For Sunday, May
15, 2016, Pentecost Sunday, Year C, Readings: Acts
2:1-21, Ps 104:25-35, 37; Romans 8:14-17, John 14:8-17, (25-27)
When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house...Divided tongues, as of fire...rested on each...All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. [Acts 2:1-4]
You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; and so you renew the face of the earth. [Ps 104:31]
When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ... [Romans 8:13b-17b]
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me...If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of Truth...he abides in you, and he will be with you...Peace I leave with you...Do not let your hearts be troubled...
[John 14:11a, 15-17]
"Pentecost" is Greek for "the fiftieth" and in Christianity, it is the fiftieth day after Easter. In Judaism, Pentecost is also Greek for the ancient holiday of Shavuot or The Festival of Weeks, celebrated after Passover, that commemorates God's giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The disciples of Jesus, perhaps still struggling with their understandings of and ongoing roles after the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension, likely gathered in the Upper Room for the comfortably familiar Shavuot remembrance and feast. Then, suddenly from heaven came that rush of violent wind, and tongues of fire appeared above their heads and each one immediately spoke in a different language. From then, they would be able to spread the word of God in Christ across the world.
In this fiftieth day from the most recent celebration of Easter, we are yet again called to know that we are filled with the Holy Spirit, called to live in the belief in Christ that we claim, and, to keep the Commandments, whose giving on Mt. Sinai we may also commemorate on this day as our rules to live by. On this Birthday of the Church, let us claim our heritage as children of God and use the language of love to be as Jesus has shown us to be. In our times of suffering and our times of joy and in our times of everyday routines, let us breathe deeply and receive the power of the Holy Spirit with untroubled hearts, along with the Peace of Christ, the peace that passes all understanding.
You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; and so you renew the face of the earth. [Ps 104:31]
When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ... [Romans 8:13b-17b]
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me...If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of Truth...he abides in you, and he will be with you...Peace I leave with you...Do not let your hearts be troubled...
[John 14:11a, 15-17]
"Pentecost" is Greek for "the fiftieth" and in Christianity, it is the fiftieth day after Easter. In Judaism, Pentecost is also Greek for the ancient holiday of Shavuot or The Festival of Weeks, celebrated after Passover, that commemorates God's giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The disciples of Jesus, perhaps still struggling with their understandings of and ongoing roles after the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension, likely gathered in the Upper Room for the comfortably familiar Shavuot remembrance and feast. Then, suddenly from heaven came that rush of violent wind, and tongues of fire appeared above their heads and each one immediately spoke in a different language. From then, they would be able to spread the word of God in Christ across the world.
In this fiftieth day from the most recent celebration of Easter, we are yet again called to know that we are filled with the Holy Spirit, called to live in the belief in Christ that we claim, and, to keep the Commandments, whose giving on Mt. Sinai we may also commemorate on this day as our rules to live by. On this Birthday of the Church, let us claim our heritage as children of God and use the language of love to be as Jesus has shown us to be. In our times of suffering and our times of joy and in our times of everyday routines, let us breathe deeply and receive the power of the Holy Spirit with untroubled hearts, along with the Peace of Christ, the peace that passes all understanding.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, awaken us again to the
fire of Your Spirit and the Peace of Christ within us. Untrouble our hearts
that we may feel the rush of heavenly breath, rejoice in Your Presence, and
bless You with our souls.
Spirit
of the Living God
RESPONSE: Fall afresh on us
~
Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, inspire us to speak in the language of Your Truth to the leaders of this
Earth, this Country, and this Community, as the voice of those crying in the
wilderness of poverty, war, intolerance, and injustice. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Spirit
of the Living God
Fall
afresh on us
~ Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, cool the fevers of critical
illness, despair, or deprivation of those in desperate need, and energize all
who give them care and support. We now join
our voices to pray aloud for those in need…
Spirit
of the Living God
Fall
afresh on us
~
Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, infuse Your care and comfort into the hearts of the
mournful, as the souls of all who have reached the shores of Heaven, now rise
and dance in Your everlasting joy and glory. We pray especially for:
Spirit
of the Living God
Fall
afresh on us
~
Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or
silently…
Spirit
of the Living God
Fall
afresh on us
~
Abba, Redeemer, Advocate, amplify our Spirit-given abilities, that together
with those we choose to lead us in Your Church, we may be steadfast in our journey to
renew the face of Earth. We pray especially for:
Spirit
of the Living God
Fall
afresh on us
The Celebrant adds: God All-Knowing, guide the Spirit of Pentecost to
set our souls ablaze once again, that we may keep
Your commandments, do greater works, and live as joint heirs of Your eternal
kingdom. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer Christ, and the Holy Spirit, our
Wisdom Advocate, who together with You reign as One God, now and for eternity. Amen.
Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.
No comments:
Post a Comment