The sermon titled “Truth and Love, Can We Handle It?” explores the profound message of unity, diversity, and universal love conveyed through the Pentecost experience. Referencing a poignant story about Archbishop Sir Guilford Young and Pope John XXIII, the sermon draws attention to the critical role of language and communication in expressing divine love. Pentecost, where disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in various languages, is a potent symbol of this universal divine love that transcends all boundaries and barriers.
The sermon emphasises the relevance of Pentecost in our contemporary world, mired in division and conflict. It encourages us to receive and spread love, serving as ambassadors of reconciliation in the troubled lives of those around us. Drawing from the metaphor of God breathing life into dry bones, the sermon underlines the importance of love in healing and restoring brokenness. The sermon skillfully contrasts legalistic language concerning sin and righteousness in a passage from John’s Gospel with Jesus’s teachings of love and truth.
Moreover, the sermon addresses the danger of contorting truth in the guise of reconciling differences through a reference to the play and movie “A Few Good Men.”In essence, the sermon encapsulates the fundamental truth of Pentecost — the transformative power of love unifies us as one community in Christ, no matter our distinctions. We are urged to channel this divine love and serve as agents of forgiveness and recovery in a world starved of these virtues.
The sermon conveys the profound significance of Pentecost and concludes with a prayer for the spirit of Pentecost to renew individuals today. It calls on listeners to bear testimony to God’s unconditional love through their actions, love fearlessly, forgive generously, and reconcile graciously. Individuals should empower themselves through God’s love and confront the world’s brokenness, ultimately healing it through divine love.
Breaking Open 