We are in the in-between time. That time between the great festival of Easter, with its focus on the Resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the followers of Jesus at Pentecost. Pentecost is one of the three great festivals of the Church. As a parish, we have excitement coming this Pentecost. We are going to have three more Baptisms. Something to look forward to, something meaningful for those three individuals, and for our congregation. Three people have chosen to make a commitment to Christ, to make Christ a significant part of their lives. 

 

But I am thinking about Pentecost in another way. Pentecost is the celebration of God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to the disciples, to the early Church. It is God giving his Spirit to the world that is open to God.

 

At Christmas we celebrate God’s gift of his son to the world. The celebration of the Nativity is the celebration of the Incarnation, the coming of God into our world as one of us. We celebrate the Nativity by giving gifts of love to each other. And gift giving has become a major focus of Christmas. But we sometimes loose the significance of giving gifts; we give to others because God first gave to us.

 

Pentecost, the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit is a celebration of a gift as well. God giving his Spirit to us.

 

I have a challenge for you! If you have experience the gift of God’s Spirit in your life, what gifts are you going to share with those you love this Pentecost, May 24th. Remember Christmas, we give to others because God a gave to us. What would be an appropriate Pentecost gift?

 

Blessings,




Canon Donald