Pentecost Sunday
This feast day is one of my favorite ones to talk about. Every time I give a retreat talk about Confirmation or teach a lesson about the Holy Spirit I get so fired up about this story because I just think it is the coolest thing and I feel so inspired by it.
If you don’t know the story of Pentecost, hopefully you heard it in the first reading on Sunday from the book of Acts. Let me take us back a few paces first though. These disciples have been going through it these past few months. Picture this like you are one of them.
Life is great and everything seems normal when all of the sudden Jesus starts talking about how He’s going to suffer soon, and saying cryptic things about how where He is going you can’t follow Him. But you brush it off and carry on. The He says at dinner one night that one of you will betray Him. You guys have been through so much even if you didn’t all get along all the time these people have become like your family over these past few years. You’re looking around the table but you can’t imagine any of these people betraying Him. Then it happens in the garden that same night. Judas was like a brother to you, you don’t understand what is going on. You’re overwhelmed and scared and confused and you keep your distance as you watch what is going on. You watch them crucify Jesus. You watch Him die. And with His death everything that you had hoped for, all the promises He gave you, everything you thought could change – it all dies too.
Then people in your group start saying they’ve seen Him, that He’s risen from the dead. You can’t really fully believe it until YOU see Him. The resurrected Christ. And you eat with Him, and He visits you, and He explains Scripture passages that talk about the Messiah. You have all of these wonderful moments and all the hope you had lost is restored. He is the Messiah after all and He is going to bring about His kingdom.
After just over a month of these visits and this joy and celebration in His resurrection and return He tells you that He is going to leave again, but that He’s going to send a Helper. You are crushed. What kind of Helper could possibly make up for Him leaving again!? You don’t want to believe it, you wish He’d just stay.
Then you witness the Ascension of Christ into Heaven. He ascends. And just like that He’s gone again.
You’re feeling a little depressed. You only just got Him back. People are out looking for you. If you talk about Him in public you’re in danger and you could be locked up – or worse. You’re confused and sad and you feel alone and you and your friends stay locked in the upper room being sad and confused together.
All of this brings us to Sunday’s reading. The Holy Spirit descends on the disciples in a strong driving wind in tongues of fire, and you can speak words you’ve never spoken before, you feel stirred, moved, to go out, to leave this room and share everything that has happened.
When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples that day everything changed. They weren’t controlled by their fear or disappointment or loneliness, they were empowered. They found courage, and joy, and purpose. They went out and boldly proclaimed Christ.
Sometimes we might think that holiness is only for “super religious” people, but the Holy Spirit works through ordinary people who are open. He gives strength when life feels overwhelming. He gives peace when anxiety is filling our head. He gives courage to live differently in a world that can make living our faith difficult.
This Pentecost, don’t just think of the Holy Spirit as a symbol or an angelic white dove. Talk to the Holy Spirit, invite Him into your life, ask Him to guide your decisions, your friendships, your future, and your faith.
God still sets hearts on fire. Maybe this Pentecost He wants to start with yours.
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