Readings: Acts 2:1–21; John 14:8–17, 25–27
Today, we celebrate Pentecost — the great feast of the Holy Spirit. It’s a day that comes 50 days after Easter, and it marks a key event in the Church’s life. It might also be a deeply personal and key moment for us., because Pentecost reminds us that we are children of God, adopted into God’s family through the Spirit. Paul writes in Romans that when we cry “Abba, Father,” it’s the Holy Spirit within us crying out. This Spirit helps us in our weakness and even prays on our behalf when we cannot find the words.
Across every nation, language, and culture, the Spirit is uniting God’s people. Our many voices are brought together in one voice — the voice of the gospel of peace.
A Festival Rooted in History
Pentecost didn’t begin with the disciples. Originally, it was a Jewish harvest festival. Pilgrims travelled to Jerusalem to offer the first fruits of their crops. The city would be alive with music, celebration, and the joyful chaos of new wine and community gathering.
So when the disciples began to speak in many languages that morning, it’s no surprise some thought they were drunk! But this time, God was doing something new. With wind and fire, the Holy Spirit arrived not just to dazzle — but to transform.
What happened in Jerusalem that day wasn’t just a spectacle. It was the birth of the Church, and the Spirit that moved then still moves today.
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
Let’s explore what today’s readings reveal about the Holy Spirit — and what that means for us now.
1. Presence
The Holy Spirit is God’s living presence in the world. We first meet this Spirit in Genesis, hovering over the chaos before creation — bringing light and order. That same Spirit still brings life where there is emptiness.
2. Breath
The Hebrew word for spirit is Ruach, meaning breath or wind. It’s the breath of life God gives to Adam, and it’s the same breath Jesus breathes onto his disciples after the resurrection, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
And how we need that breath now. In a world overwhelmed by conflict, environmental crisis, and despair, the Spirit breathes hope and resilience. It reminds us that we are not alone — we are not abandoned.
3. Gentleness
The Spirit also comes gently. When Jesus is baptized, the Spirit descends like a dove — a sign of peace and healing. The Spirit comforts us in sorrow and brings reconciliation where there’s division. This is the “Comforter” Jesus promised — not just a fleeting presence, but one who stays.
4. Power
Yet the Spirit is also power — the kind that fuelled the first disciples to speak boldly and share the gospel in ways they never could on their own. That same Spirit gives us strength today: strength to face fear, speak truth, and live with courage.
5. Wisdom
The Spirit is our Advocate and guide. Jesus said this Spirit would teach us all things and lead us into all truth — not just “my truth” or “your truth,” but the truth. The truth that forgives, that liberates, that humbles.
This wisdom helps us discern God’s will for us, especially when the way ahead isn’t clear.
Still Speaking, Still Moving
The Spirit didn’t stop at Pentecost. It still comes — maybe not always with wind and fire, but with a whisper, a gentle tug at the heart, a nudge we can’t ignore.
As Psalm 104 says: “When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.” This isn’t just poetic — it’s a promise. The Spirit is always renewing. Always inviting us to begin again.
So this Pentecost, let’s be open. Let’s allow the Spirit to fill us — with peace, with courage, with life. The world may feel uncertain, even broken, but this isn’t the end. It’s a new beginning.
Amen.
Revd Julia Lall