Pentecost - The Coming of the Holy Spirit

So, it is common knowledge that this Sunday (May 11, 2008 ) is Mother’s Day, but what some of you might not know (especially if like me you grew up in a protestant evangelical church) is that Sunday is also Pentecost. It is the day that we remember and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. After 50 days of Easter celebrations and remembering the resurrection of our Lord we now come to the culmination – the Spirit has been given and with Him we have purpose and mission. The celebration of the Easter resurrection doesn’t stop, instead it is transformed into a mission and calling to bring this resurrection joy to all the world.

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt^[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

12"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

16"In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."

17Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" 18They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."

19Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? 20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

This Mother’s Day may we all remember the Mother of us all, the Bride of Christ - The Church. For with Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit Jesus breathed life into us all and the Church was born. She was not born for herself but for the world - to be a witness to all of the great Love of God. Oh, Bless the Church and reach out in love to her, for however broken or blemished she may be she is God’s and the Spirit of God lives in her! Bless the Church!

Rejoicing in the journey - Beth Stedman