Pentecost Sunday 9 Jun 2019 Sermon

Pentecost Sunday 9.6.19 Desire

We call on the Holy Spirit to come upon us, individually and collectively.

We could call this the macro and the micro view.

The macro view takes in the whole Church and the whole world. We often find ourselves discussing the problems of both, and there are so many.

We need the Holy Spirit to come and renew the Church, the nations, the whole lot.

Renewal, of course, presupposes repentance and conversion happening first. These are implied in the phrase, Come Holy Ghost.

Then we have the micro view, which means each person. Pick any person at random and it would be a safe bet to say this person needs the Holy Spirit – to remove sins and faults, and to grow in virtues and gifts.

We can pray at the macro and micro level at the same time. They are both urgent.

We can pray, Come Holy Spirit, fall upon  a particular person, or on a whole nation.

Whether it is a big or small target, the need is everywhere and the principle the same.

God will come if we ask Him, in the right way, and with sufficient fervour.

We ask Him to come though He has already come? He has come but we always need more of Him. We return to the fountain to sustain us with heavenly nourishment.

Why do we have to ask  Him when He wants to come anyway? Because God wants us to desire what is really most important.

He wants us to mature spiritually to the point that we can recognise our need. We need the Holy Spirit more than any worldly consideration.

The more clearly we see this the more fervently we are going to pray and the more likely God is to answer that prayer.

It is not enough just to wish things to be different; we must be prepared for a little blood, sweat and tears; to show that we really mean this request and all that comes with it.

We also ask the Holy Spirit for ourselves, because we all have need of Him.

I cannot stop nations fighting wars, or a thousand other social and moral evils. But I can stop my own sin and improve my own response to the grace of God.

This is where it begins. If one person does something extra that will make the Church stronger and more able to help others.

Thousands of small candles can make a big light.

We recall the first Pentecost and countless miracles God has worked in our midst to revive our confidence. What marvels the Lord has worked for us. (Ps 125 (126), 3).

When we recall these major feasts it is as though we are part of the event. Imagine being at that first Pentecost. Whatever you would feel or think there still applies now, in all its freshness.

Those were the glory days but they are not out of our reach. Everything that happened there and then can happen here and now.

Renewal is possible at any time.

It is a matter of asking. There are restaurants where you can eat as much as you want for a fixed price.

In spiritual terms you can have as much of the Holy Spirit as you dare to ask.

This is not selfish; He wants us to want Him, and others will certainly benefit from any step we take in that direction.

We never know who or  how many will respond to the invitation, but we can generate some heat and light by our own responsiveness.

Pentecost wakes us up; shakes us from any lethargy or despondency.

Constantly we raise the cry: Come, Holy Ghost.