Sunday, May 24, 2015

Come Holy Spirit, Come! - Pentecost

Come Holy Spirit, Come!
Fill the hearts of thy faithful
Kindle in them
The fire of your love!
Send forth your Spirit
And they shall be created
And you shall renew the face of the earth!

Picture in your mind’s eye the scene from the Acts of the Apostles.  
A sudden noise like a rushing wind – a deafening - frightening sound louder than anything you’ve ever heard before.
Then, tongues of fire coming down from the sky; separating to hover over the heads of each of person in the room. 
See the faces of those who are being filled with the Holy Spirit.  See the fire glowing within them.  See the look of amazement as their eyes blaze with faith and understanding as the Holy Spirit ignites within them.

Now imagine yourself as one of the crowd in the streets.
You are made curious at the sound of a mighty wind.  It might mean danger or excitement, so you stop what you are doing; rushing to seek its cause.
You and all the others hurry toward the source of this sound; coming together around a building from which the sound emanates. 
You hear voices speaking.  
They speak of the Son of the Most High.  
You hear the name of Jesus – the crucified one – He who died and was raised up from the tomb by the power of God.
The voices speak of love, of mercy and of forgiveness of sins.
They proclaim salvation and new life in Jesus, the Christ.
Clearly and distinctly, each person hears the Truth of Kingdom of God spoken by these Galileans, these followers of Jesus, the Risen One.
As they emerge from the building you see that a new fire burns within them.  Each speaks with such passion and zeal that you are moved by the power of their presence and come to hear and understand that they speak the Truth. 

That same fire of the Holy Spirit fills each one of us.  We, as disciples of Jesus Christ, are filled with that same Holy Spirit He promised to send to the Apostles.  Just as they were filled by the Spirit of God this same Spirit comes to each one of us to guide and comfort us as we go about witnessing to His Truth.  

We, the faithful are filled with the Holy Spirit – we are called to speak the Truth of the Kingdom of God – the Truth of God’s Love, Mercy and Forgiveness – the Truth of Salvation through Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit comes to rest upon each of us, so we too may have courage and support as we continue the mission of Jesus - to renew the face of the earth.

Rely on the Holy Spirit, the breath of God that flows within each of us.  Come to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of the God and proclaim His Love and His Truth to the whole world.

O, God,
Who by the light of the Holy Spirit,
Did instruct the hearts of the faithful,
Grant that by the same Holy Spirit
That we may be truly wise
And ever enjoy His consolations,
Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Peace,
Deacon Don

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