“When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit… and they gathered a large crowd.”
Last Sunday, a different “they,” MAGA, gathered a large crowd. MAGA was not filled with the Holy Spirit, nor were they witnessing Pentecost. MAGA was announcing “A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving, Rededicate 250.” The stage layout served as a metaphor for MAGA Christianity. The outline structure resembled a typical U.S. State building: concrete, pillars, and carved letters signifying its purpose – rededicating a fallen nation to God. The inside structure resembled a typical U.S. Church building: stained glass windows, a U.S. flag, and a cross signifying its purpose – rededicating a fallen people to God. MAGA want to communicate that the Church exists inside the State as its ancestral essence. Critics want to communicate that the entire structure and its staging is a violation of the separation of Church and State. Is it possible MAGA is correct? The Church, as institution, is indeed the ancestral essence of the State. The institutional Church and Temple and Synagogue of whatever political nation, has always existed to confer holiness upon the State. The Church’s holiness is conferred upon the State’s rulers, the suffering they cause, the violence they do. Critics thus fail to understand the inherent union between Church and State. The current criticism against MAGA seems not to be criticism against the State, its rulers, the suffering they cause nor the violence they do. Rather, the criticism seems to be that a particular denomination has control of it all, white evangelical Protestants of institutional Christianity. Rededicate 250 was indeed a display of Christianity, institutional Christianity, that wedded itself to the state almost 2,000 years ago. The union began with Paul of Tarsus proclaiming for the Church that, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is… appointed by God.” The union was completed by Emperor Constantine between 313 at his military victory and 325 at his Council of Nicaea. Constantine used Paul’s diversion away from Jesus and toward the State, and his own position within the State, to further establish Church State union. As surrounding bishops heeded Emperor Constantine’s call to Church State unity then, so too U.S. bishops heeded Emperor Trump’s call to Church State unity last Sunday. Bishops Dolan and Barron offered pleasant words to polite applause on the union of Church and State. None of the self-titled Christians understood Jesus’ peace revolution ends both the Church and the State, its rulers, the suffering they cause, the violence they do. None of them understood Pentecost takes the peace revolution global.
“How would it feel, then, to live in that God-shaken house? To feel the wind, like the very breath of life, like the stirring of the deep before time, gusting through… not to be contained… fire falling, flames bright and crackling… to be blown open lock-sprung lifted with wild reckless joy as words tumble out into the clear singing light? It would feel like this, it feels like this, and it is still only morning.” (Pentecost – Andrea Skevington)
Prayer: Spirit, shake us with wild reckless joy.
Question: What opportunities do I have to challenge MAGA with Jesus’ peace revolution?
May 24, 2026 Gospel John 20:19-23 Pentecost Sunday