June 19th 2011

As I write this, it is the Tuesday after Pentecost. We have a special collect in our prayer books, BCP page 209 for this day. In it we are admonished to "have a right judgement in all things''' and to "rejoice in his comfort". Do you ever contemplate what means most to you on this earth? For me it is certainly people. It is always such a joy when someone comes in my door whether it is family or friends, a staff member or another resident. Despite that, I'm seldom lonely and enjoy solitude because I am not alone. It is a joy to come together with my brothers and sisters in Christ to worship.

1 also need to be alone with God. To be with him is to pray. For years, I have felt a guilt about prayer, the need to be at prayer, the need for more discipline. In other words, I struggle to have a vital prayer life. It must have shown because one day, our dear friend Janet Mitchell challenged me "why do you always speak of prayer as being difficult"? That opened my mind and my heart. I stopped struggling and let him take over. God wants us, as much as we want him, I wrote several weeks ago. Intercessional prayer is when all those people and causes of whom I am concerned come with me into his presence. He is not up there in some place called heaven. He is here with us where we can reach out and feel his presence. Our love touches him who is the source of all love. We were made from that love; we are made in his image.

It is not possible in this life to realize the full majesty of the father but we can have an experience of him through what he revealed in his son Jesus Christ. This enlightenment comes through the comfort and power of the Holy Spirit. Thus we are enfolded by the grace and love of the Holy Trinity. Let us as the collect admonishes us, "rejoice in his comfort".

June 12th 2011

There are two Bible verses which I connect in my mind, Luke 2:8 “in that region there were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night” and Acts 2:10 “they were all there in one place”. For each group, something wonderful happened. For the shepherds, the heavens opened and it was revealed to them in sight and sound that the angels worshipped God before them. Above all they received a special piece of good news. The Messiah was born in nearby Bethelem.

A little over thirty years later, another larger group waited for the revelation and fulfilment of a promise in their gathering place, the upper room. We read that as well as the apostles, there were about 130 people there including certain women, Mary, Jesus’ mother and his brothers. It makes me happy to know those brothers were part of the company. There had been a time when they were not in sympathy with Jesus’ Ministry. Perhaps they were fearful for him or were embarrassed by him. What of those shepherds? I like to think that one or two of them were still alive and continued in their knowledge and love of Jesus and were part of that group in the upper room who met to support one another and to wait and pray together. That is, of course, pure speculation on my part but surely after having seen the babe, returning home and spreading the good news and praising God, they would not have forgotten him? Forgive my flight of imagination but it is one of God’s gifts to us. It can be used to shed light on facts but it is to be used strictly, separating fact from fiction.

Try to imagine the truth of what happened. What was it like on that Pentecost morning? Imagine what it was like to feel the “rush of a violent wind” to see “the divided tongues of fire”. Know that it was real by what happened afterwards. That band of frightened people became alive and increased to about 3,000 (Acts 2: 41). With the holy spirit comes power to be used for God’s kingdom – things happen.

Pentecost was not a onetime event 2,000 years ago. The spirit enters every open heart and we wait and pray for power to do his will. Sometimes it is a big thing he gives us to do. Sometimes it is as small as taking the trouble to cross a crowded room and greet someone. Who knows, you may perhaps feel the blowing wind. It does happen, even today. Jesus is still with us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Wait in prayer; when you are moved by his power, witness for him by word and deed.

June 5th 2011

Ascension Day was celebrated last Thursday and we now come to the final promise Jesus made to his disciples before he was taken from them. “Lo I am with you always, even on to the end of the world” (Matt. 28: 20). “And you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8)  Jesus is promising them and us that he will not send anyone out in to the world without his constant presence and support. He is always with us. That support is not a vague presence but a real power, the power of the Holy Spirit. We will not be people who are just informed but people who are transformed. Heaven is not a vague place, high in the sky, it is a reality here on earth which we can all experience. We need to wait prayerfully for that to happen each day in our lives.