This season of Pentecost is nearly 2000 years old! The power of the gift of the living spirit of God dwelling in God’s children continues to be both amazing and perplexing. A few moments later Peter admonishes the skeptics, “these are not drunk as you suppose.” It is clear from the very beginning that many will be troubled by this gift, that through the ages the question, “What does this mean, will not simply go away. Today as we celebrate the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise, we also ponder; What does this mean, for me? What is clear, is that 2000 years later, the church, as we know it is struggling.
The assault of the Covid Pandemic on our way of life has reminded us that there are powers, forces, present in creation that can and do change everything! I cannot give you specifics about how the Holy Spirit is at work in “the church”, or here at St. Peter’s but I can tell you, that I do believe the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit is all around for those who have eyes of faith to see it! “Eyes of faith” begins with embracing that “we are the ones that Jesus loves” and that “Christ is Risen, Alleluia!” These realities become real through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and through us in the community of believers who share and trust in its power.
This is a new day, a new season, a new period of the revelation of God’s love through the risen Christ and God invites and enables us to share it with each other and the world. Just as the presence of the Spirit was affirmed that day through the skepticism of those who did not understand what was happening let us also find strength in the Spirit connected skepticism of our time. Christ is Risen, Alleluia!
