Let me use a modern fad to help describe what I think the Feast of Pentecost is all about.  How many of you have seen the popular TV program Extreme Makeover?  In this program common people are given the opportunity to undergo cosmetic surgery to help them look better – some would even hope glamorous.  This “makeover” process promises to make a person happy – to help them look prettier, feel better about themselves, and be more “presentable.”

Extreme Makeover is but one of the TV shows which deal with how we appear – how we look.  Queer Eye for a Straight Guy is another one.

And how many talk shows offer hair stylists and facial experts to make someone in the audience prettier?  How the audience coos and applauds when the “transformed” person comes on stage to show off their “new look!”

This is not just a TV phenomenon.  Last year (2003) there were 8 million cosmetic surgery procedures – ½ of which was for people between 35 and 50.  Last year there were 2 million botox injections.  My mother, God rest her soul, would not have known what a “tummy tuck” or “lipo suction” were… but all of us know in 2004.  Decorative tattoos and body piercing are another expression of this fad to make ourselves look special, more appealing, more unique.

What is all of this about?  I would suggest it is about "transformation."  Many people are not satisfied with themselves the way they are.  They want a change for the better.  And these recent fads offer change, transformation, and ultimately "happiness."

I  Feast of Pentecost

I would suggest that the Feast of Pentecost is also about "transformation," the "transformation" of the early disciples of Jesus, and ultimately our own "transformation." Let's briefly look at what this means. The Scripture readings offer us some aspects of this "transformation."  In the first reading we see how the coming of the Spirit, described as a "mighty wind," and "tongues of fire," transforms the disciples from fearful, anxious, cowardly people into bold and courageous disciples of Jesus,
witnesses to all that Jesus said and did.  They are now motivated to carry on the mission of Jesus… even if that should entail persecution.

What changed them? Jesus sends his promised Spirit to "transform" them, change them, motivate and empower them to live as his disciples in their world, and to continue His Mission in their world.
Listen to the Jesus' own words in today's Gospel: "Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send    you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to  them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." How we need Jesus' Spirit to live as his disciples in our world!

The second reading describes how Jesus' Spirit gives each of us gifts to help us accomplish Jesus' Mission in our world.  What gifts are you given to live the Christian life and continue Jesus' Mission in your world?  Are we even aware of the gifts Jesus' Spirit has given us?  Are we aware of our Mission to carry out Jesus' work in our world?

II  Pentecost

Pentecost is about "transformation" - our transformation.  It's about our own "extreme makeover."
For us Christians this "makeover" is not about our looks, our appearance. Appearance is important - but it's not what life is all about.  At times it seems that appearance, beauty, glamour, excitement… this is what life is all about.  How we almost divinize our glamorous celebrities - and how our celebrities influence our young - just think of the "Brittany Spears look" among our youth today.
Appearance is so important to our world. You have to look beautiful, and wear the right clothes.
Styles are so important…whether that’s the "baggy" look, or the "Brittany Spears" look.  And cosmetics are critical. How many billions of dollars do Americans spend each year on cosmetics and clothes?  How many dollars do you spend?  How much time do you spend to look and dress “just right?”

Pentecost is about another type of “transformation.” Spiritual transformation – from spiritual ugliness to spiritual beauty...  From spiritual deformation to spiritual transformation... Jesus gives us His Spirit to “transform” us… to change us.  How? Let's turn to Romans 12:2 where Paul urges the Christians in Rome to be "transformed."  Let's read it together…(p.237) … Do not conform yourself to this age  but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, and pleasing, and perfect. Paul urges us not to be conformed to the ideals and values of our culture - but to be transformed…

((Let’s take another look at this “transformation”….Let’s go to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians… 4:17 – 24.  Let’s read it together…(p.297)  So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance. Because of their hardness of hearts they have become callous
 and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess. That is not how you learned Christ, assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, that you should put away the old self of your former way of  life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self,
created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth. Paul urges disciples of Jesus to be renewed – made new – transformed.))

Read with me Galations 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ And yet I am alive Yet it is no longer I,  But Christ living in me. Paul was deeply aware that he was being transformed into Christ – indeed, that all of us disciples of Jesus are called to become other Christs for our world.

How are we transformed?  In 2 Cor 3:18 Paul asserts that we are being transformed into the image of Christ by the Spirit of Jesus.

That's the Spirit's job - to "transform" us - an "extreme makeover." We are to become other Christs in our world, and continue Jesus' work in our world…This takes time…it's a process… there's so much in us that needs to be changed, "transformed”… There's our own sinfulness, our bad habits,
our woundedness…There are some of our cultural attitudes and values which are not "of Christ,"  but which we “buy into.”

Listen to the beautiful Sequence of today's Mass which describes the Spirit's transforming job…
Heal our wounds, our strength renew On our dryness pour your dew Wash the stains of guilt away.
Bend the stubborn heart and will Melt the frozen, warm the chill Guide the steps that go astray.

We Christians – we who bear the name of Christ… who were baptized into Christ… we are to become Christlike… and the only way to become Christlike is to act like Christ… to have Christlike character traits and Christlike ideals.  We are called to be people of mercy and forgiveness,
people of compassion and generosity – people concerned about others, and not just about “doing it our way,”  “getting our piece of the pie,”  always being the center of attention…  me, me, me… my, my, my.

Christ died on the cross for us so that we could be “transformed” - and not just live comfortable, well-adjusted lives. Christ gives us His Spirit so that we can be “transformed.” Pentecost is about our “extreme makeover,” – not as the world defines it, but as Christ defines it.

Conclusion

As we come to this communion this morning at our Pentecost Eucharist, let’s ask Jesus to pour His Spirit into our hearts – to give us a “heart transplant,” an “extreme makeover.”

Let us pray

Jesus, come into our hearts this day.
Give us the gift of your Spirit.
Help us to be your people in our world..
At home, on the job, in school,
In our neighborhood.
May your Spirit ‘transform’ us this day,
And every day.
Help us to become more and more –
Like you.
This is the glamour of our Christian vocation.
Amen?  Amen!