Pentecost Sunday – 08th June 2025
Today, as we mark the great arrival of the Holy Spirit, the season of Easter reaches its climax and conclusion. Today we celebrate and experience the powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the whole Church and upon all of us who call ourselves disciples and followers of the Risen Lord.
Last Sunday Jesus promised his friends that he would send them the Holy Spirit to encourage them, fill them with strength and to take away their fear. Their and our waiting is over; the promise of Jesus has been fulfilled. This very day, each of us are filled, blessed and anointed with God’s very life; the Holy Spirit. This is not just some historical event that happened two thousand years ago. It is happening today, right here, right now. Today, each of us are the ones, the disciples of Jesus who are filled with the power, energy and life of the Holy Spirit.
The first friends and followers weren’t strong, courageous or even very faithful. They betrayed Jesus, they denied and deserted him when he needed them the most. After the resurrection, most, if not all them, doubted that he had even risen at all! They all lost heart and hope! Then, a most unusual thing happened to and for them. The house shakes; they hear wind and see flames and fire around them! These frail, frightened and fragile men and woman are completely changed. Through the Holy Spirit, they are given new heart, new hope and new purpose. They are renewed, restored and refreshed; they become new people. They are given new courage and conviction. They leave their hiding place and they go out and boldly proclaim the Good News that Jesus is Risen. They are new people with a new mission and message.