In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

     Pentecost is one of the three great festivals of the Church--Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. But of the three great festivals, Pentecost is hardest to get a grasp on--because there's so much involved in Pentecost! Christmas--it's the birth of Jesus--Emmanuel, God-with-us. Easter, it's the resurrection. Pentecost? Well, just think about our three lessons. Our first reading is from Acts, recounting for us that day of Pentecost when the disciples were all together in one place, and suddenly there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house, and tongues as of fire appeared on them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages--and then Peter stood up and preached to all these people from many different lands, proclaiming that this was the fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by the prophet Joel. And in this, we see the undoing of the confusion of languages at Babel--when God gave different languages to keep people from trying to build a tower to heaven. Now, though believers are speaking different languages, they're able to understand God's Word, each in his own language, but united in the power of the Holy Spirit. Then, in I Corinthians, we hear St. Paul writing about one of the meanings of the gift of the Holy Spirit--that in the power of the Spirit, and only in the power of the Spirit, are we able to confess that "Jesus is Lord". And then, Paul explains how this Spirit gives a variety of gifts--all of which are equally valid gifts, just different--making of the Body of Christ, one body, though there are many members.as the Church is made up of many different people, all united in the Spirit, baptized into the one Body of Christ. And then, we turn to our gospel reading and we see yet another aspect of the Festival of Pentecost--as we hear about the Risen Jesus coming to his disciples as they huddle behind locked doors for fear of the Jews--and Jesus offers them peace. Twice, Jesus says, "peace be with you". And then, after calming their fear, after bringing them peace, by His presence, then, He breathes his Holy Spirit upon them so that they may go to preach and teach and minister in His name--indeed, to forgive sins, and proclaim reconciliation and restoration.

     And with all these different themes--highlighted by each of our three, very different Scripture lessons today--we have to stop and ask--where do we start? Is there one of these lessons, or one of these Pentecostal themes that should take precedence--one that guides us through this festival day, so that we, too, come out of it, ready to be sent--ready to proclaim, ready to minister in Jesus' name?

     It seems to me, we have to begin with our gospel lesson--and the fear of those first disciples, and the peace that Jesus gives. And it seems to me we have to begin there, because until we overcome our fear, Jesus won't be able to accomplish much, through us. Oh, we may not be hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews--but we do, indeed, hide behind locked doors. And we are, often, afraid. We may not be willing to openly admit it, or talk about it, but most of us have those deep down fears, that control us, and cause us to hide ourselves, and our feelings, and keep us from fully living, this life that we've been given, in the Spirit. Yes, we too keep ourselves locked up--hidden behind the barriers that we've erected, hoping that our defense mechanisms and our emotional distance, will keep us safe.for fear of---well, for fear of whatever we feel threatens us. Fear--the dictionary says fear is a feeling of anxiety and agitation caused by the presence or nearness of danger, evil, pain--fear can be evidenced by timidity, dread, terror, fright, apprehension, uneasiness, doubt. We may not be all shut up because we fear the Jews--but many of us fear--life, death, marriage, divorce, children, parents, work, school, failure, disease and illness, relationships, poverty, loneliness, abuse, addiction.there are many, many things that can cause us to fear--and for many of us, this fear hinders us, it is a stumbling block, it keeps us from living life fully, as the Spirit-filled people we are. Just as their own fear, kept those first disciples from doing what they had been created to do, and baptized to do, and instructed to do. And before Jesus could send them out to do the work they were redeemed, to do--He had to deal with their fear. Before we can be sent out to do the work we have been redeemed, to do, Jesus has to deal with our fear, and so, we have to deal with our fear, too. And how does Jesus deal with fear--the disciple's fear--our fear? He--our Risen Lord, brings us His peace. The antithesis of fear, is not the absence of danger, not being without pain--the stimuli that cause fear will always be with us-- peace is that which causes us to be able to be strong, and courageous, and active, in spite of danger, evil and pain. Peace is that which empowers us to live fully, in spite of disease, grief, failure and uncertainty. Which is why, Jesus himself, as the prophet Isaiah said, is the "Prince of Peace". Which is why the angels, at Jesus' birth, proclaimed, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth." Jesus said to his disciples at the Last Supper, in the Farewell Discourses we've been hearing these last few weeks, "my peace I leave with you--my peace I give to you--not as the world gives, do I give it to you." And then he continues, "let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." If we are living life, controlled by fear, hindered by anxiety and uncertainty--then we are not at peace. And peace, is what Jesus, the Prince of Peace, offers to us. Peace is what Jesus offered to his first disciples, so that they might come out from behind locked doors, to live and serve as His strong, courageous followers. And peace is what Jesus is offering to us, this Pentecost Sunday--to set us free from fear, to calm our troubled hearts, to prepare us for, the baptized life He's laid out before us, knowing that we will be of little use, to ourselves, to Him, or to others, if we stay locked up by fear. So, Jesus speaks to us, to you, the same words He spoke to the twelve, on that Sunday, almost 2000 years ago. Jesus says to you--as He said to them, "Peace be with you.receive the Holy Spirit." He commands peace--and then, He imparts His Holy Spirit. Knowing that it would take both of those, to free His disciples from fear, and to give them the power to live, fully as His disciples, Jesus offers both, to those who would receive them. Peace, and His Holy Spirit. And, will it work, for you and for me? Did it work, for those first twelve disciples? Just after this experience in the upper room, Peter and the other eleven disciples, stood up, in public, and proclaimed the good news to all the men of Judea, and all who lived in Jerusalem. These were the very ones who huddled in fear behind locked doors.now, standing up and being powerful witnesses to Jesus Christ. And we, too, can experience that freedom from fear, and power for living.when we are given the peace of Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit. You, too, can experience that freedom from fear, and power for living, when you are given the peace of Christ and receive the Holy Spirit. For just as they are given to the Church, they are also given to you. And today, I want you to hear that, and to know that. The peace of Christ--for you--the Holy Spirit--for you. So, as we sing the hymn of the day, all who struggle with fear, all who may be afraid, all who are hindered by anxiety and uncertainty, all who need the peace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit--come forward, and with the laying on of hands, hear the words of Jesus spoken FOR YOU--and then, receive His peace--receive the Holy Spirit--to go, in peace, to serve the Lord, to offer forgiveness and reconciliation, to live fully and faithfully, as the baptized, Spirit inspired children of God you are! That's what Pentecost is for--the giving of the Spirit, to give you power--but first, to give you peace. Come and receive that peace, and that power!

     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.