Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom
I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that
proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you
also testify, because you have been with me from the
beginning. “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot
bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he
will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the
things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will
take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything
that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that
he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”
As I reflect on this reading, the thought crosses my mind
that the promise of the Holy Spirit by Jesus after he has
ascended into heaven, is a very profound message for his
followers at that time, and perhaps for those who follow him
today. One thing comes across quite clearly to me is that
Jesus, his Father, and the Spirit, are one in the same God,
a mystery that many perhaps cannot comprehend. He had
already told them before that when he left, he was going to
sent a Paraclete. And, in essence, simply said, “Guys, if
you think I have performed miracles, when the Spirit comes,
you will be able to do things that I haven’t done thus
far.” At least I believe that is the intention of what he
said. We can still act as if it is all about others. I say
that because I think that we’ll rarely experience the
pouring out of the Holy Spirit exactly as the apostles did;
winds roared, tongues of fire leaped upon their heads, they
shrunk in terror at the unexplained spectacle and even began
to speak in languages unknown.
Perhaps we would like for the Spirit to express
himself that dramatically in this day and age to us. Has
he? Maybe to some. It is more realistic, perhaps, to
understand that the Holy Spirit is given to each person as a
unique individual who is integral to the life of those
around him or her.
Paul spoke about the influence of the Holy Spirit in
our lives, yours and mine. “No one can say,” he wrote,
“Jesus is Lord except in the Spirit.” All the services
rendered to each other, all the works we work, all the gifts
and talents we use, it is all from the same Spirit.
The Jerusalem wind and fire is over. Jesus does not
appear anymore. But the Spirit remains. As Paul wrote, “It
remains in the humdrum of our daily lives, hidden and mostly
unnoticed by us.” Being unnoticed does not mean not being
there! Perhaps we need to become aware of the unnoticed
experiences we have. Our breathing goes on all the time, so
become aware of our breathing. Our hearing, for the most
part, remains functional, so become aware of our hearing.
We feel bodily sensations all the time. Become aware of
those feelings. Without some concentration, the presence of
the Holy Spirit, the fruits of Pentecost, will remain as
unnoticed to us as our breathing, hearing, and bodily
sensations.
Pentecost is about us. It is about our takeoff with
the Spirit. With that Spirit, we have to fly in all
directions. But that is another difficulty, that variety in
the Spirit. The Spirit is given at different times: the
third day, the fiftieth day, and every day since. The
Spirit is given in different ways: in the enthusiasm and
excitement of a gifted speaker, a poem, in the smile of a
child, in the quiet of our praying, in the listening of a
spiritual song or a gospel hymn.
The Spirit is given in different gifts: in the gift of
peacemaking, forgiving, speaking in tongues, healing,
dancing, singing, playing, and praising the Lord. Jesus
laid the foundation for our journey to the Kingdom of God
when he said, “Deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow
me.” Although he promised us the Paraclete, the Holy
Spirit, we have to make it happen. We have to allow the
Spirit into our hearts?
The differences are so great and the difficulties so
alarming, that even while we are engulfed in all of this,
Paul is quoted from his letter to Corinth where Jesus’
followers threatened to split up because they were all
flying in different directions. Yet those in Corinth were
at least flying. It is those fliers that Paul wrote.
Let us belong to those who fly on the wind of that
Spirit, and let us fly together into the dawn of the Kingdom
to come!
As each sunset goes down,
while on bended knee;
I'll pray with folded hands,
though a storm may come to me.
And if, without warning,
I should shutter in dismay;
I will hold to steady faith,
for God's love will find it's way.
When a sorrow finds a place
deep within my soul;
when tears escape my eyes,
because of feeling down or low …
I'll stand with faith and confidence,
because I know just where to start;
And though faith may be my fortress,
God's love plays the greater part.
I will hold no judgment of others,
for that is not for me to say.
I have not traveled in their footsteps,
nor felt the burdens of their day.
I will try to show by what I do,
the words I speak, I'll keep at bay;
that to bring a longing heart to God,
example is the most effective way.
God's love is always freely given,
it is not owed to anyone at all.
But, we must want it in our hearts,
if I we are to hear it's gentle call.
To speak the gospel message to others,
must be spoken with great care;
First, I must know the Word myself,
if I am to lead nonbelievers there.
It is not so much the written text,
for me to interpret or surmise;
it is instead the truths revealed,
for on those truths… is what I rely.
God's love is patient and kind,
for it does not find fault in others;
it must embrace His total forgiveness,
if we are to be sisters and brothers.
To live in the light of Christ,
there is no better way to start;
for to walk in the footsteps of his Son,
faith and hope will get one going,
but God's love is the greater part!
