“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” Acts 2:4
In the week I first handled a Pokémon Card I found an entry in my diary that it was in 1996 that I had my first go at the Internet and I referred to it as “The latest advance in communication.” Very nearly thirty years later I was tempted to say that “my battle with the internet began.” Such technology, while I now own three computers, still leaves me spell bound.
However, advanced technology, I would agree has enabled us to, in some ways, go back to basics: we are now far more aware, and many are tackling the abuse of the earth’s resources for fuel, great attempts are being made to redeem climate change of which the regular sight of Solar Pannels, and huge heat pumps in gardens being examples.
Earth’s resources that are referred to as God’s gift of creation in the Old Testament exampled by the words, “the spirit of God breathing on the waters”: this being one act referred to in the Blessing of water as has been the penitential rite throughout Eastertide.
On the second Sunday of Easter, we were reminded of how on Easter Night Jesus shared his resurrected life with the apostles in the Upper Room as he, “breathed on them” giving them the gift to forgive or retain sin. That was to be the beginning, as today they experienced the enormity of this gift of the Holy Spirit – they were not only commissioned but empowered to preach this Good News and not only in their own language!
When people first read the Gospels, they are often surprised that Mark and John, as we remind ourselves, frequently, do not include the infancy narratives. As we note the ‘Good News’ preached in the early days was of Christ Crucified who had risen from the dead, that the God of the creation was and could recreate in his own image, such renewal being exampled through healing and, yes absolution!
My reflection on the ‘new’ being a tool to deepen understanding of what has been in existence since the beginning is reflected in today’s Collect as the Church asks that: -
“the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now once more the hearts of believers.”
As the apostles ministry continued they experienced that whatever they endured, rough or plain, he who had called them into his resurrected life remained with them and this was the message they imparted and, furthermore it incorporated it to all those who would hear the ‘Good News’ into the same fellowship, thus enabling this gift to be shared in every age!
Thus, it is on this Feast of Pentecost 2025, themed “Pilgrims of Hope” we recall how after realizing that the power of the spirit lay behind Jesus whole ministry: thus, they set about recording first his miracles and parables and finally his incarnation: at the same time others chronologically recorded their ministries and collected their sermons otherwise known as their letters.
As time progressed, I believe it is important to note, that the gift of tongues was not given to all, it was but one of the gifts of the Spirit – the Christian calling is to live the life of Christ. Where there is goodness, it is Christ’s goodness; where there is healing, it is Christ’s healing and, where there is forgiveness and restoration it is Christ’s forgiveness and restoration.
There is nothing new the 21st Century can invent about the Church’s Mission, but we are called to reflect on how over two centuries ago God changed everything, and it is that same change in mankind’s understanding of our relationship with God that we are called to witness to. Indeed, it is that same helper that Jesus gifted to the apostles as we heard in the Gospel that is gifted at Baptism, renewed at Confirmation and commissions those called at Ordination as Deacon, Priest or Bishop.
The power of the Internet has certainly changed worldwide communication, in some cases for the better – in others..well! The Power of the Holy Spirit, gifted to the Church at Pentecost, as at the dawn of creation continues to bring order from chaos. By our celebration today, please God, may we be further be used as its tools of communication both in word and deed!
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” Acts 2:4