Ask and Receive

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, June 9th, 2019:
The Solemnity of Pentecost

Acts 2.1-11

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in their own language. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and converts, Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”

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When we gather together, the Holy Spirit is especially present. In Matthew 18:20 it explicitly says: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” There is great power in coming together in the name of Jesus, and inviting the Holy Spirit to be present. I am so thankful to be able to be a part of a faith community in which the Holy Spirit is experienced in this way—together. I have always believed that it is because of the friendships I have through my faith family and the relationships I have been able to build through gathering together that I am where I am today in my faith. I know that these amazing people in my life have built me up and have helped me to grow in my faith and in my love for Christ. We truly are in this together.

Some of my greatest friends are the people who I can confide in about my faith. The people who I can pray with are the people I have the closest relationships with. One morning, my best friend and I were in the library of our university during a stressful part of the semester. Along with school being hectic, we were also experiencing external stresses, which we were distracted by and venting to each other about rather than studying for our organic chemistry class. I had the sense that I should pray with her right there. I was really questioning God’s prompting, thinking, “For real? Right here in the library?” But His call was persistent and I finally asked her if she would be comfortable with me praying over her. She agreed, and we quietly prayed at our desks, asking the Holy Spirit to be there with us. That sense of comfort and closeness I had with her at that time by sharing our openness to the Holy Spirit is something I will never forget. I am so thankful for her and her witness of faith in my life.

"If we open up our hearts to Him and ask for the Holy Spirit to be present, we will receive."

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When we ask, we receive. God’s will will be done in our lives if we allow it to. If we open up our hearts to Him and ask for the Holy Spirit to be present, we will receive. Like in this reading, those who are willing to experience the Lord will do so in amazing ways. 

I encourage you to open up to experiencing faith through others and with others if you do not already. It truly makes a difference and creates loving friendships like those that I know I will always have. ​

​Megan Noye

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