Spirit Power
When [the disciples] had come together, they asked [the resurrected Jesus], “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” – Acts 1:6 (NRSV)
That’s the big question when your candidate is about to ascend into office and the balance of power swings in your party’s favor: “Is this the time when you will make us great again?”
If eye-rolling was a thing back then, I’m pretty sure Jesus did it.
The disciples not only wanted Jesus for President, they expected powerful cabinet positions. When Jesus replies, “Oh you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes” (Acts 1:8), he wasn’t speaking about political power, economic power or military power.
He was talking about the power to persevere in challenging times, the power to have hope in moments of despair, the power to show love when others are aflame with hate. Jesus was talking about a transfer of Spirit power from himself to the disciples to all of us.
We need Spirit power like never before. In our time, a different transfer of power is taking place from a largely white male-centered power base to something far more diverse and more inclusive. Many of the historic power holders are not going quietly.
The disciples learned that the hard way. However, the people who opposed them are gone while the Spirit keeps flowing forward.
Prayer
Was it You, incarnate and resurrecting Spirit, speaking through the words of poet Lucille Clifton? “Come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed.” (From Won’t You Celebrate with Me? by Lucille Clifton)
About the AuthorMatt Laney is the Senior Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA and the author of Pride Wars, a fantasy series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers. The first two books, The Spinner Prince and The Four Guardians are available now.