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The Holy Spirit in the Christian Journey by The Rev. Joyce Stickney On the Feast of Pentecost we celebrate the Rite of Initiation, the Sacrament of Baptism in the context of celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit to Christ's followers and the birth of the Church. In the season of Pentecost we, the Church, renew our covenant with God, building on our baptismal birth in Christ. We ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen, defend, uphold, preserve and direct us as we are gradually growing into the fullness of Christ. In the Nicene Creed we proclaim, "I believe in the Holy Spirit…" The whole Godhead is involved in the rescue and restoration of God's people. It is the Spirit who brings us to repentance and faith, and who makes Christ real to us. Baptism is a mark of belonging, a ground of assurance, which the Spirit can take home to our hearts. It was so to Martin Luther when he was tempted to despair of his spiritual state, he would recall with joy, "I am baptized!" Even in the midst of doubt, when one has no confidence in subjective attitudes such as faith, baptism administered by another, seals physically the objectiveness of what Christ has done for us… this is a ground of assurance. After assuring us that we are Christ's, the Spirit begins to work in us bringing us into a new dimension of freedom. We do not need to spend our lives working hard to abide by a certain set of laws. We do not need to earn forgiveness. The Spirit in us reproduces the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord. The Spirit works deeply within our subconscious selves transforming us, giving us power and desire to work for God's good pleasure. Little by little we become more like Jesus, the embodiment of God's love. The Holy Spirit continually pours love into our hearts until our hearts are overflowing. True holiness, into which the Spirit calls us, is nothing other than Christlikeness (if there is such a word). On June 27th we celebrate the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in us. This is a significant day in our life together as the Bishop will be with us to celebrate the Rite of Confirmation, also a Rite of Initiation. In the season of Lent, thirteen individuals participated in the eight week Christian Journey class which included a retreat at the Cathedral Center in Echo Park. Nine parishioners have decided they desire to be confirmed, received, or reaffirmed at this time. This likely means something unique to each individual in light of his/her Christian Journey. To some it is a sacrament long overdue, to others it is a recognition of one's return to a community of faith (a homecoming), to one or two it might symbolize joining the Anglican Communion having been raised in another denomination, and perhaps to others it is a bold step in a gradual spiritual journey… For all it is an opportunity to open ourselves to experience God's grace. God's grace is abundant and available as these faithful people come forward seeking to serve Christ in their lives. As anyone in the Christian Journey class will tell you, a lot of time was spent discussing the Baptismal Covenant, a profession of faith and promises we make at our baptism and renew continually. The questions asked of us in the Baptismal Covenant are loaded, questions enough to keep us busy in our life time. But the responses to these questions are sincere and hopeful: "I will, with God's help." In a sense our response might more accurately be, "We will, with God's help." Though the Sacrament of Confirmation is offered to the individual, I often view it as a corporate sacrament. The individual makes their own decision about receiving this sacrament, but it is the church and the hands and prayers of the congregation, clergy, and bishop that are also responsible for upholding that individual in their faith. The church as a body, a family, is also continually challenged to respond to the Baptismal Covenant in our life together. Together we need Reaffirmation of the good work the Holy Spirit has begun in us and to be directed and upheld in the service of Christ. Though a group of individuals will be receiving this Sacrament, all of us in light of this remember our own Baptism and/or Confirmation, proclaiming our commitment and seeking the Spirit's renewal of St. Augustine's Church. Together let us hold in our prayers the candidates: Alex, Maryanne, Arthur, Penny, Caldwell, Heidi, John, Ann and Janet, and join us in attending the service (11:00) and reception following in the courtyard.
Copyright © 2004 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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