Pentecost!

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Yes, I did remember that it was Pentecost this week. I had been preparing for it by reflecting on the work of the Holy Spirit as our Advocate/Counselor/Helper/Comforter (John 15:26) throughout the week. I hope you were able to celebrate the Church's birthday with others. I enjoyed singing “Happy Birthday to the Church” with the children (age 4 and under) in St. Margaret's nursery. That was fun!

My reflection for today is brief. It comes from Acts 2:1-4

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Two points:
  1. “...tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.”
    The Holy Spirit comes upon individuals. I think it is amazing that there was a visual representation of the Spirit given on that day. That way everyone knew that no one was left out. Each person had their own experience of being filled with the Spirit and I think that is true today. God's Holy Spirit fills individuals.
  1. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit”
    The Holy Spirit comes upon the Church. The Spirit is not only for the leadership of the Church or those whose gifts or personalities are more noticeable. The Spirit is for all in the Church and it is those who are filled with the Spirit that make up the Church.
Maybe I just really have one point:

In God's Kingdom, each person is important, each person receives the Holy Spirit but our faith is never purely individualistic as we are always part of a Body, the Church..... part of the “all of them” that were (and continue to be) filled with the Spirit.





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