“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” (Acts 2:1-4)
Pentecost Sunday is the 50th day after Easter and marks the end of the seven weeks of jubilation following Easter. Yet Pentecost is no closing celebration – it is a beginning – the beginning of a community being called and empowered to testify to the Risen Lord in their world.
In the story of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-13, God gives to the community the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower witnesses to the resurrection. Once again we hear that through God ALL things are made possible – including a faith community spreading across the continents. Pentecost is a call to action – the gift of the Holy Spirit moves the disciples out of the comfort of their meeting place into the world.
The journey of Lent and the celebration of Easter has been laying the foundation and giving us the tools so that we may be ready when the Spirit rushes in to empower us and move us out of the comfortable places where we like to be (and where we’d like to remain).
So where are you going? Where is the Risen Lord calling you to witness to the Resurrection? How is God calling the church today to break down barriers that separate people and nations?