Today's readings are full of God's promises to his people that they will in fact enter the land of promise. That's appropriate for today, Pentecost Sunday, the day when we celebrate God's giving of the Holy Spirit to empower believers in this world and to call people to Christ in faith and repentance. Our Lord has made a promise of eternal life. Yet we seem to focus just on this mortal life. Our Lord has made a promise of heavenly bliss. We seem to focus on what will make us happy on this planet. How great are the promises of God! How limited are my expectations!
I'd challenge people today to consider whether their local churches are focused on eternity or temporality. How many of us hear sermons today about Memorial Day, a "man" holiday in which we remember our war dead? How many of us hear sermons today about Pentecost, a "God" holiday in which we celebrate the coming of the third person of the Trinity?
Lord, may we be people who look to the hope you have given us, a true and eternal hope.
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