May 24, 2015 — Pentecost Sunday

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they 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 – 4

“The power of the Holy Spirit was upon them… manifest in a violent wind and tongues of fire. But more significant than the pyrotechnics was the infusion of evangelical brilliance and energy. God the Advocate filled them and sent them out to preach and to teach with infinite wisdom, zeal and courage. The apostles… those ordinary guys… those cowards… those betrayers… those numb skulls… had become inspired evangelists, fearless missionaries, carriers of the new covenant, living witnesses to our redemption. In gospels from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost, we have observed the spiritual growth of the apostles. Miraculously they have learned so much and come so far. But how much have we learned? How far have we come?” The Reverend David F. Sellery, “This Week’s Focus” “As the Spirit gave them ability”.

The Holy spirit is able to give us many gifts, many abilities, and many opportunities. During the day of Pentecost, the disciples had gathered in one room for this celebration. But the celebration is interrupted by G*d – and G*d gives them a gift. These disciples, now Apostles, those who are “sent out ones” have come from being “Keystone Cops” to being “evangelists and fearless missionaries”. They have come a long way. And then Reverend Sellery asks the pointed question “How far have we come?”

We hear each Sunday about the Grace of G*d that comes through the person of Jesus Christ. It is because Christ has done this for us that we should be “out there” doing the ministry and living the lives that G*d would want us to do and to live. Many people are sitting on their gifts, I believe, rather than using them in ministry and putting them into practice on a regular basis. There are many competing voices wanting our attention, wanting us to be involved in many ways that do nothing for our learning and faith development. When we look at the Apostles as examples, we see people who seemed witless and incapable of understanding, who, upon receiving the Holy Spirit are changed – transformed into evangelists. The same Spirit can work in our lives as well.

Pastor Dave