Baptized in the Spirit


Reflections on the Acts of Apostles Chapters 18-23 and Pentecost

I have been using this weekly blog over the Seasons of Lent and Easter to coincide with the Forward Movement program encouraging the Church to read the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.   While I have enjoyed this enterprise, it has, at times, made it more difficult to reflect on the lections for the week or current events and their intersection with our faith.  It is fortuitous that this week there is a bit of an overlap with the Book of Acts and the Day of Pentecost, which we celebrate this Sunday.

Jesus told his disciples that while John baptized with water, he would baptize with fire (i.e. the Holy Spirit).  The apostles did receive the Holy Spirit, some after his resurrection and all of Creation on the day of Pentecost.  They were filled with passion and purpose to continue Jesus’s ministry and work in the world.  Jesus even calls the Holy Spirit “the Advocate,” a helper to offer guidance and support in their ministries as it would be challenging.

It is important to note that John’s baptism (mentioned in the story of Apollos in Acts 18) is about being washed cleaned from sin as a final act of repentance before God.  In our modern understanding of baptism, while we still use the symbol of water for cleanliness, it is more about dying to self and being re-born into a life in Christ.  I freely admit that our liturgy is lacking in its action of bestowing the gift of the Holy Spirit on the newly baptized.  We chrismate (anoint with holy oil) and say a short sentence “N. you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever.” BCP p. 308.  It does not invite the same furor and passion portrayed in the Scriptures.

Case in point – in Chapter 19, Paul returns to Ephesus and meets some believers who were probably instructed by Apollos, who received the baptism of John but had not received the Holy Spirit.  Paul chooses to re-baptize these people with the baptism of Jesus (i.e. into the Body of Christ) and then lays hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit, which is seen through the gifts of the Spirit they exhibit. It is an amazing moment for the Church, but it will cause some issues in that church about the “right way” to do things (Paul’s or Apollos’), However, what is important is the quantifiable difference having the Spirit has on their ministries. 

Paul continuously seeks guidance by the Holy Spirit of what to do or say, where to go and when to leave. Without the presence and power of the Spirit, Paul could have done nothing, and the Church might never have even survived.  And yet here we are, thanks be to God.

Having some in Ephesus who were strong in the Spirit makes Paul’s message to them in Chapter 20 a bit easier to hear.  He warns the elders that the road ahead will be difficult and that they need to be prepared to face the challenges.  The only way they will be able to endure is with the Spirit.  That is still true for us today.

Paul’s return to Jerusalem is anything but triumphant.  He is put in prison and practically forgotten about.  And yet when he is called upon to testify, he does, with great eloquence.  His retelling of this dramatic encounter with the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus offers an opportunity for Paul to reflect on the transformation he experienced that day.  He was open to listening to the Spirit tell him what to do and where to go rather than relying on his own ego.  For a man of such position and power, it is a radical departure, and it is no wonder many were converted to the Way after hearing his testimony.

As we prepare ourselves for the Day of Pentecost, what can we do to be more open and perspective of the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives?  First and foremost, I believe we need to pay more attention to the Spirit and listen to what she is saying.  The miracle of the first Pentecost was hearing, not speaking.  How do we hear better to that still small voice?  We pray, not just the laundry list of wants and desires, but what the Spirit is telling us to do – call someone, visit another, share our authentic faith stories with another.  Yes, we might be called out of our comfort zones, but if we believe that the Spirit is with us, we are not alone in any endeavor.

May we all be filled with the Holy Spirit and use that power to continue to follow Paul’s example of building God’s Realm on Earth.

Joyfully,
Rev. Valerie+

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