Pentecost Sunday 2022

St Dorotheus, Priest-Martyr

Ambon Prayer 42

Title

Following the Flow of the Spirit

Outline

Remember the ad that said: “Mother, I would rather do it myself”?

In our culture self-direction and self-sufficiency rule

“You can be anything that you choose to be”

And if you are disabled in any way, you are really “other enabled” and so it should not change your choices

But that is not the story of Pentecost nor the story of one who is committed to our Lord and the Theotokos

Jesus presents himself and his Spirit as the source of our sufficiency

He is at the feast at which a golden pitcher full of water from the pool of Siloam was carried up to the Temple and poured on the altar as the symbol of the starting of the prayers for rain.

Jesus says, ““If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ””

The water flows from the Messiah, the New Temple, as in Ezekiel and Revelation.

He is the source of the Spirit who connects us to God and leads and guides us in this world.

But we have to go to him and admit our need and his provision and then follow the Spirit

Pentecost is the Spirit directing the apostles, the Theotokos, and other disciples outward into mission

When they had asked about the kingdom coming, they had been told to stay in Jerusalem until the Spirit came upon them, for that is what would direct them into worldwide mission (“You will be my witnesses”)

At the feast of Weeks or Pentecost Jews and seekers from the whole Roman world and beyond came to Jerusalem to worship - it was one of three great pilgrim feasts

The disciples did not realize it, but this was God’s timing.

Suddenly the Spirit rushes upon them, like a wind, like fire, and their hearts burst with languages unknown to them - they poured out of the house into the street and there moving up towards the Temple were all these Jews from around the Roman world.

Those pilgrims to Jerusalem, devout people, heard and recognized the languages - the praise of God in their own language. That made them attentive when Peter spoke to them in Greek (perhaps through a translator) and shared about Jesus as king, as Messiah. 3000 were converted and baptized.

From that moment the Spirit was thrusting them outward into those lands from which the pilgrims came, sometimes through direction and sometimes through persecution. The Messiah must gather the nations, but the gathering started when the Spirit started it.

Now brothers and sisters, we must indeed follow the Spirit whether it flows like a quiet stream or bursts forth like a rushing wind with tongues of fire.

Are you thirsty, perhaps just dry, perhaps consciously thirsting for God, perhaps thirsting for God to work in your family or neighborhood? Seek Jesus or seek the Theotokos and request that the Spirit flow from Jesus into you.

Are you ready to participate in the work of God in this world? Don’t just follow your own desires, but ask for the Spirit in his way and in his timing to flow into and through you into the work of God in this world.

In your baptism you received the Spirit, so he is available to you. You may have to listen for his quiet voice or you may be overwhelmed, but either way he will lead you into God’s work in God’s timing so that you are drawn closer to God and through you God draws others to himself.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 6-12-2022: Holy Pentecost

EPISTLE

Acts 2:1–11

2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and wondered, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 6-12-2022: Holy Pentecost

GOSPEL

John 7:37–52, 8:12

37  On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. 38  He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39  Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

40  When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This is really the prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42  Has not the Scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44  Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

45 The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46  The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Are you led astray, you also? 48 Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed.” 50  Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51  “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52  They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee.”

12  Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (6-5-2022: Holy Pentecost)

SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2022 | PENTECOSTARION

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 6-12-2022: Holy Pentecost

HOLY PENTECOST

Bright Vestments

Matins Gospel John 20:19–23

Epistle Acts 2:1–11

Gospel John 7:37–52, 8:12

GREEN