Eastertide

May 18, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Acts 1:1-11

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ –Acts 1:1-5

This scripture indicates that the Holy Spirit was with the Disciples at Christ’s ascension and that they are now awaiting the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is mentioned throughout the Hebrew Bible over 200 times. As Christ was with God from the creation, so also was the Spirit. Christ was preparing the Disciples for taking over the reins of his quest to further the Kingdom of God throughout our world. We recall that Jesus’s ministry was introduced with the arrival of a dove from heaven and a voice saying, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’

This pattern of preparation in service to God also tracks throughout the Bible. I like the example of the airline staff giving instructions at the beginning of a flight when they say something to the effect that, if necessary, a mask will drop down from the ceiling of the plane. Put the mask on yourself before you try to help another put their mask on. The message is that we will be no good to anyone else if we faint from lack of oxygen. Establishing our link with the Holy Spirit is key to our success in service to God.

Paul would probably add here a metaphor about athletes always staying in training. Just as they need to be honed to the point of responding through muscle memory, we need to be ready to respond to life’s challenges through the Spirit memory that we receive and nurture for growth through the practice of spiritual disciplines like prayer and study.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.