From The Desk of Deacon Judy

Come, Holy Spirit, Come

On this Pentecost Sunday, as we wear our red outfits and gaze at our striking red altar hangings and vestments, the fire of the Holy Spirit will fill St. James. Actually, our Spirit window in the choir loft reminds us each Sunday that the Holy Spirit comes down like a dove to embrace us.

How is your relationship with the Holy Spirit?

Over these many years of my spiritual journey and deepening prayer life, I have come to appreciate both the pneuma and the paraclete, the two Greek references for the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.

During my quiet, still prayer moments, often in contemplative prayer, I breathe in the pneuma, God’s breath of life. The spirit settles deep inside. As I wait and listen (as I abide in the Lord), the spirit brings me calm, peace, and sometimes wisdom.

During my everyday “Brother Lawrence” prayers, when I practice the presence of God in my everyday activities, the Advocate/Counselor/paraclete Spirit accompanies me on my journey, guiding me “into all truth”. Now that truth may just be an ordinary, obvious reality. Or it may surprise me with a profound revelation.

The Holy Spirit is meant to change us.

A former priest with whom I served (the Reverend John Wesley) wrote a small book called The Holy Spirit in the Book of Common Prayer. Throughout our prayer book there are so many references to the Holy Spirit. Father John reminds us that during our Eucharist, the priest invokes the Holy Spirit to sanctify the elements of bread and wine (the epiclesis). He says that “the Holy Spirit is invoked to make something happen” and that “something” “always involves a change”. (p.38)

What change happens when you encounter the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit surprise you?

Let us welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives. Come, Holy Spirit, Come.

Almost Pentecost Blessings, Judy Q+