On every Pentecost, after the original Pentecost, the Church gathers to celebrate the spirit’s continuing work of giving birth/life to the Church.
The original Pentecost was a strange event. It was a day described by images, the rush of a mighty wind, tongues of fire, living water pouring out and flowing forth! Images of being out of control. It is a day to remember the freedom given to the Church as a gift of the Holy Spirit, a day to re-orient ourselves into a future that calls upon us to celebrate the love of life, for the world. It is a day for us to remember the life of the spirit as life with unbounded enthusiasm and joy. Unbounded and joyful in matters of love, forgiveness, joy, peace, gentleness and hope. It is about joining company with all of those who find themselves in the company of the L word. To be filled with the spirit is to be filled with a passion concerning the least; the lost; the lesser; the lonely; the last and the loveless. Pentecost is truly a day to invite the spirit in. It is to celebrate the life that God has granted to all of us day after day. We can make a joyful noise in our living out of the benefits of the spirit, not only with our voices but with how we offer these same benefits to others. We can be excited and passionate concerning the love and forgiveness, the hope and the joy, the peace and the gentleness that we have received from God. And we can do so indiscriminately. In doing so, we do the work of the spirit for others, not some others, but all others from our closest friends to our worst enemies. We can love what our culture deems un-loveable. We can give hope to those whom our culture deems hopeless.
Pentecost is about our willingness to be influenced by the Spirit of God, to be excessive in our gratitude and to celebrate our life, our new-birth, together. In that, we ensure that our communities of faith will continue in the future to witness to the reality of God and tend to the suffering of the world. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide you in all that you say and do. Blessings on your journey.
- Submitted by Rev. Glenn Shore, Pastor: Zion Lutheran Church, Jansen & Grace/Aarnes Lutheran Church, Wynyard
Comment on this below
Disclaimer: opinions expressed are those of the writer.
