Pentecost: May 18/19, 2024

Today, our waiting is over – as we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.  But this isn’t the first time the Spirit of God appears in the Scriptures.
    In John’s Gospel, chapter 20- which we just read  - we are told that when Jesus first appears to his disciples following his resurrection - he breathes on them and they receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).
    And in the first chapter of Genesis, the creating Spirit of God sweeps over the waters (Genesis 1:2) and begins to bring forth life.
    So the story we tell today – the story of Pentecost and the birth of the Church is when the Spirit, already active in history inspires a group of people in a unique way.
    I want to invited each of us today, through what is called a guided meditation –  to go back to that day in our minds. . . to imagine ourselves as the first followers of Jesus in that upper room.

    So to begin, I invite you to be as comfortable as you can in our somewhat uncomfortable chairs.
    Close your eyes and relax your shoulders and neck - where we carry a lot of tension.
    Place your open hands on your legs with the palms turned up in a position of receptivity to the gifts God offers us.
    And just try to clear your mind - so you can focus on the Lord, and God’s presence:  because God is fond of each of us.
    Continue to relax by becoming aware of your breathing – breathing in and holding your breath for just a few seconds - before you exhale.
    Breathe in – relax – then breathe out.  Trying to release all your distractions, tensions, and worries.
    Breathe in – relax - and breathe out.
    And then just invite the presence of the Holy Spirit to come to you.
    Just begin to think:  come Holy Spirit, as you breathe in – relax and hold your breathe - and breathe out as you think:  fill me with your gifts.
    Breathe in:  thinking come Holy Spirit – relax - and breathe out:  fill me your gifts.
    Breathe in.  And out.

    And we pray as we continue to breath in and out:
Come Holy Spirit - fill me with your gifts.
    Come Holy Spirit - fill me with your gifts.
    Breathing in – and out.
    Thinking:  I invite you. //I need you.
I desire you. // Come Holy Spirit.
    And suddenly, there came a noise, like a strong driving wind -and it filled the entire place where they were.
    Breathing in - thinking come Holy Spirit.
And breathing out - fill me with your gifts.
    Invite the breath of God - that once breathed upon the waters and brought forth life on the earth – to fill your lungs — as the Spirit of God fills your soul and heart.
    Come Holy Spirit.  Fill me with your gifts.

[Wait for the wind sounds to end then begin playing softly:  O Breathe on Me, O Breath of God. Continue to end of Homily]

    Come:  Spirit of Wisdom:  that we may turn from the things of this world and strive after the things that are eternal.
    Breathe on us O breath of God!

    Come:  Spirit of Understanding:   enlighten our minds with the light of divine truth.
    Breathe on us O breath of God!

    Come:  Spirit of Counsel:  that we may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and strive to obtain the glory of heaven.

    Breath in – and Breath out.  Come Holy Spirit - fill is with your gifts.


    Come:  Spirit of Fortitude:  that we may bear our crosses and overcome with courage all the obstacles we face that keep us from loving you and one another.
    Breathe on us O breath of God.


    Come:  Spirit of Knowledge:  that we may know God and ourselves and grow toward holiness and conforming ourselves to the image of Christ.
    Breathe on us O breath of God.

    Come:  Spirit of Piety:  that we may find joy in our worship and service of God.
    Breathe on us O breath of God.

    Come:  Spirit of Awe:  that we may be filled with loving reverence toward God and find beauty and wonder in all of God’s creation.
    Breathe on us O breath of God
    Mark us, O Lord, with the sign of true discipleship and animate us in all things with the help of your Spirit.
    Yes, breathe on us O beath of God – fill us with your gifts – and help us to use them for the building of your kingdom.  
    And together we say:  AMEN!

And we open our eyes, and stand, and commit ourselves to being Christ’s Spirit-filled disciples.

​