The Spirit Moves Among Us
In the Episcopal Church, the Holy Spirit is not an abstract concept or just a feeling but the third Person of the Trinity: fully God, co-eternal with the Creator and Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the dynamic, living presence of God, active in creation, in the Church, and in our daily lives. At Pentecost, we are invited to remember this truth and to open ourselves anew to the Spirit’s movement.
From the very beginning of scripture, the Spirit is present. In Genesis, the Spirit hovers over the waters of creation, bringing forth life from chaos. In Acts 2, we read of the Spirit’s dramatic arrival in wind and fire, empowering the disciples to proclaim the Gospel in languages they had never spoken. This moment marks the beginning of the Church, when a fearful group of followers becomes a bold, Spirit filled community of witness and mission.
The story from Acts is often called the “birthday of the Church,” and for good reason. It reminds us that the Church does not exist by human will alone, but by God’s own Spirit. The disciples were not given a detailed plan or a map; they were given the Holy Spirit. And that was enough. With wind and flame, with courage and clarity, the Spirit filled them and sent them out.
In the Gospel reading for Pentecost from John 14:8–17, Jesus promises his followers that they will not be left alone. “I will ask the Father,” he says, “and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.” The Holy Spirit is that Advocate: our companion, comforter, and guide. The Spirit abides with us, reminds us of what Jesus taught, and leads us into deeper truth. This isn’t just theological language, it’s a promise that God is present, here and now.
In our Episcopal tradition, we see the Holy Spirit’s presence not only in dramatic stories of wind and fire, but also in the steady rhythms of Word and Sacrament. At baptism, we are “sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever.” At Communion, we call upon the Spirit to sanctify the bread and wine and to unite us to Christ. In confirmation, ordination, and times of prayer and discernment, we rely on the Spirit’s guidance. The Spirit empowers us not only to believe, but to live as the Body of Christ in the world.
The Feast of Pentecost, which we celebrate fifty days after Easter, is a moment of joy, renewal, and transformation. Red vestments and decorations in many churches reflect the tongues of flame that rested on the disciples, and the fire of God’s love that burns within us still. This year, we invite everyone to wear red to worship on Pentecost Sunday as a visible sign of our shared celebration and our openness to the Spirit’s flame.
But Pentecost is not just a commemoration of something that happened long ago, it is a living invitation to us now. Just as the Spirit once empowered the disciples to go into the streets and speak to all nations, the Spirit now calls us into our neighborhoods, workplaces, and community to share Christ’s love. The miracle of Pentecost was not only that the disciples spoke in many languages, but that people of many backgrounds could understand. Pentecost celebrates a unity in diversity that lies at the heart of the Episcopal Church’s identity.
As Episcopalians, we are called to listen for the Spirit not just in the sanctuary, but in everyday life, in moments of justice and reconciliation, in words of truth spoken with love, in silent prayer, and courageous acts. The Spirit is not finished with us. The Church is still being renewed. And the Good News of Jesus Christ is still being proclaimed in every language, through every life offered in service.
This Pentecost, may we open ourselves once again to the Holy Spirit’s power. May we be filled, renewed, and sent. May we be flames of hope in a world that still longs to hear the Gospel in a language it can understand.
Come, Holy Spirit. Come.
Kevin+
