THE  WIND  BLOWS

WHERE  IT  WILLS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this Second Tuesday after Easter is, “The Wind Blows Where It Wills.” John 3:8a

QUESTION

Where does that mysterious saying of Jesus blow or push you to:  like wind blowing leaves in a spring storm or dry fallen leaves on a November sidewalk?

What are your memories of this mysterious reality - wind - invisible wind - silent and gentle sometimes - whistling and wonderful at other times - and sometimes devastating and destructive? You’re out in the bay and the wind is perfect and your sails are full; you’re at home and a wind storm comes - knocks down a 101 trees and you’re without electricity for 2 and half days.

The wind blows where it wills.

Better not quote that to the folks in Tornado Alley in the Lower Mid-west - USA - especially these days - or wherever there is dry brush - electricity storms - and  worries about forest fires.

The wind blows where it wills.

SCRIPTURE

In the First  Book of Kings 19: 11 there is the famous scene when Elijah the prophet is running for his life and hides in a cave and he has a God experience - and God is not in the fire or the storm or the earthquake - but God is in the gentle breeze.

How many people have had the same experience sitting alone on a back porch with a cup of coffee in the morning or a cup of tea at night - or a nice drink - and there is God in the cool of the morning or the cool of evening?

The wind blows where it wills.

I love to picture Jesus’ face when he went into the mountains or to deserted places and experienced the love of God his Father. When he told Nicodemus - as we heard in today’s gospel - that “The wind blows where it wills” - was it those experiences that backgrounded that comment - or was it out on the Lake of Galilee and a storm came up? How often did he climb the mountains in northern Israel by himself or with friends - before he started his public life? Did he pause to feel the wind? Did he pause to study the beauty that surrounded him? He told us to spot the birds of the air? Talk about awareness of air and wind - learn a lesson from the birds - flying well before Orville and Wilbur.

CONCLUSION: EARTH  DAY - EARTH  WEEK

Next Sunday - April 22 -  in 175 countries around the world, it’s Earth Day. I didn’t have time to check if they were mostly countries in the Northern Hemisphere - where it’s Spring. Last Sunday, April 15,  till this coming Sunday, April 22. it’s Earth Week in many places.

Question: what are we doing to make our space - the place of our footprints - beautiful? I try to pick up paper and dumped and dropped cups and cans in our parking lot. Annapolis certainly is beautiful - most of the year - but especially in the Spring. Praise God - but are we already in summer?

Yesterday, a lady who lost her husband recently told me that the family spotted an Eagle on the way back from the cemetery - and the family saw that as a sign - because her husband loved life and creation.  Then last night on NBC evening news Brian Williams spoke in the final segment - the good news - that eagles in America are being spotted in many places - the pollution in the air has been reduced and their eggs are making it.

Next Sunday up in Annapolis Towne Centre - in front of Gordon Biersch Restaurant - between 2 and 4:30 PM,  there is going to be an Earth Day Celebration and service with various ministers, rabbi, priest, etc. who will give some reflections and earthy prayers, etc.

Being of Irish background I might use some of those wonderful Irish blessings, which mention the wind. May we have the “Deep peace of the flowing of the air” or “May the breeze tussle your hair, Colleen” or “ “May the wind always be at your back”. Or I might change that last one to a prayer for earth day: Earth, waters, wind, may we always have your back -  because if we don’t -  we might not have you back.”

May the wind be always with us. Amen.