Two brand new work crews were installing some telephone poles. At the end of the day, the foreman asked the first crew how many poles they’d put in. “Twelve,” was the answer.
“Not bad,” replied the foreman. Then he asked the second crew how many poles they’d put in.
“Two” was the reply.
“Two?!” shouted the foreman. “The others did twelve and you only did two?”
“Yeah,” said the leader of the second group. “But you should’ve seen how much they left sticking out of the ground!”
I think the apostles would have identified with that second group because they really knew what it meant to make big mistakes and lots of them. After Jesus’ death – and even more – after his ascension, the memory of their past failures, past inadequacies, and past hurts overwhelmed them. They locked themselves in a room and stayed there, helpless and hopeless, frozen in place by their fears, feeling their smallness and knowing their inner poverty.
And then suddenly, with the power of a mighty wind and the intensity of a burning fire, the Holy Spirit showed them they were not alone, never had been, and never would be. The Spirit showed them, that despite their smallness and despite their flaws, they could do what Jesus had asked them to do, and they could do it well. Because they had a mentor who was with them always, a wise and powerful guide for life, a permanent friend to encourage, comfort, and strengthen them at every turn of the road until their work was finally done, and their path had led them all the way home.
This had always been true, and they recognized it was true. At last their hearts were set free. And they burst forth from that locked room to carry to the gifts that God had entrusted to their hands to the whole world.
As we walk our path burdened by the memories of our mistakes and failures, and frightened by the reality of our smallness and inner poverty, the Holy Spirit who dwells always in our hearts is crying out to us. “Let me walk with you and set you free from your fears,” says our mentor spirit. “Let me show you the way. Let me show you your gifts. And let me show you that, with me at your side, you – as small as you are – will always have enough and be enough. You will be able to bear your gifts and you will find your way home.”
The Holy Spirit, our mentor spirit, is calling out to each one of us. So what is to be our response? Very simply: Come, Holy Spirit. Walk with us. Show us your path. With you at our side, we will use our gifts and find our way home!
With you, we will set ourselves free!
Archive for June, 2011
Come, Holy Spirit 6-12-2011
Sunday, June 12th, 2011I’m Counting On You! 6-5-2011
Sunday, June 5th, 2011There is an ancient legend about the ascension of Jesus into heaven. According to the legend, when Jesus reached heaven, his body still showed the wounds of his crucifixion. His hands and feet still bore the prints from the nails. His side bore the mark from the spear. His back bore the stripes from the whip, and his head bore the wounds from the thorns. When the people in heaven saw these marks, they were astounded to see how much he had suffered. Then the angel Gabriel rose up and said to Jesus: “Lord, how greatly you suffered on earth!” “Do all the people on earth know and appreciate how much you went through for them and how much you love them?” Jesus replied: “Oh, no!” “Only a handful of people in Palestine know that, the rest haven’t even heard of me.” “They don’t know how much I suffered, and how much I love them.” Gabriel was shocked to hear this. Then he said to Jesus: “How will the rest of the people on earth ever learn about your suffering and your love?” Jesus said: “Just before I left, I told Peter, James and John, and a few of their friends, to tell the rest of the world for me.” “They’ll tell as many people as they can.” “Those people in turn, will tell other people.” “In that way, the whole world will eventually learn about my love for them.” Gabriel looked even more confused now. He knew how fickle people are. He knew how forgetful they are. He knew how prone to doubt they are. So he turned to Jesus and said: “But Lord, what if Peter, James, and John grow tired and frustrated?” “What if they forget about you?” “What if they begin to have doubts about you?” “Didn’t you take these things into account?” “Don’t you have a back-up plan, just in case?” Jesus answered: “I did take all these things into account, but I decided against a back-up plan.” “This is the only plan I have.” “I’m counting on Peter, James, and John not to let me down.” “I’m counting on the people they tell not to let me down.” Many centuries later, Jesus still has no other plan. He counted on Peter, James, and John, and they didn’t let him down. He counted on the people they told, and they didn’t let him down, and now Jesus counts on us. In his book “The Song of the Bird”, Anthony de Mello tells this story. He puts it in the first person to give it added impact. He says. On the street I saw a small girl cold and shivering in a dress, with little hope for a decent meal. I became angry and said to God, “Why did you permit this?” For a while God said nothing. That night he replied quite suddenly, “I certainly did something about it.” “I made you, I made you.” Let’s close with a prayer: Lord Jesus, on this feast of your ascension into heaven, give us new eyes to see your face in the faces of those who are in need. Give us new ears to hear your voice in the voices of those who cry out in pain. Give us new tongues to tell your story to those who have never heard it. Give us new hearts to share your love with those who have not yet experienced it. And Lord thank you for counting on us. We will try our best!
