Pentecost 2009

The builders of the Tower of Babel wanted to use their new technology and science to build a wonderful new world. They wanted to build the new world by themselves and later they wanted to challenge God in his own heaven.

And soon they realized  that they could not even understand one another, much less build a new world for all.

But from this tragedy of a half finished building, God brought about  some good- New languages, new cultures, new cities, new religions, new ways of understanding God, fresh ways of worshipping God,  and the beauty of variety of peoples  developed.

The Feast of Pentecost raeversed the tragedy at the building site of the Tower of Babel.

From many languages one people was born. We in Nepal are here because on us too the Spirit has come down and has gathered us too into that one people of God. But, we were all shocked last Saturday by what happened in this holy place. The building shook by the impact of the bomb detonated by evil people.

Our Faith also shook. Why us, why Celeste, Why Dipa? Why inside a Church where we come only to pray, to sing and to commune with God. Why did God not protect the dead and the injured. After all they had come to worship God.

Perhaps we heard what some of the people who heard about it said- I am not going to no church no more… What kind of a God is that who cannot protect his own innocent people, what is the use of worshipping this kind of an impotent God.. etc.

Yes, indeed What Kind of a God do we worship Sunday after Sunday?
Do you know what kind of a God we have, and we worship? I will tell you
Just look up above the altar.. There he hangs, his arms stretched between heaven and earth, helpless and taunted and beaten and killed by the powerful of the day. God sent no angel to protect his own beloved Son,
No miracle saved him from shameful death and no last minute escape happened.
Abandoned and alone, our God died.

That God died again last week in this very church, torn to pieces by the power of the bomb and the hatred of the people who assembled, brought and entrusted it to an unsuspecting , innocent and talented little girl. What you did to one of the least of my sisters, you did to ME, says our God.

That God stood and watched again last week as his daughters were torn to pieces.
Our God had told us before his own death: I tell you before it happens: Those who kill you will think  they are offering Service to God and pleasing God.

I tell you before it happens so that you might believe and that your faith may not be shaken.
And I give you my sprit who will remind you of all that happened to me and He will be with you.
That is what we are commemorating today. Not only remembering, but also receiving once again that power which made Peter stand up and speak fearlessly.

That power which made him and his friends open the doors which were closed for fear of the enemy
That power which made Peter and the disciples of Jesus speak to people of all languages and countries.

Here is today our chance to accept this Spirit into our lives, the Spirit of courage and of wisdom,
of prudence and of understanding,
of healing and of fortitude.

Peter said he was ready to die with Jesus and when questioned by a servant Girl if he was a disciple of the Nazarenan, he said I don’t even know him.

As an old man he was captured and was condemned to be crucified. He escaped and as he was fleeing from Rome, he saw a man going towards Rome carrying a cross. As the two approached, Peter recognized it was Jesus. Quo Vadis, Where are you going Lord, Peter Asked.. I am going to Rome to be crucified in your place, said Jesus.. Peter got the message and returned and was crucified in Rome.. Thus goes the story.

We thought perhaps we wont have to die for Jesus. Today we are not so sure.
One thing is Sure: The Lord will be with us till the end of the world.. He said so. And we believe so and we know so.

Lord, this is our prayer, Lord Jesus Send us your Spirit. And into your hands we commend our spirit, our lives. Amen.