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May 11, 2008 - The Day of Pentecost
When the day of Pentecost had come, they (the followers of Jesus) were all together in
one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind,
and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire,
appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
-- Acts 2:1-3
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services,
but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who
activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for
the common good... For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members
of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we
were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and we were all made
to drink of one Spirit.
-- 1 Corinthians 12:4-13
The Holy Spirit is difficult to pin down. Jesus described the Spirit as
"giving life" and "from God" and like the wind. It was the Holy Spirit that blessed Jesus
at his baptism in the form of a dove. It was the Holy Spirit that led Jesus into the
wilderness to be tempted.
This mysterious Spirit of wind and fire dramatically descended upon the disciples with
great flair on the day of Pentecost. It is this same Spirit of God that blesses us, leads
us to challenging places, and equips each one of us with unique and fertile gifts to be
shared for the common good. Sometimes the Spirit works like the rush of a mighty wind,
sometimes like a gentle breeze.
What gifts has the Spirit given you for the common good? Where are you being led to
share these gifts? How has the Spirit blessed and challenged you through the gifts of
others?
We pray: O God, you open the hearts of your faithful people by sending into
us your Holy Spirit. Direct us by the light of that Spirit, that we may have a right
judgment in all things and rejoice at all times in your peace, through Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord. Amen
Lessons for the Day of Pentecost:
- Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
- Acts 2:1-21
- 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
- John 20:19-23
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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