Pentecost

Read Acts 2:1-13.

Today (on the Christian calendar) officially starts the "Season after Pentecost," a season whose color is green (indicating growth) and whose focus is on the church. Whereas the first "half" of the Christian year (from Advent to Pentecost) focuses on the story of Jesus, this last "half" of the year focuses on the work of Jesus' people. This time of year, from today until the first Sunday of Advent (which is December 2 this year), is meant to be a season of growth, of evangelism, of continuing the story of Jesus' first disciples.

Of the "big three" holidays in the Christian faith, Pentecost is the most overlooked. Those of us from so-called "mainline" traditions, who don't tend to talk about the Holy Spirit all that much anyway, are often a bit leery of Pentecost with its talk of tongues of fire and a mighty rushing wind. We love Christmas (who doesn't get sentimental around babies?), we like Easter (especially when the preacher keeps it short), but Pentecost is easy to forget. We don't understand Pentecost and, worse yet, our culture has not found a way to monetize it yet (unlike Christmas and Easter)!

But where would we be without Pentecost? Before his death, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that, in fact, he was going away so that the Holy Spirit would come. The Spirit would be the living presence of Jesus living within us and would remind us of everything Jesus said. His job, Jesus said, is not to draw attention to himself but to point us toward Jesus.

So how do we think we can live the Christian life and truly follow Jesus if we avoid or ignore the work of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit is the living, active presence of Jesus in our lives and in the world. He is the Comforter, the Advocate, the one who convicts us and points us toward truth and righteousness. He is the power we need to live the life we've been called to live, the life Jesus expects us to live.

I don't know about you, but I hate it when the power goes out at our house. So much of what I do and what I want to do depends on power. Without power, our food is in danger of spoiling, the electronics won't work (which isn't always a bad thing) and I can't even see to read! When the power is out, I still find myself walking into a room and flipping a switch, expecting the light to come on. Without the light, I risk bumping into things and hurting myself. The power is out, and yet I want what the power can provide. We do the same sort of thing in our Christian life. We ignore the Holy Spirit, we deny his power, and yet we expect him to show up when we need power, when we need help, when we want to be comforted or protected from hurt. The power is out, and yet we want what the power can provide.

So Pentecost comes along and reminds us that the Spirit is available to all who ask, who seek, who knock. Pentecost comes along and reminds us that the Spirit is God's good gift to us. Pentecost comes along and, for the rest of the year, daily invites us to tap into the power of God given to us through his Holy Spirit. Pentecost comes along and reminds us that we're called to more. Pentecost comes along and reminds us that we are not alone, and we don't have to do this life by ourselves. Pentecost come along and reminds us to grow, to grow deep and wide, to grow tall and proud, to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be pointed to Jesus.