The Pentecost Season begins today. We start this season with a new salutation, a new confession of sin, and a new fire. The redness of our congregation is reflective of that. In case someone asks with great curiosity why we celebrate Pentecost, you tell them that it is the one time of the year when Reformational people can say they are Pentecostal. But more than that, of course, it is the first Sunday of 28 Pentecost Sundays to come. 28 Sundays to see God working through redemptive history in the liturgy and the text, through the Church to prevail against evil; to crush the attacks of the enemies of God, and to refresh His body with the Holy Spirit. It is the second part of the Church Calendar where we see the acts of an infant Church changing the world through the kingdom proclamation.
As Saint Chrysostom wrote, “But when Jesus ascended on high, the spirit descended from on high “like a rush of a mighty wind.” Through this it is made clear that nothing will be able to stand against them and they will blow away all adversaries like a heap of dust.”
Let it be so. Let us prepare ourselves for the mighty rushing Spirit to work in our midst and cause us to worship the Ascended Christ.
Prayer: Father in heaven, fifty days have celebrated the fullness of the mystery of your revealed love. See your people gather in prayer, open to receive the Spirit’s flame. May it come to rest in our hearts and disperse the divisions of word and tongue. With one voice and one song may we praise your name in joy and thanksgiving. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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