Pentecost Year C 5th June 2022
Lectionary Readings:
Genesis 11 v1-9; Psalm 104 v24-34, 35b; Romans 8 v14-17; Acts 2 v1-21; John 14 v8-17.
The Gift and Work of the Holy Spirit.
In the Jewish tradition, the festival of Pentecost, a celebration of first fruits of harvest, comes fifty days after Passover. Some Christians see the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as the first fruits of the resurrection of Jesus.
In today’s passage from Acts we read that ‘on the day of Pentecost, all the Lord’s followers were together in one place and the Holy Spirit took control of everyone and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak’. (Acts 2 v1a, 4).
To the amazement of everyone in the crowd, it seems that the ancient story about the creation of many languages recorded in Genesis 11, was being reversed. God was doing something radical. His message as relayed by Peter was being heard loud and clear regardless of language difficulties. Peter addressed the crowd, quoting the prophet Joel, reminding them of God’s promise that he would give his Spirit to everyone. (Acts 2 v16, 17b, Joel 2 v28).
The Psalmist reminds us that we were created by God’s Spirit,
“Our Lord, by your wisdom you make so many things; the whole earth is covered with your living creatures. You created all of them by your Spirit and you give new life to the earth.”
(Psalm 104 v24, 30). The Psalmist is harking back to the original creation story in Genesis.
‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was barren with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water’. (Genesis 1 v1-2).
The apostle Paul, develops the idea of God’s Spirit creating new life in his understanding of us as ‘children of God’.Paul writes, ‘Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him Father’. (Romans 8 v14,15.)
John recalls that, Jesus said to his disciples: If you love me, you will do as I command. Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don’t see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you. (John 14, v15-17).
Hymn writers, John Bell and Graham Maule write of God’s Spirit; (Singing the Faith No 393)
She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters, hovering on the chaos of the world’s first day;
she sighs and she sings, mothering creation, waiting to give birth all the Word will say.
She wings over earth, resting where she wishes, lighting close at hand or soaring through the skies;
she nests in the womb, welcoming each wonder, nourishing potential hidden to our eyes.
She dances in fire, startling her spectators, waking tongues of ecstasy where dumbness reigned;
she weans and inspires all whose hearts are open, nor can she be captured, silenced or restrained.
For she is the Spirit, one with God in essence, gifted by the saviour in eternal love;
and she is the key opening the scriptures, enemy of apathy and heavenly dove.
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.