( 1 Cor 2:12 -16 ) - [ Deutsch ]
(with a cardboard box wrapped as a gift)
Reading text
Dear Pentecostal Congregation,
When I think of gifts, I think of Christmas. Colorfully wrapped under the Christmas tree and I think about Easter, looking for eggs and sometimes there is also a little more in the nest. But I've never heard of Pentecost gifts.
Very well, however, from the fact that suddenly a noise came from the sky as from a strong wind. And that all were filled with the Holy Spirit, then in Jerusalem.
The matter of the Holy Spirit is always a little difficult.
Imagine God's spirit for your birthday, under the Christmas tree or in the Easter nest – I think everyone would make sad faces.
Of course, I think we all agree: the gifts are not the most important thing for us at Christmas and Easter, but symbolically, you can also use the gifts to bring the children closer to the meaning of the festivals, for example. We're getting a present. From God. And also today at Pentecost.
We have the Spirit from God so that we may know what is given to us by God - it is said in the letter to the Corinthians. So the Spirit only helps us, so to speak, to recognise what God gives us. (Bringing out the gift) What could be in there? I remember the birthdays and Christmas parties when I was a child. It was always exciting.
And when it finally happened, I ripped open the colorful paper. And in photos from that time you can see it: how my sister and I shine and laugh from one ear to the other – in a mountain of colorful wrapping paper.
In my children's Bible - which I was given for my baptism - Pentecost is so similar. People with colored robes and on each of them a red flame of fire. And everyone is happy and laughing - from one ear to the other.
I loved it when my mother and grandmother read it to me from my children's Bible. And we looked at the pictures. And the magic of this other world came into my room.
It was full of animals, at least two of each kind. And many sheep, of which I was also allowed to be one in my imagination. Then I ran with Jesus over fields, sat with him on the fishing boat when a storm came. The disciples were afraid, but I, I always knew that Jesus would protect me.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
The thing with the Spirit is hard sometimes. At some point it was the magic of childhood is over.
The children's Bible was exchanged for the Luther Bible, and it was so full of letters, small print, of which I did not understand much. All black and white and sometimes a bit gray, but never more colored. I have never read the Bible like I did as a child.
And in the study a lot of exegesis was done. It is wonderful to get to the bottom of things, to ask historically-critically, to put texts in their social context. And to ask what that means for us today. for you and for me. When the faith grows up, I think you can compare it to a cuddle cloth that you have as a child and always need to fall asleep and it always has this soothing smell and is quite wrinkled and full of stains at some point and then it is put in the washing machine for washing and when it comes out, you no longer recognize your cuddle cloth. Where is the familiar color, the soothing smell? And it takes time for it to become your cuddle cloth again. This can also be the case with faith. It is put to the test, and something happens in your life that you cannot immediately classify, and it feels strange, and you seek and long for your faith, which you have come to trust. And it takes a while before you can recognize it again. And it feels so different.
It is expected that miracle or healing occurs right away. And then there are doubts, faith gives way to common sense. And the world is explained. Big Bang and Evolution and the Stories of Jesus... What can we even know about him? How can this be explained with Easter and Ascension and Pentecost? In such a way that one can understand it intellectually.
And for Christmas and birthday, we decided in the family, we give ourselves nothing any more, we are already big and buying gifts is often stressful. And commercial.
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
And at some point, and again and again, the biblical stories become colorful. That gives us a good feeling. God's Spirit is certainly at play. Just like he's often in the game when something new comes up.
When I became a mother and rediscovered the colorful stories in the children's Bible with my children.
When I started working with children and young people, I tried to inspire young people who have not yet heard much about the Church for this Church and for the faith.
When I held my first funerals and felt the mandate in me to tell about my hope and to stand up for the fact that something else is coming.
When we in the family put gifts in colorful paper under the tree again. Anyway, the spirit I knew from my childhood has come back. The feeling that there is more. The feeling that life should be colorful and our mouths full of laughter. From one ear to the other. As adults, we often have it much harder than the kids.
We know the spirit of the world: want to understand and plan everything. But sometimes I know - no, I'm sure it's supposed to be different. That life is meant differently. That life should be colorful and that our God wants to see us laughing.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Speaking of gift. Here it is. Would you like to have it?
Rip it open and look inside? Are you perhaps a bit excited and feel some anticipation in you, what might be in there?
Do you have a wish for what's in there?
This is the gift, dear congregation.
Let us call it
Hope. Confidence. With enthusiasm. Amen