Pentecost Sunday
We have arrived at Pentecost – the exclamation point ending our seven-week Easter celebration. Many scripture passages were given to us during those weeks for prayerful contemplation.
We listened to the account of the two disciples who came to recognize Jesus when he broke bread with them. We witnessed Thomas abandon his disbelief to acknowledge Jesus as his personal Lord and God. We heard Jesus promise to be our shepherd, never failing to care for us. He revealed his profound connection with us when he told us that he was the vine and we were the branches. Jesus went on to call us his friends and special confidants. He consecrated us and commissioned us to continue the work he began. Finally, he promised to send us the Spirit of truth.
In preparation for the Spirit’s anointing today, I invite you to, first and foremost, open your hearts and minds to the peace Jesus offers us. He greets us with the same greeting he extended to the apostles, Shalom. It’s the peace that rests in the heart of God – the peace that banishes fear – the peace that gives power to our witness. The peace opens our hearts to the meaning of the scriptures.
That Pentecost day re-created, purified, and filled with peace, the disciples opened their hearts to the word of God, and the Spirit destroyed the barriers preventing them from witnessing the resurrected Lord. May that same spirit touch each of our hearts today.
Prayer:
Loving Father, drive all our fears from us. Pour your holy peace into our hearts. Loosen our tongues so that we might speak your word. May we cast the fire of your love upon the earth. May we be salt for the earth and light for the world.