NOTE: The Day of Pentecost provides us with two gospel readings,
and both
are too good to pass up on-good enough to pass on. So what follows are two
programming of the pericopes-one on peace, the other on joy (they belong
together this Pentecost!)
Step 1-Initial Diagnosis: Fearing
This is the second time we revisit this text, or a portion of it. We first
saw it on the Second Sunday of Easter. But this shortened version keeps
the focus on the fear of the disciples behind locked doors, and the stifled
air that they must now breathe, "for fear of the Jews." Locking doors is
common today, too-to keep others out. And the truth is there may be some
good, "secure" reasons for doing that. But the security of the Law does
not guarantee our freedom. It locks us in, to fear.
Step 2-Advanced Diagnosis: Locked hearts
Fear begets mistrust-of others, and also of God. Our hearts are walled off
from the outside. We may not see that at first. But in the shallowness of
our thinning air, our hearts are on a course for thinning blood. Little
life is afforded for the world, because there is so little life in us.
Step 3-Final Diagnosis: Locked-in (retained)
Jesus speaks of "retaining" sins, and such retaining as a practice of the
faithful in locking people in to their place. It sounds cold-as cold as
the small room we have found ourselves in (or, more likely, are unaware of
how cold and dark our room really is, but still know a cold shoulder when
we get it). The truth in that word is that God is giving the cold
shoulder-as part and parcel of his judgment on our closed-off, walled-off
existence.
Step 4-Initial Prognosis: Jesus' Breath of Fresh Air
What we need is word beyond judgment, a word that brings fresh air into
our stifled hallways. Jesus' breath of fresh air comes inside the locked
vicinity of our world and speaks renewal for us all: "Peace be with you."
That peace comes with a price tag; hence, the death marks of his having to
enter our airless death and grave. But he has come through, and now shows
the marks as victory signs, and these breathe new life into our flagging
bodies.
Step 5-Advanced Prognosis: Receiving the Spirit
What Jesus further pours into us (this Pentecost, and every inspiring day
though his inspiring Gospel) is the life-giving Spirit. "Receive the Holy
Spirit." This Breath of life, this ruach elohim, will sustain us each day
with vim and vigor, to breathe again, to trust again, that God is not
against us, but for us, breathing in our very beings, breathing in our
faithfulness.
Step 6-Final Prognosis: Forgiving sins
And faithfulness comes out in the following through of crashing down the
doors, forgiving sins (the final installment of Jesus' breath of fresh
air!). To be sure, there is also the word about retaining. That is not
the Word's major, only the Word's minor-and with the purpose of helping
people to see how fresh the air can get. But forgiveness is the full
promise that provides a lasting security for a world gasping for the air.
Step 1-Initial Diagnosis: Living in danger
To appreciate these few short verses for all their theological helpfulness,
it helps to take in the whole of chapter 7. Verse 13 also recalls "the
fear of the Jews" which was dominant in the text from John 20, but
throughout chapter 7 one gets a sense that there is more than religious
authorities to fear-there are the secular forces of armed guards and a real
threat of danger and death. Judea was a dangerous place for Jesus and his
followers to be, and at a later time they would balk about going back (cf.
11: 8). But even this chapter suggests that Jesus knew the danger of the
times (7:1).
Step 2-Advanced Diagnosis: Dry lips (not risking)
While Jesus' lips are not dry (see below), ours would tend to be. We would
do all that we can to stay away from the danger zones, and keep our mouths
shut. But mouths that are not speaking words are signs of a problem deeper
in our being-our unwillingness to risk. One may speak to make themselves
look better or greater, "seeking their own glory" (7:18), but that too,
like not taking any chances, is our unfaith.
Step 3-Final Diagnosis: Damned
The only time in chapter 7 that the word "damned" is used in on the lips of
the Pharisees-and that in reference to the "crowd" as so judged by the
Law(v. 49). That condemnation has a fuller ring to it, however, even more
than the Pharisees intended. All are damned to the dry lips of God that
will not speak to us, or for us.
Step 4-Initial Prognosis: Jesus' Speaking Out for us
Jesus, however, refuses to be silent-or silenced. He continues to speak
out his Word of promise. And even when the clear-and-present-dangers of
the "authorities" (acting even of the Law's behalf) get their way, even
then his cross will speak volumes. Those who were condemned under the law
and now set free by the flowing Word of Jesus the Christ. So on this "last
and great day" of festival, with the pouring of the water-libation, Jesus
lets his river of promise pour out upon the people.
Step 5-Advanced Prognosis: Flowing rivers of living water
Scholars struggle with the 38th verse, "Out of the believer's heart shall
flow rivers of living water." Is this really in reference to Jesus or in
reference to the believer? Answer: both! To be sure, this promise
emanates at its source from Jesus' life-giving water. But it also now
flows in the hearts of believers, so that in faith there is never a dry
well, nor ever a parched lip. Believers, too, flow with the promise!
Their hearts get to rejoice in the water that has been poured on their
parched land.
Step 6-Final Prognosis: Speaking up!
That flowing leads to the believers now being free to speak up and speak
out. Nicodemus got his first taste of Jesus' living water earlier (chapter
3), and lo and behold even he dares a word into the forum of a
clear-and-present-danger in this chapter (vs. 50-51). He would get
rebuked. But that comes with the territory. The promise of Jesus' river
of joy, however, is that it cannot be shut-off. Borrowing from a stanza of
a lively hymn, our own song may also be this: "flow, river, flow, flood
the nations with love and mercy" (With One Voice, #651). Joy abounds!