This Sunday we’re celebrating Pentecost – one of my favorite times of the year. Before the apostles were sent out into a terrifying world to share Jesus’s teachings and God’s love, they were given an intense reminder that the Holy Spirit was with them. We’re constantly reminded of the Spirit’s presence with and within us, but we don’t often celebrate her presence and her gifts. I’ve been to several Pentecostal church services and, while I was often uncomfortable, I envy the energetic and expressive ways they celebrate the Holy Spirit in their lives.
I believe that God is constantly seeking to transform our lives and the being aware of the Holy Spirit in and around us empowers that transformation. The challenge for us is to open our eyes, ears, hands, minds, and hearts to receive the truth of God’s real, persistent presence. It may not be as obvious as it was for those followers of Jesus in the upper room, but when we open ourselves to it, we are always transformed. The way we perceive the world shifts. We experience life differently. We see everything around us as infused with God’s love. We see anew and find God’s grace everywhere. Let’s open ourselves to the Holy Spirit this Sunday!
Rev. Paul Whynacht
