Today is the feast of Pentecost, which is recognized as the day of the coming of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. The story of Pentecost is foundational to the Christian faith with the strong theme of the uniting and life-giving work of the Spirit of God in the diversity and variety of creation.  Pentecost, originally an ancient Jewish harvest festival which came 50 days after Passover, is sometimes called “the birthday of the church.”

The coming of the Holy Spirit is described, in the second chapter of The Acts of the Apostles, in rather dramatic terms. It is accompanied by the sound of a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire hovering over the disciples heads and the (seemingly) drunken disorderliness of the spirit touched disciples as they spill onto the local streets “babbling” the Gospel in a cacophony of languages. People of the many nations, gathered for the feast, heard the ‘Good News” in their own tongues.

What does the Pentecost story say to us about living with diversity and difference?

Think on what I have been saying about living out the gospel and being a disciple in our everyday lives. Helen Collins shared this little verse remembered from her childhood –

You are writing a Gospel a chapter a day, by the deeds that you do and the words that you say. People read what you write – If it’s false or it’s true! Now what is the Gospel, According to you?

The way we love and reach out to our neighbours (regardless of creed or culture) says more about our Christian faith then the words we speak. Being 100% Christian, 100% of the time is not easy – in fact it seems humanly impossible – but the coming of the Holy Spirit is the fulfilment of the promise that we are not alone.

May God’s presence be manifest in your lives this week.

Love and Blessings

Rev Shan