Gifts of the Son & the Spirit
What do Christmas & Pentecost have in common?
Luke 2:1-20 | Acts 2:1-4
What an interesting thing, to read the Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth alongside Pentecost! Both are some form of the entrance of God into the world, one in the Son and one in the Spirit. Both tell of the giving of God’s presence to people - Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us, and the holy spirit, the promised presence of advocacy, wisdom, and power.
In both accounts, diverse groups of people gather from around the land, one for the formal civic requirement of a census and the other a religious rite and pilgrimaged festival (Pentecost).
Both are a gift to you, to the people of God, and to the whole world. They were a gift then and they are a gift now.
Luke 2:1-20
In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.
Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.
The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”
When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.
Acts 2:1-4
When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
Prayer
God,
You give and you give: your presence, your being, your person, your way. Through Christ and by your spirit, you have given yourself to us.
So help me, God: not just to know these things as theological propositions, words in a creed to be memorized (as grateful as I am for such ordered accounts). But beyond that, Lord. Help me to know Jesus and your spirit as personally as possible in my very being and soul, that my life and action would be shaped by his compassion and her wisdom.
So I give you this day. Maybe there won’t be angels shouting praise in the skies or flames of fire lighting upon my head. But may I know your glory all day long, even if only in my heart, and your power, as evidenced through the work of my mind, my mouth, my hands, and my feet.
By your spirit & in Christ, indeed,
Amen.