Thursday Reflection

May 20, 2021

Preparing for Pentecost

Pentecost celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church.   It marks the day the disciples came out of hiding and received the courage to speak up and share the Good News of the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus.  The Spirit provided language skills with which to offer the deeper invitation from God to join in the work of the Kingdom, in building a world where love and God and neighbor guided all activity.

Last year, a friend and colleague preached on Pentecost wondering what the Holy Spirit had in mind for her and offering herself to say “yes.”   She found out in short order and was called to courage and vulnerable sharing to help our country move forward on racial reconciliation and reckoning.  So it is when we say “yes” to God.   

Closer to home let us recall a quote from Bible study:   My life was comfortable until I joined this d*&! Bible study.   So it is when we allow ourselves to deeper conversation with God.   The Spirit moves among us.  

At its March retreat, our Vestry shared dreams God has put on their hearts, dreams that inspired and challenged and made me at least know in my bones the Spirit is moving and acting at Christ Church.  https://www.christepiscopalbing.com/god-dreams/

Note how many of these dreams are moving forward.

As more and more people get vaccinated against COVID, and we can go about with less danger to ourselves and others, it seems we, too, are ready to come out from behind closed doors and re-enter life in the face of loss and shifting ground.

As we prepare for Pentecost this Sunday, let us ready our hearts and entire beings for the Holy Spirit.   I suggest spending some quiet moments with God to:

— listen for God’s dreams on our own hearts;

— offer up some of the dreams of our Vestry members; see Church anew;

— let go of the video or agenda we see for the next months of our own lives;

— joyously embrace the possibility of new and changed life God calls us to;

— practice replacing love whenever fear raises its imprisoning head

Come, Holy Spirit, come

With every blessing, 

Mother Elizabeth