May 26, 2012 - Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 20:22 - 21:9; Luke 20:45 - 21:19

"The Spirit of the Lord fills the world. Alleluia. Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. Alleluia." (Antiphon from the Introit for Pentecost)

In the Name of + Jesus. Amen. Tomorrow morning at church the paraments will be red. You' ll hear about the tongues of fire dancing on the disciples' heads. And you' ll confess: "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life."

But how will you know the Spirit of the Lord is there tomorrow? Will you get a liver-shiver? Will your arm hairs tingle with goose-bumps? Will you shake, rattle and roll all over the aisle babbling gibberish?

How will you know it' s the Holy Spirit speaking to you and not something you ate the night before? Or worse yet, if it' s the kind of spirit you shouldn' t be talking to. Something, or rather, Someone, is missing.

Apart from Jesus, you have no idea if you' re talking to the Holy Spirit or chasing ghosts. "When the Spirit comes," says Jesus, "He will testify of me." No Jesus, no Spirit. Got Jesus Crucified for your sins? There' s the Holy Spirit.

Unlike us, The Holy Spirit doesn' t enjoy talking about Himself. The Spirit of the Lord fills your hearts and minds with faith, life and hope in Christ Crucified. The Holy Spirit gives you Jesus.

How? Just like those disciples gathered for the first Pentecost, the Holy Spirit calls, gathers and enlightens you not by your feelings, not by your own reason or strength, but through the Word and Sacraments in the Church. Through Jesus! The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son to the church, to you.

The same Spirit that once hovered over the waters of creation now hovers over the waters of your Baptism. He spoke by the prophets and apostles and still breathes out Jesus' forgiveness to you in the Word. If you think about it, every Sunday is a little Pentecost. Tomorrow, when you see Jesus in the Sacrament and hear His forgiveness declared, rejoice exceedingly. For the same Spirit that fills the world now fills the Church. In the Name of + Jesus. Amen.

Come, holy Light, guide divine, Now cause Your Word of life to shine. Teach us to know our God aright And call Him Father with delight. From ev' ry error keep us free; Let none but Christ our master be That we in living faith abide, In Him, our Lord, with all our might confide. Alleluia, Alleluia! (LSB 497:2)

Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflections Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.

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