In complete amazement:. The presence of God in our lives.

We can talk, pray, meditate and listen to God without experiencing God.

Acts begins quite soberly with a last discussion between Jesus and his disciples in which He tells them what will happen after his ascension (Ac.1:1-10). Jesus promises them the Holy Spirit who will empower them to become witnesses (Ac.1:8-9). They then return to Jerusalem, as Jesus asked them (Ac.1:4), where they pray and elect a successor for Judas (Ac.1:12-26). There is a lot of talking, reflection, meditating and praying going on in this introductory passage. They are busy, these disciples,as they respond to the message of Jesus and awaits what will happen.

And yet, there are also indications of something extraordinary in this passage. It focusses strongly on the Holy Spirit as the promise from the Father (Ac.1:4; but esp. 1:33) who would empower them to become witnesses. Characteristic of spirituality the passage focusses therefore on God’s relationship with humanity through the gift of the Spirit who will transform the disciples. Whilst there are references to God’s initiative and actions to deepen the divine relationship with humanity, the disciples from their side also respond to the divine actions by their prayers and the election of someone to succeed Judas. These are all precursors to the acts of empowerment which are to follow and which would bring humanity to do extraordinary things. The resurrection is not enough. That was just the beginning. Now follows the process of transformation. But the moment of empowerment is prepared by their accepting attitude to what Jesus wants from them – to return to Jerusalem – and their prayers. At the same time they also quite practically prepare for the gift of empowerment by appointing a successor to Judas. In this way not only God, but the disciples also are actively at work to nurture and intensify their mutual relationship. It is indeed a process of growth in a relationship: intense discussions as a group with Jesus, careful consideration of what He wants from them, prayerful response and preparation for what is to follow and practical arrangements for the future.

All these things illustrate various aspects of the growing relationship of God with humanity and the loving response of humanity to the divine actions in their lives. It has to do with divine gifts, support – but also about farewell, about new forms of relationship. At the same time there is devotion, obedience, retreat, discernment of God’s will and trust on the divine guidance. The relationship between God and humanity takes on many forms and varies constantly. It is indeed a journey in which this relationship develops in various forms and ways.

But there is something unique to this first phase of Acts in that everything comes to completion on the day of Pentecost. Everything is directed to and is preparation for this event: it is the day on which the divine promises become a reality and the Spirit touches and changes people forever. What was expected previously, is experienced on this day. Here a divine fire burns in people. They are inspired by a Spirit of love in the service of God. Perhaps even because they awaited it so intensely, their experience is so intense.... It is the great moment of transformation.

It is easy to reduce Pentecost to a moment that people are being empowered and transformed. They become fearless witnesses, we say. But Pentecost is about much more than this. People are changed, but they become people who worship God in amazement as the God of power who is present in their lives. It is not what they would do on that day, which makes most sense. It is what God did and what God is doing and God’s fulfilling presence which is what everything is all about.

This is clear in the simple description of the Pentecost events. A heavenly sound “from heaven” fills the house and fire tongues descends on each one of them. Heaven descends to earth. And then, according to Acts 2:11, they proclaim the mighty deeds of God. It is the divine presence and deeds which fill their hearts and make them break out in spontaneous witness. Pentecost is for Luke the coming of the Lord (Ac.2:20). It is the day of the Lord’s coming in power and glory. God is present among us through the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is a powerful reminder that God desires a relationship with us which is intimate: ultimately God is with us as God who is stronger than death. We must remember and meditate on this constantly. From the very beginning God was with us as the fire of love who renews us.

We can speak, think, meditate and even pray without really experiencing the presence of God. Pentecost reminds us that ultimately we have to experience our faith as contemplation – as the refreshing, powerful experience of the divine presence. On this day our prayerful waiting is over – what we expected, is finally a reality. Our longing for God is transformed into our joy in the divine presence. Finally, finally we experience the God of fire and of love....