Ordinary Time

Pause

“Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love the way you love,
and do what you would do.”

Edwin Hatch, “Breathe on me, Breath of God,” 1878

Listen

When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Acts 2:1-4

Think

Violent winds, fiery images, foreign languages, and the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is a mysterious story. However, it reminds me of when I was in Israel. I was visiting a church, and inside were tourists from all over the world. Suddenly some of them began singing “Amazing Grace.” It wasn’t in a language I understood, but it was the familiar tune that I recognized. I knew instantly what they were singing. The tune grew louder as more people joined in. Every person was singing in his and her native tongue. Soon the space was filled with dozens of languages, each person singing “Amazing Grace.”

What struck me most is that we could understand each other. We could each hear the stranger, the foreign tongue, singing about God. In that sacred space was a group of strangers who were lifting up a variety of voices, worshiping God.

Have you experienced a connection with someone who was very different from you? Did you sense the Holy Spirit in that connection?

Katie Cashwell

Pray

Holy God, I breathe in your grace, and I breathe out your grace to others. Be with me this day. Amen.

Go

“Spirit, spirit of gentleness,
Blow through the wilderness, calling and free.
Spirit, spirit of restlessness,
Stir me from placidness, Wind, wind on the sea.”

James K. Manley, "Spirit,” 1978