Lord, Send Out Your Spirit ~ Pentecost 2011

Pentecost Sunday

Acts 2:1-11
Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 29, 31, 34
1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13
John 20:19-23

Jesus has ascended to His Father; the Apostles and the other believers are now truly alone and they are frightened. Even though Jesus has promised that He will not leave them alone; that He will send the Holy Spirit to make everything clear to them, the Apostles needed to be in the company of each other as they waited for an event they still did not grasp.

And thus as they were all gathered in one place, Jesus' promise was fulfilled. All of a sudden, their lives were changed. As the tongues of fire rested on their heads, they became filled with all the gifts the Holy Spirit can give. No longer was there any question in their minds as to what they had been called to do. The fear, that had paralyzed them, disappeared. Their minds were opened and they now understood all that Jesus had tried to teach them.

Filled with this same Holy Spirit, they went out among the people and testified to the mighty acts of God!

What does this event mean for us today? Because the Spirit has entered our lives and guides the entire Church, we know that we will never be abandoned by God. The Holy Spirit unites us; He guards and protects us; for the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Love. The love that we possess through the Holy Spirit calls us to action. - to do what we can to help others, especially those less fortunate than we are. We give witness to God's love by what we do for others. Actions speak louder than words, we were reminded by our priest.

Working through us and through the love we show toward others, God renews the face of the earth.


~ Image from Spryfield Community Church