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Joel 2.25-32

(Acts 2.14-21)

As a small boy living in Glasgow, it was a Sunday afternoon treat to go out into the Clyde valley. There surrounded by, what seemed a myriad of glasshouses, tasty fruits and vegetables were for sale. Yet as the years progressed and heating oil prices rose, those market gardens closed. In fact, the whole area became quite derelict with the skeletons of the broken down hot houses littering the landscape.

However, I am told, today things are again changing the outlook is indeed improving. For whilst the nurserymen will never return to the common or garden pardon the pun produce, more exotic and luxury goods are now worth growing. Life once more is springing to life in the Clyde valley.

Now in some senses the Joel is a slippery work. Moreover, it doesnt seem to relate to any specific event in Israels long story. And so we find it difficult to get its meaning without a historical context. Instead it seems a bit of an anthology a bit of a melange of religious experiences of how God works and an album of how the spirit moves in novel ways. Indeed it is in many ways a promissory document for renewal of life

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through innovation. And as a result Joel is ever a trumpet call for hope even in times of despair. Put directly, it proclaims that Clyde valleys are not limited to the west of Scotland.

And something of this books timeless yet sometimes daunting truth comes out in the Hebrew translation of our passage today. Since it reads but everyone who invokes the name of the Lord shall escape; for there shall be a remnant on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the Lord promised. Anyone who invokes the Lord will be among the survivors.

Particularly for us today, that term remnant should strike very much a chord with us today. In fact, an older member of our congregation many years ago likened practicing modern day Christians as a remnant. At the time I wasnt sure of the parallel; yet I am now. For in these times of declining numbers of worshippers, increasing aggression towards our faith and an oceanic spiritual malaise amongst our fellow citizens, it is not difficult to feel a remnant. It is not difficult to think ourselves trying to keep going an ailing Clyde valley.

Yet, having said that, we need to be aware that this is in itself no bad thing. For in being a loyal remnant we can also expectantly look to Gods promise. The promise we hear in that guarantees, not just of survival

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but of a returning plenty; a renewing of conquests and returning of triumphs. There is a story told of a city-living tourist who visits the western isles. One day he goes fishing trip with a local boatman. In the course of the day they talked of many things. One topic was the visitors holiday last year to Spain. He complained that nothing was done speedily everything was Manyana Manyana; tomorrow tomorrow. He then asked if there was a similar word as Manyana in Gaelic. The native pondered for a moment and said No there is no word as urgent! Well, you are probably saying to me Joel is just Manyana Manyana tomorrow tomorrow. But you know it also is for today. Since it has been noted by scholars that the prophet was above all asking for a presumption; the presumption that Gods promise will come to pass the presumption that all that is promised will be given the presumption that in that promise alone we already need to start celebrating.

Certainly, that was the experience of the first apostles since they had been left bereft with the death of the Lord. Of course, they had a promise of much in Christ but they must have felt like a remnant. Yet they too, like many in the Israel of old, remained loyal. And for that their expectation was fulfilled. For, Jesus had promised the spirit and on Pentecost it came. Moreover, Peter announced it with the very same words that heard this morning from Joel. That men and women will prophesy and have visions and dream

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dreams. In other words God will again reveal his will, work and word in new and startlingly innovative ways. All that the remnant need do is remain faithful, believe in the promise and, as importantly, celebrate.

The famous actor Gregory Peck was once standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant. They had been waiting for some time, the diners seemed to be taking their time eating and new tables weren't opening up very fast. They weren't even that close to the front of the line. Peck's friend became impatient, and he said to Gregory Peck, "Why don't you tell the maitre d' who you are?" Gregory Peck responded with great wisdom. "No," he said, "if you have to tell them who you are, then you aren't."

This story then illustrates what we must do today. For, of course, to be that remnant which God is relying upon to be there when he does the new, we need to be faithful. To respond in an expectant manner to what he requires of us now needs us to believe utterly in the promise. However, if we are truly the faithful and hopeful remnant worthy of our own revelatory Pentecost, we must do something more. We need to celebrate open heartedly and open handedly and openmindedly to the Spirit of the future brought down in fire upon today.

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And what better way to celebrate than a meal warmed through by the spirit, a meal that welds the past, present and future together, a meal indeed worth waiting for because the Lord has grown it himself.