May 22, 2015
It’s a time of playoffs, when both hockey and basketball comes to the days of the end of their season. I was in New York 10 days ago before the Rangers won in overtime over the Capitals. Walking about 5 in the afternoon, I saw blue jersey after blue jersey, all with the red-and-white Ranger lettering. What struck me was the determination of their faces, how it was as if they were going to play, they were going into the rink to struggle, and they were going to win.
I think we’ve become a nation of fans. In spite of the outrageous expense of tickets, more and more of us are identifying with favorite teams. It’s as if we think there’s a transfer of energy: our energy gives strength to our favorite team. And we can channel the energy of the team into our own lives; we can win if they are winners.
Of course, most of this is illusion. We may jump around if our team wins but our lives go on the same as ever. On some universities, students cause riots when their team loses or wins. Some cities throw confetti parades for their teams. But our lives go on the same as ever, with our responsibilities, with our burdens. The truth is that I may root for Rory McIlroy, as I rooted and still root for Tiger Woods, but my golf game is still as poor as ever.
“As the Father sent me, so I send you.” Jesus tells his disciples this just after he breathes upon them, as if he could impart his inner energy to them. The word for “breath” and “wind” is the same word for ‘Spirit.” And we see a more powerful version of this in the first reading when wind, thunder, and fire encircle the Apostles. Jesus is going to heaven. But he leaves his apostles and followers his Holy Spirit. Jesus is saying that the last thing he wants is for us to be only fans.
Because it’s easy to be on the sidelines, to sit in the stands, to order another hot dog or beer. But that’s not the same as playing, as putting in the sweat and energy that brings about victory. Sure, our yelling might encourage our team, but teams need to play, and know how to play, or else they won’t win even with the loudest yelling.
Jesus breathes his Spirit upon us to make us players, to give us his own power so we can continue his mission. He doesn’t expect us to sit on the sidelines. Many of us churchgoers do a form of that; and millions of non-churchgoers don’t even bother to root. But Jesus wants all of us to be filled with his Spirit, which doesn’t mean to jump around, to yell Alleluia, to relax because we think we’re saved and that’s the end. Rather, his Spirit leads us to act like him, with his power.
For the power of Jesus was to show love, compassion, and forgiveness. The power of Jesus was to reach out to the unreached, to lift up the burdened, to work for justice, to give himself particularly when it cost, to bring words of encouragement when people are distressed. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” We can’t sit on the sidelines; every one of us is sent, in the parameters of our own world, to bring Christ’s love and hope.
I can never remember from year to year who won the World Series, or the Stanley cup, or even the Masters. But I can remember so many acts of selfless kindness, and so many people lifted by the strength of others. Jesus breathes upon us; today is Pentecost. Pentecost is not only celebrated; it is lived.