June 1, 2019
Beloved in Christ:
Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
One of my favorite great days of the Church calendar is the day of the Pentecost. Whenever I read the story in Acts 2:1-21, it fills my spirit and challenges me!
The story of the birth of the Church, its diversity, and the Holy Spirit enabling them to embrace their diversity as a community where all the languages of God are truly celebrated gives me hope for the Church!
In Verses 12 and 13 of Chapter 2 we read, "All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?' But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.'"
As I read this question, I wonder how we can make the communities surrounding our churches look at us, our ministries, and missions and ask, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:13) I wonder if our Christian witness sometimes makes others – people of all faiths and ages, especially those in the margins – blame us saying, "They are filled with the new wine." (Acts 2:13)
In my humble opinion, we need to keep the charter of the Church very clear in our minds and hearts:
The Great Confession of Peter – Matthew 16:16
The Great Commission – Matthew 28:19-20
The Great Commandment – John 15:12
The Great Confession: Peter, the preacher on the day of the Pentecost, knew where he stood in his faith. Elsewhere in the Bible we read, “He [Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15-16).
The Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
The Great Commandment: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12)
As we celebrate the birthday of the Church, may we take time to study and reflect on the Great Confession, the Great Commission and the Great Commandment and as baptized Christians, ask ourselves the following questions:
First, what is my answer when people of other faiths or no faith, children, youth, and young adults ask me “Who is Jesus?”
Second, what can I do to make true disciples for Jesus, not just members for the Church? Do I speak of my faith only inside the walls of the church or also in my social groups and workplace?
Third, is my love for others based on the model of Christ's love or the standards of the secular world? What does it take for me to model the love shown by Jesus so others may see Christ in me?
May God nudge us through the power of the Holy Spirit and fill us with the love of Jesus, so we will never stop asking the question, "What does this mean?" May our Christian witness be so strong and powerful that people in our neighborhoods don't dismiss us saying, "They are filled with the new wine.”
I am looking forward to seeing many of you soon at our Christian/Holy Conferencing in Manchester, NH.
May all of us pray to our Creator God in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to pour genuine Christian love – filled with the power of the Holy Spirit – upon our community so those gathered in Manchester and those watching from afar may say, "This is what it means.”
In Christ's love,
Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar
