Day 96 - Pentecost

What a wildly wonderful world, GOD!

You made it all, with Wisdom at your side,

made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.

The glory of GOD — let it last forever!

Let GOD enjoy his creation!

Oh, let me sing to GOD all my life long,

sing hymns to my God as long as I live!

Oh, let my song please him;

I’m so pleased to be singing to GOD.

Psalm 104:24, 33-35 - The Message

Today is Pentecost. A celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit. It empowers believers with knowledge, enthusiasm and confidence to witness and evangelise. Pentecost is seen as the birthday of the Church,

What is it like in a primary school playground on a windy day? A teacher who has been on playground duty will probably tell you that some special energy seems to take hold of the children. ‘As high as kites’ is one way to describe them. They rush and whirl round outside as if they really are being carried up into the air. Sometimes they shriek like gulls, with arms outstretched like wings.

Can any of you remember feeling like that? Or have there been any other experiences in your life that have given you a whirlwind feeling?

I wonder if the disciples were as giddy as children on a windy day when the Holy Spirit swirled round them in the house that day – the day called Pentecost.

Was it the sheer power that blew them away? Was that why they just had to get out into the streets? Was it one of the reasons people thought they were drunk?

The other way the Holy Spirit is described at Pentecost is like fire. Something that seemed like a forked tongue of fire rested on each disciple.

Have you ever stared into a fire? Why do flames seem so attractive and fascinating?

I wonder if the disciples were fascinated by the Holy Spirit in a similar way. Is that a reason it could have seemed like fire to them?

Of course, fire can be destructive, but the prophet Malachi helps us to see this as a ‘refiner’s fire’ – that is, taking away all impurities to reveal the full beauty of silver or gold.

Let’s spend a quiet moment thinking of things we would like the Holy Spirit to take away from our life, so that we can be as beautiful as God intends us to be.

Let us pray.

As we journey through the days ahead, inspire our thoughts, clothe our dreams, and colour our prayers, that we might dare to live confidently, compassionately and courageously as your Pentecost people. Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Amen.

Caroline Stott