Pentecost, for us, marks the end of the Easter season. Pentecost is also the birth of the church, the day on which the infant church began to expand and more fully become who Jesus intended for them to be - to adopt in their lives His Purpose and His Plan.
The Gospel may sound familiar. We read it a few weeks ago, but we are reminded again of three things: First, Jesus offers us Peace—not just “well wishes,” but true peace that comes from following him. Second, he tells us to “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Again, not just another party favor, but a commissioning! Third, He entrusts to us, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them…” On that Pentecost Sunday, the apostles were down in the dumps. They felt their life, as they had come to know it with Jesus, was over. But then tongues of fire appeared and everything became clear. Their life was not ending, but just beginning. This man they followed for the past 3 years was no longer with them, but His message and His example was. The Holy Spirit, then, gave them the strength to carry on the mission. The Holy Spirit enabled them to reclaim their passion and to make the mission and message, plan and purpose of Jesus their purpose of life.
Pentecost is our day, too. How fortunate we Christians are! We feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as if we can see those tongues of fire hovering over our heads. So, The Message this week is it’s time for us to Reclaim our Passion with a fervent “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful!”
Let’s Discuss this as a Family:
* Why do you think Pentecost is referred to as the birthday of the Church? How did the Holy Spirit help to make that happen?
* On that Pentecost, the Spirit gave the apostles the “fire”, the passion, to go about and accomplish their mission of spreading the Gospel to the whole world. We all have received that same Spirit. How do we preach the gospel in our homes, our schools, our relationships, our workplaces?
* How do you see your life as a continuation of those early disciples? What fears do you have in accomplishing that role? Finally, where is our “fire”, our passion directed?