From Caroline - [email protected], 01285 712467
Readings for Sunday: Acts 16.16-34; Revelation 22.12-14, 16, 17, 20-end; John 17.20-end
With Ascension Day on Thursday we have entered into the special nine day period when the church watches and prays for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Just as we did during Easter, we walk side-by-side with those first disciples, imagining how it would feel to suddenly be without Jesus but with the promise of something amazing to come waiting before us. There is anticipation, hope, trepidation, but above all a deep faith that leads us forward. Jesus promised, and the One who promises is faithful. We may not know what it will look like for us, but the Spirit will come.
In this time of watching and prayer we once again join with the worldwide church, beyond any divisions of denomination or distance, in praying ‘Thy Kingdom Come’. We hold up the Lord’s Prayer, and focus on what the Holy Spirit will equip us to do – to take our place in God’s Kingdom of justice and joy, and to work for it. Do make use of our prayer stations in the church across this time, and join us for our special time of prayer on Tuesday afternoon.
One wonderful thing about this time is it reminds us of our common call in Jesus. It reminds us that we and those first Christians we read about in Acts, doing their best to follow Jesus’ teachings, guided by the Holy Spirit, are one. Our struggles mirror theirs – making mistakes, falling foul of the cultural norms of the day, but always working to get back onto the right path. Paul’s action in driving the possessing spirit out of the girl in our reading from Acts this Sunday was impulsive, and brought negative and unintended results. But God used those consequences nevertheless. Even in our weaknesses and impulsiveness, God uplifts us.
When Jesus prays in our reading from John’s Gospel we are reminded that he prays not just for his followers in his own time on earth, but for the whole church into the future – us included. There are no barriers for that ongoing work of the Holy Spirit – we are all part of the church across time. And isn’t that the most wonderful thing? We watch together. We wait together. We pray together. And together the Holy Spirit will guide us into a new way of being and living in God’s Kingdom. Across these nine days the words of the faithful church echo across the millennia, into past and future – “Thy Kingdom Come”.
Rev’d Caroline
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