The Feast of Pentecost | Sunday 5 June 2022

Today is Sunday the 5th of June, the feast of Pentecost.

The community of Taizé sing: Tui amoris ignem. Let me make these words my prayer, as I listen. ‘Holy Spirit, come to us. Kindle in us the fire of your love.’
Veni Sancte Spiritus, tui amoris ignem accende.
Veni Sancte Spiritus, veni Sancte Spiritus.
Holy Spirit, come to us, kindle in us the fire of your love.
Holy Spirit, come to us, Holy Spirit, come to us


Today’s reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 2:1-11
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’

Take your time to immerse yourself in this scene. The backdrop is Jerusalem during the Pentecost holiday - there are celebrations, processions, over a million visitors from other countries adding to the numbers in the city. Hear the sounds around you, see the colours, brush past textures, let exotic scents and tastes abound!
Suddenly an insignificant group of believers becomes the centre of attention with an inexplicable ability to speak the languages of all those around.
It’s an overpowering filling from the Holy Spirit. With a purpose. The believers are speaking about God’s deeds of power.
Where are you in these scenes? An observer? Perhaps you are one of the believers themselves.

As you hear the passage again, allow the scene which you are part of to unfold.
Speak to God about whatever has stirred in you from today’s passage.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.