LogoNNN
The Norfolk and Norwich Christian community website

Opinion column


pentecost 750AT

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit

Last Sunday was Pentecost, and Philip Young reflects on the importance of that festival, and the potential for joy that it brings.

We often think of joy in relation to Christmas and the joy of the angels at Jesus’s birth. But perhaps the most joyful moment of our faith is the joy on the day of resurrection when Jesus breaks the power of death and triumphs over evil. And the joy of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is evident in the disciples and their consequent ministry to preach the good news of Jesus to the whole world.
 
Of the three festivals of Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, the least well known and the least celebrated is Pentecost. The festival of Pentecost this year was on Sunday 28 May, exactly 50 days after Easter, but I found that even many church goers were not aware that it was Pentecost.
 
In the Church of England we celebrate Pentecost for just the one Sunday and then on the Monday we are back to what we call ‘Ordinary Time’. In contrast the Christmas Season is celebrated from Christmas Day for 50 days until Candlemas. And Easter is celebrated for 50 days until Pentecost.
 
I think we need to celebrate Pentecost much more than we do, because without Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit we would not have even heard of Christmas and Easter. Thinking about this we can safely say that it is only because of the transformation of the disciples by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that the good news of Jesus was heard about at all.
 
So when we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gift of joy then we can share the good news of Jesus. If we try to impose our beliefs on others in our own strength then it is often bound to end in failure. We must do all we can to wait upon the Holy Spirit and to receive the fruit of joy. In his strength alone and in the power of the Spirit is the only way for us to spread the good news.
 
The promise of the Holy Spirit is for us too. Jesus talked about the Spirit as the Comforter saying that he would lead us into all truth. Let us gather together in one place in our churches and wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then let us go out with Joy and in the power of the Spirit. Let the joy of Holy Spirit be our strength.
 
The image is courtesy of Good News Productions Int. on freebibleimages.org.


Philip Young June 2014Philip is an Anglican, Quaker, and a member of the Third Order of Franciscans, and lives in Felixstowe. Until July 2014 he was the Diocesan Environmental Officer for the Norwich Diocese, and stood as an independent candidate in the June 2017 general election. He is now Associate Priest at St. John and St. Edmund in Felixstowe and a freelance writer on spiritual and political matters. He is available to run Quiet Days, give talks, presentations or to preach and is willing to speak up against the present war being waged by Russia and would welcome invitations from radio, television, or any other interested group. He can be contacted at philipyoung@btinternet.com. Visit Philip’s website at www.revolutionoflovenow.com.


The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Norfolk, and are intended to stimulate constructive and good-natured debate between website users. 

We welcome your thoughts and comments, posted below, upon the ideas expressed here. 
Click here to read our forum and comment posting guidelines

3738 views
To submit a story or to publicise an event please email: web@networknorwich.co.uk