June 5.  Pentecost. Also World Environment Day.

Jock said, “Pentecost has always and traditionally been celebrated as the birthday of the Church.  It was the day on which in such a dramatic way, through the tongues of fire, the apostles received the gift of the Holy Spirit  as guide, counsellor and comforter, as Jesus had promised. In our post-Confirmation programme we were studying Church history and I found it very interesting how throughout the ages the Holy Spirit seemed to have been given whatever job needed to be done, evangelizing, sustaining the Church, fighting heretics, leading councils. In the 20th century the Holy Spirit as healer and builder of faith became popular. Now here in our 21st century world, with our current need for ecological conversion, it is as if Pope Francis has given him a different task again.  I find the passage in his Laudato Si’ 80 most interesting. Pope Francis writes, ’God, who wishes to work with us and who counts on our cooperation can also bring good out of the evil we have done. The Holy Spirit can be said to possess an infinite creativity, proper to the divine mind, which knows how to loosen the knots of human affairs, including the most complex. The Spirit of God has filled the universe with possibilities and therefore from the very heart of things, something new can always emerge.’ “ Jock added, “That is certainly good news for us as we face many difficult choices to overcome the harmful aspects of climate change. I do think that issue is able to bring Christians and other believers together.” 

Scripture:  Jesus said, “The counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”  John 14:23-26

Pope Francis: The Father is the ultimate source of everything. The son, his reflection, through whom all things were created, united himself to this earth when he was formed in the womb of Mary.  The Spirit, infinite bond of love, is intimately present at the very heart of the universe, inspiring and bringing new pathways. The world was created by the three Persons, acting as a single divine principle but each performed this work in accordance with his own personal property.   When we contemplate with wonder the universe in all its grandeur and beauty, we must praise the whole Trinity.  LS238.   Pray the Prayer for Christian Unity.  Pray for Anglican/Episcopal Churches