Sunflower Seeds logo

Sunflower Seeds

 

Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

Sunflower Seeds

Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

The Story of Pentecost: Three Aspects to Ponder

Next Sunday is the feast of Pentecost. When I read the story of the first Pentecost in Acts 2, several aspects of the story strike me. Here are three of them.

First, the disciples were gathered in one place. Why were they gathered together? Because Jesus told them to. At the Ascension, Jesus directed them to return to Jerusalem and wait together for the coming of the Spirit. So, what really drew them together in that upper room that day was their shared faith in Jesus. Isn’t that what gathers us together in our churches–especially on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings?

pentecost sunday

But a good question to ask is this: How were the disciples gathered? Scripture tells us they were praying together. This means they were probably singing psalms and, in between, sharing their personal experiences of Jesus. Perhaps they were also sharing their dreams and hopes as well as their fears and questionings. How would they survive without Jesus in their midst? What would this Holy Spirit be like? What should be their next step to take?

The point is: The disciples who were gathered together in that room were a lot like us: questioning, uncertain, and painfully in touch with their human limitations. I find that very consoling. The Holy Spirit did not descend upon the disciples when they were confident, sure, and strong, but when they were huddled together, uncertain, and vulnerable. Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit can break into our lives at any time—even when our lives seem to be unraveling or falling apart.

Another aspect of this story that amazes me is how the Spirit came: Amid howling winds, a ground-shaking earthquake, and tongues of fire. A modern movie director would have a hay day using computer-generated “special effects” to dramatize this event! It’s as if God were trying to impress upon the disciples (and us!) that the Spirit is pentecost communitySomeone who will not be controlled! The Spirit will not be tamed! We can ask ourselves: Do we ever try to control or tame God? Do we ever think things like this: “If I say this particular prayer, God will do what I ask him to do.” Or “I’ve been a decent person for many years. Now I can settle down and take it easy. Let others do the work of saving the world.” Or, in contrast, do we, like the early disciples, allow God’s Spirit free reign in our lives? Do we allow our lives to be blown open by divine love?

The third aspect of Pentecost that strikes me is this: The disciples were sent. But the word “sent” is too mild. The disciples were almost catapulted out of that upper room and into the streets, so on fire were they with the power of the Spirit. So great was their joy and enthusiasm that many of the bystanders thought they were drunk.  So persasive was their speech, that 3,000 were converted to the gospel in a single day. Some homily!

pentecost comePentecost reminds us that the coming of the Spirit is a demanding event. It demands that we become new people, we see with new eyes, we speak with new tongues, we choose with new hearts. The coming of the Spirit connects us to everyone and everything. It demands that we carry in our hearts the sufferings of the ill, the joys of the jubilant, the dreams of children, the hopes of the young, the wisdom of the elderly, and the hunger for peace and justice for all.

For this feast I’ve chosen a relatively new song by Francesca Battistelli called “Holy Spirit.” As we listen to and pray the words of this song, let us ask Jesus to send again the Spirit into our personal lives, our families, our parishes, our nations, our world.

 

 

Does anything touch you in this reflection on Pentecost or in the song?

 

10 Responses

  1. Sr. Melannie,

    I like what you said about the Spirit coming into our lives when things are unraveling. Sometimes that is when I can hear God most clearly. There seems to be less static then from my own personal distractions.

    Kathleen

  2. Wow, I always enjoy your new insight into my old assumptions. The “Pentecost” music in our church mainly consisted of quiet, soft and slow songs. But the situation you describe calls for much LOUDER, up-tempo and dramatic music!

  3. Wow that was just wonderful & it was captioned! Thanks so much.
    I have a very bad hearing problem and can’t hear audio. I am grateful for the captioned videos so that I can follow along. And I have really needed the inspiration recently.

  4. I’ve always loved the feast of Pentecost. Growing up, my Mom always had us wear red on that day in honor of the Holy Spirit. I love how you write that the coming of the Spirit connects us to everyone and everything. The times when I have felt especially graced by the Spirit I have felt that sense of being so connected to others and carrying in my heart their hopes, joys and sorrows.
    Come Holy Spirit!

  5. I love the welcoming prayer verse and plan to use it in my weekly small group. The imagery of flooding and filling the atmosphere is so relatable to me. And having experienced
    that on occasion, the longing to be overcome by it again is a constant. Thank you for all you do to enrich your already meaningful reflections.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Blog Posts

Some of us will experience a total eclipse of the sun on Monday, April 8, 2024. The Cleveland, Ohio area is in its direct path. We will be privileged to witness this astronomical phenomenon from 1:59.20 PM to 4:28.57 PM (EST) (How’s that for pinpoint accuracy!) Even if our typical

Last week this blog focused on beauty–especially the beauty of various art forms as seen in the works of local artist, Pat Firem. This week we are focusing on a topic that may be uncomfortable for many of us: the ugliness and power of evil. But as we draw nearer

Meet Sr. Melannie

Hi and welcome to my blog! I’m Sister Melannie, a Sister of Notre Dame residing in Chardon, Ohio, USA. I’ve been very lucky! I was raised in a loving family on a small farm in northeast Ohio. I also entered the SNDs right after high school. Over the years, my ministries have included high school and college teaching, novice director, congregational leadership, spiritual direction, retreat facilitating, and writing. I hope you enjoy “Sunflower Seeds” and will consider subscribing below. I’d love to have you in our “sunflower community.” Thank you!

Subscribe to Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Loading

Upcoming Events

Finding God in the Ordinary and Amazing: An Afternoon with Sister Melannie
Weekend retreat at Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center, Pulaski, PA
October 11-13, 2024
Retreat with the Sisters of Loretto, Nerinx, KY
September 8-13, 2024
Retreat at Lial Renewal Center, Whitehouse, OH
August 11-18, 2024
Retreat at Heartland Center for Spirituality, Great Bend, KS
April 14-19, 2024
First Friday Club in Youngstown, Ohio
April 4, 2024