On Sunday we will reach the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after Easter Day and 50 days after Passover. After the ascension of the risen Christ on the fortieth day after Easter Day and the ten days of liminal both now and not-yet time between Ascension and Pentecost, the apostles and all those gathered for that harvest festival in Jerusalem from all over the Mediterranean world experienced the coming of Holy Spirit in power and to stay.
Our amazing St Paul's window depicting Pentecost shows the "tongues of fire" that represent the Holy Spirit described in the book of Acts kind of hovering above the apostles' heads. They are fairly well contained and somewhat restrained "tongues of fire." This is perhaps a good thing: the fire of the Holy Spirit is an amazing companion and source of power in our journey in Christ back to God together. Fire that's out of control can destroy nearly everything in its path. Fire that's well tended and utilized with skill can produce all manner of beneficial results. It can cook our food, warm our homes (as if we need that where we live), generate energy for many things.
That same fire of the Holy Spirit burns now and forever more. The promised Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Guide, the Paraclete, Advisor, Teacher, and Friend whom Jesus the Christ promised that God his Father, our Creator, would send is alive and among us still, empowering us for ministry, service, and vision, guiding us into all truth, and illuminating our path forward as we seek to do the work to which God is calling us in the restoration and transformation of our campus and congregation.
Holy Spirit, activate among us again and still. May it be so.
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