EVERYDAY IS PENTECOST - IF WE ALLOW IT

 

Almost everyone is familiar with the traditional story of Pentecost in the Acts of the Apostles. It features a violent wind, tongues of fire, and speaking in foreign languages (Lk 2:1-4).

However, most people are not aware that there is another Pentecostal story in the Acts of the Apostles. The familiar one is the Jewish Pentecost.
But, in chapter 10, we find The Pentecost of the Gentiles.

Luke, who authors both accounts, is really the first evangelist to develop an understanding of the Holy Spirit. He declares that the Holy Spirit both launches and guides the mission of Jesus' Apostles to the Jews and the Gentiles.
He depicts the first Pentecost as a sort of “virtual” manifestation of God....wind, fire, foreign tongues. This occurs 50 days after Jesus's resurrection.
There is far less fanfare in chapter 10's account, however, where the spirit descends upon the centurion, Cornelius, and his household all are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

There is yet another account of the Holy Spirit coming down upon Man, and that is in John. Here, the author of John's gospel account portrays post-resurrection Jesus appearing and breathing on, and giving the Holy Spirit to, the disciples on Easter Sunday evening (John 20:22).
The author of ths account understands the Holy Spirit as “Jesus returned” - that's why he often refers to the spirit as the Advocate, The Paraclete, or The Comforter.
Just as God breathed life into Adam, Jesus breathes life into his huddled band of followers, men who were sent to preach that Jesus is the Messiah, The Son of God, through whom people may have life.

The metaphors for the Holy Spirit – fire, tongues, breath, wind – these worked for Luke and John. But we can find them working for us today, if we only look.

- For example, gathering of family and friends for birthdays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, Christmas...these can remind us through language that we share a binding spirit, young and old alike.

- A quiet walk in the park or woods might reveal the trees on fire with fall colors, or the sunrise or sunset igniting the sky.


- A freshening breeze rattles the wind chimes on our porch, and reveals the breath of God's invisible spirit working in our hearts.

- Why, just taking a deep breath of our own can remind us of the re-birth we experience every time we inhale and exhale...looking to the next breath we take.

In short it is how you choose to see these as spiritual and more than that as actions of Gods spirit upon our lives. As you ponder these mysteries, reflect on some of “Life Pentecost's” which you have encountered. Look for those glorious spirit experiences of wind, fire, language, or breath which you may have experienced... but which you may not have really seen as such, until now.

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