The Feast of Pentecost, the celebration of he descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples gathered in Jerusalem, is one of the most dramatic scenes in the New Testament, and while I have always been astounded at the Gospel and Epistle for this Sunday, today I considered one phrase our preacher said.
He said the Holy Spirit was the fountain of life. Creation. Baptism. The Spirit upon the waters… stirring us up (like the Advent Collect, yes).
In Baptism we are given new life in Christ, becoming one with the Bride of Christ, the Church. We are given new life through water and Spirit.
And May is the month of life, of birth, for we celebrate mothers and the life they welcome, or we mourn the life they reject. We look to Mary in May, the month of our lovely and loving Queen of Heaven, who shows us how to say yes to the Father, say yes to the Son, and welcome the Spirit into our hearts and lives and families. For the Holy Spirit descended upon her, the power of the Highest overshadowed her, and she conceived in her womb the Son of God.
And, as she was commanded, she named him Jesus, this Holy Spirit child, this quickening of Our Lord in Mary. She said yes, be it unto me according to thy will. (Luke 1)
Just so, we say yes to the Holy Spirit descending upon you and me. In this way, we take part in creation, the creation only you and I can create. For each one of us is unique; each one of us has a singular gift, a creation for mankind, one that will light the dark for others to see. We must offer this gift, for no-one else can offer our gift in our own unique way.
I love meeting people. For each person is a sacred story, with stories within the story. I look at a new face and wonder in awe at this unique person, for as the Psalmist says, “I will give thanks to thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.” (139) Each person is marvel-ous, awe-full, full of mystery, miracle, and majesty.
And so when I heard the Epistle this morning I could hear the rushing mighty wind, could see the tongues like fire touch each disciple, filling them with the Holy Ghost. I heard them speak in tongues, different languages, so that they could witness to the diverse travelers to Jerusalem, “of every nation under heaven.” How could these Galileans speak in all these languages? I too was amazed at the dramatic scene. (Acts 2)
The Spirit gave them the words, reversing the story of the Tower of Babel, uniting, not dividing, loving, not hating. With words.
You and I are words, expressions of the Holy Spirit’s creative act. We say yes to such miraculous powers of creation, for in the Gospel today, I was enlivened, reassured, by Christ, for he says that the Spirit will teach us all things. We must not let our hearts be troubled or fearful, for the Spirit gives us the peace of Christ. He descends upon us to dwell within us. (John 14:15+)
Tongues of fire. The metaphor reminds us of the glory we have been given, all in a simple answer to what we are called to be, to do, with our lives. All we have to do is say yes. Just like Mary, our dear mother, and like the millions (billions) of faithful throughout the world.
We too will be given what we need to speak the language of Christ to the world. We too will witness to what we have seen and heard. In our own unique, diverse, marvelous way. With our own words, witnessing to the Word made flesh who dwelt among us.
And we behold his glory.
Christine Sunderland
Christine Sunderland 