Day of Pentecost – The Epistles Passage

In a way, the Day of Pentecost is what we have been counting down to since Easter. It marks the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world in a way that it was not present before. If you think about it, that is rather sad. The Spirit and Presence of God had always been amongst God’s people, and those that God had singled out as being in relationship to the Divine. But with the coming of the Spirit to the disciples, the Holy Spirit was launched into the world as the aftermath of Jesus’ ministry. Without the ministry of Jesus, the disciples and apostles would have never been established. And the writer of most of the Epistles would never been called by God – called out from old belief into new belief. And nurtured by the disciples until he was ready to take up the mantle of his own ministry.

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:22-27)

There is a great deal in this passage from Romans chapter 8; more than can be dealt with in one posting. It if a very important passage concerning pray, and petition & intercession. It also has important information about the life to come. And, of course, hope. But what I want to highlight is the fact that the Spirit is talked about as separate from God – an entity or aspect of the Divine that is distinct. This is a difference. But for those of us who believe in a triune faith, it marks the emergence of the third aspect of God – an eminent God that is with us always.

As the week unfolds we will hear more about the Spirit that comes from God, that has work separate from God, but yet is a part of God. As the writer of Romans would say, a great mystery.

May you, beloved reader, be ushered into the presence of the Spirit and may you see, in part at least, some of the mystery revealed. Selah!