this feast was known as "Hwita Sunnandæg" - “White-Sunday” - for on this day newly-baptized Christians processed to the altar clad in glistening white robes, signs of the Spirit’s fresh out-pouring and of hearts washed clean. In village lanes across England the joy overflowed into Whitsun Ales, fairs, and dances, reminding rich and poor alike that the fire of Pentecost is meant not to scorch the earth but to warm it into fruitfulness. White thus came to stand for innocence regained; Sunday for the first day of the new creation; and together they signal the Spirit’s work of renewing all flesh and all seasons.

Here, beneath the watchful eyes of our patron St. Alopen - the First Herald of the Gospel to China and Great Enlightener of the Far East - we inherit that same patrimony. The white garments are now the silk of Eastern catechumens; the Whitsun ale becomes the tea of our own fields; yet the miracle remains unchanged: the Holy Ghost descends to unite every tongue and tribe without erasing their song. As the ancient Collect prays, “who at this time didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit,” so too He teaches us today - commissioning our parish for the months of toil, warmth, and plenty that lie ahead, when seeds sown in spring labor will ripen into autumn thanksgiving.

Let us, then, lift up our hearts. May the white fire of Pentecost kindle in us a zeal for prayer and for service; may it bless the honest sweat of daily work; and may it make of this cathedral a bright lantern of Christ’s love for every people inheriting the joy of the Middle Kingdom and beyond. Welcome, one and all: the Spirit bids us enter, rejoice, and be glad.

SCRIPTURE

Old Testament Lesson: Joel 2:18–29

Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Epistle Lesson: Acts 2:1–47

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judæa, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Gospel: John 14:15–31

Jesus said unto his disciples, If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.

SERMON

Brethren, on this great and glorious feast of Whitsunday, when the Spirit of the Lord filleth the whole world, and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice, we are brought face to face with the birth of the Church—the New Israel, formed not by sword nor scepter, but by fire from heaven and tongues of flame.

Pentecost is the harvest of Christ’s Passion. The blood sown in Gethsemane, the grain of wheat fallen into the ground and dying at Calvary, now springs up into sheaves a hundredfold. The silence of Holy Saturday yields to the sound of a rushing mighty wind. That upper room in Jerusalem becomes the new Sinai, not of thunder and trembling, but of unity and prophecy. As once God wrote His law on tables of stone, He now writes it upon hearts of flesh. And the confusion of Babel is reversed—not by the flattening of tongues into a single bland speech, but by the sanctification of every language under heaven to proclaim the mighty works of God.

Saint Peter, who had once denied his Lord before the coals of a worldly fire, now stands before Jerusalem ablaze with the heavenly. No longer ashamed, no longer scattered, the Apostles are gathered in one accord, the twelve thrones set for judgment, the Church born in the fire of unity and truth. So it is, as the Nonjuring bishop Thomas Ken once said, that “Pentecost is the Holy Ghost’s Coronation Day,” the feast wherein the Church is robed with power from on high and sent into the world not with a sword but with a song.

THE SPIRIT AND THE LAND

The Prophet Joel, long centuries before, had foreseen it: “Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people… and ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God.”The prophecy began in physical images—corn, and wine, and oil, the healing of the land after judgment—but it crescendoed into that sublime promise: “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.”

Observe well the pattern. First, the land is healed. Then the people rejoice. Then comes the pouring out. The Spirit descends not upon a vacuum but upon the fields of repentance and thanksgiving. And this is no new pattern. Saint Andrewes of blessed memory, preacher to kings, once wrote that “the dew of the Spirit never falleth on barren rocks, but on meadows mown with humility.” Pentecost is the feast of harvest because the ground has been ploughed by Calvary and watered with the tears of contrition.

THE UNIVERSAL TONGUE

Consider, beloved, how rich a thing it is that each man heard the Gospel in his own tongue. The Holy Spirit does not dissolve our human distinctions but hallows them. There is no imperial erasure at Pentecost, no monolithic language imposed as Rome did with its banners, or as modernity does with its empty slogans. Instead, in the words of George Herbert, “He taught the Church to play, and tune her parts.” Each tongue becomes a string on the instrument of praise.

It is thus that we find the great glory of the Church not in uniformity but in unity: a unity that springs not from a centralizing force, but from the indwelling Spirit. The Oxford divine John Keble wrote, “The Spirit bloweth where it listeth; and woe unto that man or Church which would shut the door upon His coming.” In this, Pentecost is a perpetual warning against the arrogance of ecclesial empire and a summons to humility—to receive the Spirit not in conquest but in contrition.

THE DREAM OF OUR FATHERS

How often in the long centuries has England known her own Pentecosts? When Saint Augustine came to Canterbury with nothing but the Psalms and the cross, when Boniface raised the faith again among the Saxons, when Lancelot Andrewes stood by candlelight over his Prayer Book, when William Laud offered incense at the altar in the teeth of Puritan rage, and when the gentle and exiled Nonjurors would not betray the apostolic order for the favor of men—each bore witness to the wind and fire of Pentecost.

Even in modern days, the Inklings dreamed of that descent. C.S. Lewis, who stood athwart the spiritual vacancy of post-war England, knew the secret fire. He wrote: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” The Holy Spirit, poured into every baptized soul, makes the lowliest peasant more radiant than a crowned emperor without it. And it was his friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, who called the coming of grace into our story a eucatastrophe—the sudden, joyful overturning of despair. Is not Pentecost the eucatastrophe of human history?

THE INVITATION TO FLAME

And so, dearly beloved, what remains for us but this—to pray for the fire again? Not a fire that destroys, but that refines; not that rends garments, but that rends hearts. The world still waits in darkness, as in that ancient icon, and the Apostles must yet rise from their chairs. The Spirit will be poured, but the vessels must be clean. The tongues will be loosed, but the lips must be holy.

Shall we then live as those without the Spirit? God forbid. The Church is not a museum of doctrine but a living temple of flame. She was born not in silence but in sound. And in the words of John Donne, “O burn me not!” we cry, “but burn in me.”

Let us close with a reading of that great Caroline Divine and father in our holy Patrimony, Fr. George Herbert's poem, called "Whitsunday"...

Listen sweet Dove unto my song,

And spread thy golden wings in me;

Hatching my tender heart so long,

Till it get wing, and fly away with thee.

Such glorious gifts thou didst bestow,

The earth did like a heav’n appear;

The starres were coming down to know

If they might mend their wages and serve here.

The sunne which once did shine alone,

Hung down his head and wisht for night,

When he beheld twelve sunnes for one

Going about the world and giving light.

Lord, though we change, thou art the same;

The same sweet God of love and light:

Restore this day, for thy great name,

Unto his ancient and miraculous right.

COLLECT

Let us pray...

O Holy and Eternal Spirit, who didst descend upon the Apostles in tongues of flame, and through them didst kindle the fire of Thy Church upon the face of the earth: Grant unto us, we beseech Thee, that same Spirit of truth and unity, that we may speak Thy word with boldness, love Thee with pure hearts, and serve Thee with joy; that in every tongue Thy mighty works may be proclaimed, and in every land Thy Name be glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Father, one God, world without end. Amen.