Pentecost Sunday Year B 23rd May 2021.
Lectionary Readings:
Acts 2 v1-21; Psalm 104 v24-34; Romans 8 v22-27; John 15 v26-27; John 16 v4b-15.
The Spirit is here to help us.
Jesus said “I will send you the Spirit who comes from the Father and shows what is true. The Spirit will help you and will tell you about me.” (John 15 v26)
The Holy Spirit is defined in the ‘Collins dictionary of the Bible’ as ‘One of the three persons of the divine Trinity who is the unseen presence of God in the world. Though active in the world from the very beginning (Genesis 1v2) he came into prominence at Pentecost when he was given to the church by Jesus. His work in the church is concentrated on individual believers to whom he provides gifts and in whom he produces fruit. The gifts of the Holy Spirit enable believers to serve God and build up the church (1Cor 12-14) while the fruit of the Holy Spirit is a sign of developing Christian character. (Galatians 5 v22,23).’
Jesus said “The Spirit will come and show the people of this world the truth about sin and God’s justice.” (John 16 v8)
The following hymn written by Martin Leckebusch speaks of our need for the gracious prompting of the Holy Spirit as we seek to do God’s will. (Singing the Faith No 713)
Show me how to stand for justice:
how to work for what is right,
how to challenge false assumptions,
how to walk within the light.
May I learn to share more freely
in a world so full of greed,
showing your immense compassion
by the life I choose to lead.
Teach my heart to treasure mercy,
whether given or received-
for my need has not diminished
since the day I first believed:
let me seek no satisfaction
boasting of what I have done,
but rejoice that I am pardoned
and accepted in your Son.
Gladly I embrace a lifestyle,
modelled on your living word,
in humility submitting
to the truth which I have heard.
Make me conscious of your presence
every day in all I do:
by your Spirit’s gracious prompting
may I learn to walk with you.
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.