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

The Bible is filled with images of wind. Even before God sets to work on creation, the wind sweeps over the lonely waters. From Genesis to Revelation, wind is a sometimes destructive but always powerful sign of God’s Spirit making extreme changes in our physical world.

The world of the early church described in Acts is changed radically on the day of Pentecost. Just as Jesus had promised his disciples, God sends the Companion, the Holy Spirit, to impart gifts the disciples need for living out God’s mission in the world. It doesn’t come quietly; it comes mightily. The Spirit arrives in a fierce wind exploding within four walls and brings with it tongues of fire. Lit from within, the disciples speak miraculously in languages they had never known.

What flame can withstand a fierce wind? None but that of the Holy Spirit. What words can we hear above the loud howl of wind? None but those belonging to God’s language of love.

Sarah Boatwright

Pray

Spirit of change, thank you for your presence in my life. Move me from complacency into compassion, that I may use your words of love to tell others how much you care for all your children. Amen.

Go

“O Holy Spirit, enter in, and in our hearts your work begin, and make our hearts your dwelling.

Sun of the soul, O Light divine, around and in us brightly shine, your strength in us upwelling.

In your radiance life from heaven now is given overflowing, gift of gifts beyond all knowing.”

from “O Holy Spirit, Enter In” by Michael Schirmer