Easter: the sequel?
Easter now seems some time ago. The holidays are over, and we now have two other holidays to look forward to- the Mayday holiday on May 5th, and the Spring Bank holiday on May 26th – half term. Some of you who are old enough will remember that this used to be called the Whitsun holiday. Whitsun, or Whit Sunday, is another name for the feast of Pentecost. This year this falls on June 8th. I wonder how many of you know what this feast day celebrates? To the Jews it marks the end of the Passover season and remembers the time when God gave the gift of his Ten Commandments to Moses. To others Pentecostal might mean a certain way of doing church, involving a lot of lively music and prayer. But for all Christians, the day of Pentecost is “Easter: the Sequel.”
Jesus promised a “helper” before he died. Jesus told his disciples that he was going away but would send them a “helper.” As good as his word, he sent the Holy Spirit to them. The “helper” came to the disciples like wind and tongues of fire. The Holy Spirit completely changed their lives. Now with the help of the Holy Spirit’s power the disciples went to all corners of the Roman Empire to give people the good news. This is one sequel which is not a let-down! Easter marks the time when Jesus rose from the dead to give us all new life. Pentecost marks the time when Jesus kept his promise and sent us the Holy Spirit to, (as writer John Pritchard puts it) “blow through the cold, dusty rooms of our lives and bring us a touch of the sun-drenched life of the Spirit.” Why not ask the Holy Spirit to enter your life and see what happens?
It might be amazing!
What have you got to lose?
Blessings to all, Vivienne