I always think of May as a joyful and beautiful month. Maybe it’s imprinted at an early age! I recall the songs we sang at school, and that’s now in the dim, distant past! We sang about ‘the joyous month of May;’ green fields, full of flowers; fragrant scented air; and ‘opening our casements wide to the joys of a lovely May morning.’ There are hedgerows decked in white mayflower; gardens bright with early summer blooms; wildflowers at the edge of the field; woods carpeted with bluebells; longer, warmer days, and the air heavy with the
fragrance of lilac blossom.
May is often the joyful month in which we celebrate PENTECOST. This year it falls on the 8th June and doesn’t even give us a Bank Holiday Monday! Some say that Pentecost is the birthday of the Christian church. It was the day the Holy Spirit came to that first band of followers of Jesus. The Spirit came in the form of fire and with great power, enabling them to go out boldly with the Good News of Jesus.
“When the day of Pentecost came they were all together in one place….all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts ch 2, verses 1 and 4)
The Holy Spirit is still here for every Christian. ‘Jesus said “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” ( Luke ch 11 verse 13)
And,’ Jesus said “When He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” (John ch 16 verse 13)
So, let’s be joyful, let’s be ready, as we prepare to celebrate PENTECOST once again, even though we have to wait a little longer this year.
With love, Mary R.