One of the things that has puzzled me over the years is this whole idea of convergence. What I mean by convergence is that weird thing that happens when you’re out walking on the trail, and you see someone up ahead of you that is moving more slowly than you are, then you also see someone approaching in the opposite direction. As soon as you see this combination of events, you know that you’re going to all converge at the narrowest place in the trail. It’s the same thing that happens when you’re driving down the road and you see someone walking on the side of the road, and there’s a car coming in the opposite direction. You know as soon as you see the scenario that everyone is going to converge at the exact same moment. On the one hand, I can’t help but seeing the opportunity this creates to say “hi” and wave to a neighbor. But, as a “retired data analyst,” I have spent countless hours pondering the data trying to ascertain how this could happen. By all rights, it should never happen. Statistically there are far too many variables at play to yield convergence with any consistency. Yet, that is what happens again and again. What is even more puzzling, however, is that I’ve tried to manipulate the system and change the outcome. I’ve tried speeding up. I’ve tried slowing down. I’ve tried speeding up and then slowing down to avoid convergence. But to no avail. It’s tempting to speculate that everyone who is part of the convergence is reacting to the same awareness of the upcoming meeting. However, the teenage driver that was involved in my last convergence experience on Booty’s Road clearly demonstrates that there was no awareness of any opportunities to say “hi!”
In the final analysis, it seems that no matter what I do, convergence is supposed to happen. It’s almost like there is something innate in us that is drawing us to converge. Almost like there is something greater at work that is drawing us to converge. I submit to you that “something” is no less than the Holy Spirit Himself.
Our Gospel readings over the last two weeks have been from the book of John. Last week in John 14:2, Jesus told the disciples:
In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.
In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, John 14:16, Jesus goes on to says:
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
And then finally, Jesus concludes in John 16:13–14:
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. (emphasis added)
Jesus promised that the Spirit of truth would guide (lead) us “into all the truth.” That is, the truth of the Gospel that Jesus died for us and rose again to give us new life. Jesus promised that the Spirit of truth would take what is His and declare it. One of the primary places where the Spirit of truth does this is when He gathers us together for worship around the Word and Sacrament. Luther, in his explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed, captured it this way:
In the same way [the Holy Spirit] calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.
That is why during this pandemic we all have hungered and desired so much to gather again for worship in God’s house of prayer. Thanks be to God, on May 24th at 11am many of us will be able to gather for in-person worship at Faith!
Yet, not all of us are able to gather in-person at this time. For those who are at risk, it is still too risky. So what does that mean about convergence? Is the Holy Spirit not able to bring us all together at this time? Absolutely He can, and absolutely He will! While not everyone can attend our first in-person worship services, we can all gather together around God’s Word either in-person at Faith, or in-person online. We have an amazing opportunity to be converged and continue to be connected by coming to worship at exactly 11am on the 24th, either in-person or online knowing with all certainty that what Jesus said is true, “[the Spirit of truth] will take what is mine and declare it to you.” Jesus has not left us as orphans. No, our loving Triune God is actively gathering us together to converge around His Word, Jesus.
Praise the Lord, Pastor Bill Crowe
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