Blessed Pentecost everyone
Reflection May 24
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
O let the Power fall on I, my Lord, let the Power fall on I, o let the Power from heaven fall on I, let the Power fall on I
(Caribbean/Jamaican Pentecost chant)
The Holy Spirit was sent to be the support for the disciples in Jesus’s absence. Since they had had a direct Jesus relationship, they had to receive the Holy Spirit long after confession of Jesus as Lord.
It all happened during that special harvest filing the Feast of Weeks, on the 50th day. One minute they were minding their business, awaiting God’s next mighty move; the next, they were caught up in a vortex of Power, accompanied by wind (God’s breath which speaks life) and fire (God’s purifying agent, God is a consuming fire).
They received Power alright, power to witness to persons of different language groups in THEIR own tongue (these were mostly illiterate fishermen, languages would not have been their forte), power to do “… greater things in [Jesus’s] name” right there in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, in India, the Roman Empire and eventually to wherever you and I are. It was Power to effect a midnight jailbreak, to raise folks from the dead, restore sight to the blind, mobility to the lame and liberation to all of us bound by sin. It gave credence to Is. 61:1-4; and ensured that the Witnesses were bold.
But the entire earth had not yet received (heard and accepted) the news of Jesus Christ. So we also have access to the Power, to bear witness in our Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and the utmost parts of the world. Although the Holy Spirit resides within us, we must actively seek to bear witness to God’s grace. God’s done it through ordinary folks like us over time and is ready to do likewise through you and me. In fact, that’s our main purpose as Christians.
Ready to preach, teach, baptize and heal (Matt28:18-20; Luke 9:1-5; 10:1-9)?
I’m game, How about you?
Lord let your Power fall on me…
