Preaching the Scriptures

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Acts 2:1-21 The Wind They immediately noticed the mighty, rushing wind because, generally speaking, a mighty, rushing wind does not happen indoors.   That is why that wind was so noteworthy, why we are still talking about it so many centuries later.   It was impossible – and yet it happened.   There were no ceiling fans wobbling above their flaming heads in the first century.   There were no industrial strength hair dryers blowing in the upper room.   There was no David Watts standing over a smoking thurible with his gigantic fireplace bellow in that ancient gathering place.   They were inside; and that is not where one typically finds a violent breeze. Inside, behind closed doors, is not where a mighty, rushing wind even belongs.   It doesn’t work.   It is simply too disruptive.   It messes things up.   It stirs the curtains and twists the sheets.   A mighty, rushing wind rustles the pag...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Acts 2:1-21 & John 20:19-23 No Birds. Just Wind. It's Pentecost. And I guess I thought there would be more birds. I mean, this is the Holy Spirit's big day and during the Spirit's very first, and most memorable, appearance in the Gospel, at the baptism of Jesus, the Spirit floated down from the heavens dressed as a bird. That was the first impression and, I gotta say, it really stuck. I've seen the religious art of the middle ages, probably you have too; the Trinity is always Old Man, Young Man, and white bird. I've sang those good bird-centric Pentecost Holy Spirit Hymns: Like the murmur of the dove's song, like the challenge of her flight. Bird. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove. Bird. Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet Heavenly Dove, stay right here with us, filling us with your love. Bird. I mean, dress like an animal once and no one will ever let you forget it. Just ask Sean Spicer. Even our b...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson John 20:1-18 The Same Spirit Dwells in You In one of the few scriptures we didn't read this morning, the Apostle Paul writes, to a newborn Christian community, living in the shadows of the same powerful Empire that put to death their Lord Jesus, to a fledgling community struggling to survive: “The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you.” And here you sit today, descendants of those first Christians; and I want you to know: this message, Paul's message, is meant for you too. The very same Spirit of the living God, the same Spirit that empowered the baby Church, the same Spirit that spoke life into that dark cave, into that lifeless tomb, that same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you. You are housing resurrection power. Can you feel it? You are breathing the breath of God. What you are breathing in and out, holding in your lungs, is as ancient as Creation. In the beginning, before...