If you have been following the Thy Kingdom Come devotions online or on the Women’s Ministry blog of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, you will have explored many definitions of God. The God who loves/saves/heals/creates, etc. Yesterday was The God Who Empowers with the familiar image of the Holy Spirit as a dove (done by the Rev. Chris Duffett for TKC).
On Pentecost, the followers of the Risen Christ experienced
a different manifestation of the Spirit. Flames as of fire appeared and
rested on each of them. That must have been a startling and awe-filled
moment. It transformed a motley group of mostly uneducated men and women into
fearless evangelists. Peter immediately went outside and started preaching. As
we saw last week, this is the same man, who less than two months earlier had
denied knowing Jesus.
John Wesley tells in his journal of his experience with the
Spirit. “In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate
Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans.
About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works
in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt
I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given
me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin
and death.”
Have you ever experienced the Holy Spirit in your heart? Do
you relate more to dove or fire or warmed heart or something else.
In the Gospel for today, (John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15) Jesus
tells his disciples, When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from
the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on
my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the
beginning. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was
with you…When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth;
for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will
declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will
take what is mine and declare it to you.
The Greek word translated as ‘Advocate’ is parakletos means someone who pleads a case (advocate or intercessor). It can
also mean a helper or assistant, or someone who comes along side us. The Holy
Spirit not only advocates for us, but is on our side and with us always. At
Pentecost the Advocate/ Companion/ Helper (Holy Spirit) came to the followers
powerfully and they began to tell what they knew about Jsus. However, as Jesus noted, it
was not simply men and women speaking, but God’s Spirit was giving them the
words to say.
Can you remember a time when you didn’t know what to say in a situation and then when you opened your mouth, you were inspired?
Next week starts “Ordinary Time,” the long church season
between Pentecost and Advent. I’ll be looking at some of Jesus’ Parables to see
what they might teach us about living in 2024.
