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Homilies by Rev. Andrew Collis unless indicated otherwise.

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Easter 6, Year A
South Sydney Uniting Church
May 21, 2017

1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21


‘Side by side’

In two weeks’ time we will celebrate an important day in the church year. We might say it’s the last day of Easter, the 50th day after Easter Sunday when Jesus is raised to new life. The day is called … Pentecost … and one of the Pentecost stories tells of a rushing wind and flames and disciples able to speak and understand different languages, different words. God be with you …

Everybody is amazed by this coming of the Holy Spirit. They talk about God – about hospitality, courage, grace and kindness – in words that people from different cultures and families can understand. On Pentecost Sunday we’re invited to wear red. The tablecloth will be red, too. It’s very exciting, empowering.

But that’s still two weeks away.

In today’s Gospel reading Jesus teaches one new word (maybe he wants us to prepare for learning many new words at Pentecost). He is talking to his disciples who are feeling lonely and worried. “Don’t be afraid,” he says, “when I go to God I will ask God to send you another Paraclete to be with you always.”

Another Paraclete …

I had never heard this word before. It’s not a word the disciples could have read in their Bibles. Paraclete … the word is found in John’s Gospel only … five times here in John 14.

When I first heard it, I thought Jesus said parakeet, like a small parrot – “I will ask God to send you another parakeet to be with you always.” Why would God send me a parakeet? I wondered. What happened to the first parakeet that God would send me another one?!

Have you ever seen a parakeet? A budgerigar is a common parakeet. A budgie ... with beautiful feathers, sometimes blue, sometimes yellow or green ...

I didn’t hear it properly, but that’s okay. The picture of a parakeet can actually help us understand what Paraclete means.

Paraclete is a Greek word. The first part of the word, para, means alongside or beside. The second part of the word, from kaleo, means to speak, call or cry. So a Paraclete is someone who comes alongside you, who sits beside you, either when you are crying or calling out for help, or when you need someone to speak for you.

Paraclete is really a new name for God.

It’s a beautiful name for the Spirit of Jesus who sits or stands beside you, who helps you when you can hardly speak. The Paraclete says, “I love you. I love you just as you are.” And if people are being unfair or unkind to you, the Paraclete says, “I’m proud to call this person my friend. I’m staying right here with my friend.”

Have you seen two parakeets sitting together on a branch?

Have you seen a mother bird caring for her chicks?

Have you ever heard a parakeet or a budgie talk?

Imagine teaching/hearing a parakeet (to) say: “You are loved as you are. You have the right to be yourself. God’s desire is to help you rise up so that you may develop your gifts and become fully yourself” [Jean Vanier].

Imagine hearing God say those words to you. Practise saying them to one another. “You are important. You have value. I am with you so that you can rediscover your dignity.” Walking a path with someone, standing beside someone, sitting side by side, like parakeets on a branch ...

Have you ever had a parent, teacher or friend come and sit beside you, maybe to see what you’re working on, to share a meal or even a conversation? In Indigenous cultures it’s considered very respectful to sit and talk side by side. My Korean friend says it’s about making sure that somebody you care for is comfortable.

Some time after our friend Trevor died, the city made a bench on the footpath near a park in the neighbourhood where he lived. The bench is a good way to remember Trevor because there is room on the bench (just like on a pew) for two or three people to sit and talk. To rest awhile. Just as Trevor loved to sit and talk with his friends.

“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus says, “when I go to God I will ask God to send you another Paraclete to be with you always.”

You will know the Spirit of Jesus when you find yourself in a conversation, like two or more parakeets on a branch, side by side, sharing visions of the world, hopes for the world, or calling up the courage for little decisions. When short conversations make it possible for all kinds of things to be explored and expressed (Have you ever seen a tree full of noisy parakeets?).

Trust those moments. Honour those times and places. You are living (in) the love of God.

Let’s pray.

Jesus,

Thank you for teaching us a new name for God.
The word Paraclete means someone who sits beside us,
someone who listens and cares,
someone who helps us to speak,
so that we might learn to share
words and stories, visions and prayers.
Send us this Spirit always.

Amen.


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