For Sunday, May 31, 2020, Readings: Acts 2:1-21; Ps 104:25-35, 37; 1 Cor 12:3-13; Jn 20:19-23
When the day of Pentecost had
come, the disciples were altogether in one place. And suddenly from heaven
there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind... Divided tongues, as of
fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them
were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the
Spirit gave them ability... then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
shall be saved. [Acts 2:1-4, 21]
O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all...You send forth your Spirit, and they are created...Bless the Lord, O my soul. [Psalm 104: 25a, 31a, 37a]
Now there are a variety of gifts but the same Spirit...but it is the same God that activates all of them in everyone...To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good...the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members of the body, though many are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free... [1 Corinthians 12:4a, 6b-7, 11]
...[Jesus] cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the Scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow the living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit, which the believers were about to receive..." [John 7:37b-39a]
O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all...You send forth your Spirit, and they are created...Bless the Lord, O my soul. [Psalm 104: 25a, 31a, 37a]
Now there are a variety of gifts but the same Spirit...but it is the same God that activates all of them in everyone...To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good...the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members of the body, though many are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free... [1 Corinthians 12:4a, 6b-7, 11]
...[Jesus] cried out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the Scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow the living water.' Now he said this about the Spirit, which the believers were about to receive..." [John 7:37b-39a]
Fifty Days after
Easter,
Ten Days after the
Ascension
comes Pentecost,
the feast of Holy
Spirit:
the Birth Day of the Christian Church
The word Pentecost comes
from the Greek for "fiftieth" and carries much ancient history and
tradition along with its place on the Christian calendar. On the
Jewish calendar, this ancient feast is Shavuot and follows 50 days after
Passover. Shavuot celebrates
the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai and perhaps is another reason the
disciples were gathered. Being together, perhaps comforted by a familiar and venerable ritual, they waited for the unknown sign promised by the
resurrected Jesus in his final in-person teachings.
Remember, that in just in the previous month and a half, the disciples had experienced the
arrest and violent execution of Jesus, his resurrection, various appearances to
them, his ascension, and their own grief and fear and uncertainty at these
inexplicable turns of events. Here they are gathered together again without
quite knowing what was next or when. Suddenly a sound like a
violent wind and tongues of fire resting on them, and speaking in multiple languages gave them more than good
reason to be bewildered, astonished, and amazed! And then, their ministry began
in earnest, taking Christ's message far and wide.
Today we are blasé. We know the story too well; we are immune to the
thrill and amazement of it. In "normal years" we pack the churches at
Christmas and Easter yet come Pentecost, all seems routine even if a
"festival Eucharist" is celebrated. Of course, Christmas, Good
Friday, and Easter are all critical to our Christian history. We can't have
gotten to this point at all without Christ's birth, death, and resurrection.
But it was the arrival of the Holy Spirit, on that Pentecost, that fired up the
Apostles. That was the moment that sent them around the known world proclaiming Christ, converting,
and making the way for us to be the Church here, now, more
than 2,000 years later. Without that Pentecost, would we still
know about Christmas, Good Friday, or Easter?
It is in these pandemic times with fear, frustration, anger, and intolerance swirling around in ever more intense levels, that we can take the time to stop and read the texts with new understanding, a fresh awareness of what it must have been like for those in that Upper Room. From the devastation of the Crucifixion, to the confusion and the wonder of the resurrection, to the joy of his return among them and suddenly bewildered by his ascension. And now only 10 days after his final leaving...they are waiting...and wondering...for what they are unsure.
For us, today is the day to move beyond merely knowing the story. Today is the
day to seek the feeling of the Spirit within us – to be as amazed and
astonished and bewildered as the Apostles - and to be reinvigorated and excited. We have the Spirit within us! And
God’s grace, and the love and Salvation of Christ for the wanting of it.
THIS IS the day that the LORD has made! Let us truly rejoice and be
glad and joy-filled, and alive in it! After all, what else is
faith for?
On this fiftieth day from Easter, we are to know that we, too, are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are to accept and welcome the extraordinary gifts and abilities bestowed on us, chosen for and unique to each of us. To be eager and enthusiastic in embracing all that a true life of faith calls us to be and to do, to live fully in the belief in Christ that we claim to have. We also celebrate, with our Jewish heritage, the giving of the Law on Sinai as our rules of life, transformed by Jesus into the Greatest Commandment [see Matthew 22:37-39]. On this Birthday of the Church*, let us claim our heritage as children of God, equal one and all, and to use the language of love with each other and especially with those who aren't so lovingly inclined. It is in times such as these, as we strive to be all that Jesus has shown us we can be, that the Spirit gives us what we need to withstand the challenges. Christmas is wonderful, and lovely, and blessed, Easter is fragrant and joyful, but with Pentecost comes the true gift that brings fire to our souls and lifts our life's journey to a new level!
On this fiftieth day from Easter, we are to know that we, too, are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are to accept and welcome the extraordinary gifts and abilities bestowed on us, chosen for and unique to each of us. To be eager and enthusiastic in embracing all that a true life of faith calls us to be and to do, to live fully in the belief in Christ that we claim to have. We also celebrate, with our Jewish heritage, the giving of the Law on Sinai as our rules of life, transformed by Jesus into the Greatest Commandment [see Matthew 22:37-39]. On this Birthday of the Church*, let us claim our heritage as children of God, equal one and all, and to use the language of love with each other and especially with those who aren't so lovingly inclined. It is in times such as these, as we strive to be all that Jesus has shown us we can be, that the Spirit gives us what we need to withstand the challenges. Christmas is wonderful, and lovely, and blessed, Easter is fragrant and joyful, but with Pentecost comes the true gift that brings fire to our souls and lifts our life's journey to a new level!
*As the Birthday of the Church,
Pentecost marks the official beginning of the ministry of the Apostles beyond
their local area and into the world at large. The descent of the Holy Spirit in
the form of tongues of fire imbued, instilled, and infused them, and each of us
by extension, with extra-ordinary gifts to bring the message of Christ to everyone.
This day is known as Whitsun/Whitsunday in Ireland and the United Kingdom, a
name descending from a Gaelic celebration of medieval or perhaps even more
ancient times, often wearing whit or white robes.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Most
Holy Spirit, Breath of God, let us breathe deeply of Your sacred fire and the gifts
that it brings into us, onto us, and through us, to fuel our desire for
faith-filled living and action, in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Spirit
of Goodness and Glory
RESPONSE:
Fall
afresh on us
~ Most Holy Spirit,
Breath of God, set our tongues alight to speak in the fervent language of Your
Truth to the leaders of this Earth, this Country, and this Community, as the
voice of those crying in the continuing wilderness of sickness, poverty,
intolerance, and injustice. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
Spirit
of Goodness and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
~ Most Holy Spirit,
Breath of God, lighten the burden of pain for those who are weakened in body,
spirit, and soul; and ease the worry of all who give comfort and care, if only
at a distance. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need…
Spirit
of Goodness and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
~ Most Holy Spirit,
Breath of God, soothe the weary hearts of those who struggle in the midst
of grief, as You carry those who have left us, into the loving and eternal arms
of Christ. We pray especially for…
Spirit
of Goodness and Glory
Fall afresh on us
~ Most Holy Spirit, Breath of
God, we pause in this moment to offer You our
other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials…
Spirit
of Goodness and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
~ Most Holy Spirit, Breath of God, grant an extra measure of
Your gifts to those who lead us in Your Church, as they valiantly strive to
guide our spiritual journey through these trying and uncertain times. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
Spirit
of Goodness and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
The Celebrant adds: God of
Creation, Redemption, and Wisdom, though we are many, we are one body in the
one Spirit, all equal yet unique by Your design. Set our hearts ablaze again,
that we may seek Your will, keep Your Commandments, and use our earthly lives
for the common good of all. 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.
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