Our Mini-Pentecost

Since today is Pentecost, I was thinking about the Holy Spirit and how we don't talk about Him as often as we probably should. In the Gospel for today Jesus promises the gift of the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) and that promise is fulfilled when we read the appointed Epistle from the book of Acts which tells of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Two weeks ago at our church we were fortunate to have our diocesan bishop visit and confirm two adults. This coming weekend I will be representing him at one of our churches in Florida where I will confirm two people as well. How exciting it is that these confirmations come so close to Whitsunday, also called Pentecost. I think it's exciting because I see each confirmation as that person's mini-Pentecost. It is that special time in the life of an Anglican Christian when we specifically receive the Holy Spirit as our defender and helper as we grow in our Christian faith.

Why is this laying on of hands so important? Well, it's because the Bible says it is vitally important for us as Christians to receive the Holy Spirit through a process of laying on of hands. This is done through bishops who perform the Apostolic ministry today. Let's look at what we find in Acts 8:14 - 17: "Now when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit."

This passage is so important to us. It tells us that our Christian formation isn't complete until we receive the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands (and then we have even more work to do). Notice that in Acts it is assumed that a believer is not compete just with baptism alone, but must experience the laying on of hands and receive the gift of the Holy spirit. The gift of the Holy spirit helps us live faithful Christian lives. He is our defender and helper. He is fully part of the Trinity and is God just like Jesus is God. Everything we say about God and Jesus is equally true of the Holy Spirit. How amazing it is that He comes to dwell in us so perfectly, In today's Gospel (John 15:15ff) Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit dwells in us and will give us comfort. What a great promise!

Each person of the Trinity has a specific part to p lay in our salvation. God the Father decreed that it should be so, Godthe Son is our mediator, and God the Holy Spirit is the direct actor in our lives who makes everything happen. Jesus' great promise is true and living in each one of us.

So the next time you attend an Anglican confirmation service listen really hard to what the bishop says when he places his hands on the head of those to be confirmed: "Defend, O Lord, this Thy child with Thy heavenly grace that he may continue Thine forever, and daily increase in Thy Holy Spirit more and more until he come unto Thy everlasting kingdom." Amen!

Do We Talk About God Too Much?

I think that sometimes we talk so much about God that our words get in the way of experiencing Him and letting Him into our hearts. We become so concerned with "doing theology" that we completely miss encountering God in truly meaningful, personal ways. Here are a couple of observations I've found very helpful:

"Does all our talk and discussion about God bring us closer to Him?" - Thomas Merton

"In the way of thinking that involves talking, discussing, analyzing, and criticizing, there is scarcely room for the God who speaks whenever we are silent and who comes in whenever we have emptied ourselves." - Henri Nouwen

Both quotes are from "Encounters With Merton" by Henri J.M. Nouwen