Set all Nations Ablaze

A Reflection on the First Reading for May 23rd, 2021:
The Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday

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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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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

Pentecost Sunday. Big day! One of the three most important days in our liturgical year.


I am writing this reflection and you are reading it because, on this feast day 2000 years ago, the Holy Spirit “inspired” (breathed into) the Disciples and set their hearts on fire such that they burst out of the Upper Room and began to proclaim to “every nation under heaven” news of “God’s deeds of power.” Had the Disciples opted to celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit among themselves in the Upper Room, you and I would be doing something entirely different today.


That followers should be transformed by the Holy Spirit and become disciples by going out to share the love of Jesus with others remains the mission of the Church today, and it’s a mission that continues to have a purpose. There remain people in “every nation under heaven” who still have no idea who Jesus really is.


Until recently, I hadn’t considered the scope of the word “nation.” My understanding was limited to the geographical; I thought of countries beyond the Mediterranean Sea and people who lived far away from Jerusalem. But I think my understanding of “nation” has been too narrow. I believe there are “nations” closer to home — our families, our communities, our workplaces — where Jesus remains essentially unknown and where the Holy Spirit has no place to rest.


When John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and Jesus began His public ministry. On the feast of Pentecost, Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to be with the Disciples, and they began their public ministry. We too have a public ministry, and Jesus equips us for it by sending us His Holy Spirit. “As the Father sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)


The people in the Upper Room were full to bursting with the Holy Spirit. They were compelled to proclaim the good news, and they couldn’t resist it! Today, we seem to have so much noise and friction in our lives, all manner of forces that keep us from beginning our earthly ministries, or even wanting to. We need to make the effort, to call on the Holy Spirit to give us the will and the energy.


We often pray “Come Holy Spirit,” but my favourite prayer is one that reminds me that the Spirit is with me always, and so I pray, “Rise up, Holy Spirit.” Rise up, set our hearts ablaze, and send us out to every nation.


Have you burst out of the Upper Room, or are you still in hiding? Being a witness is not easy but, because Jesus has given us all we need to be an authentic witness to His love for us, perhaps it is at least simple.


Rise up, Holy Spirit!




Donna Davis

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