Pentecost Sunday

As the Father has sent me, so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." - John 20:21b-22

The Spirit comes to those who are in one place together. Not scattered, not absent - gathered, waiting. The fire rests on each one individually, but the gathering is the condition for the fullness. The wind fills the house. The gift is given to the assembly that has stayed in Jerusalem as instructed.

To each manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. Not for personal enrichment. The gift is given to the person; the purpose is the body. The man who has received the Spirit carries something for the others that the others need from him. The question is not only what gift I have but what gift I have that the body around me lacks.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you. The Pentecost sending is specific - Jesus is sent by the Father into a particular world, and so are you. The ordinary time that begins this week is the time of being sent. The Spirit who fills is the Spirit who sends. Both at once.

Where are you sent? Name it specifically this week: one person, one context, one particular world where the Spirit is sending you with the gift you carry. Not general witness - the specific one. And carry [name] into the sending: Lord, send him with whatever gift the body around him needs from him.

Lord, as the Father sent you, you send me. Let the Spirit breathed on the disciples be the Spirit who sends me into my particular world. What I carry is for the common good. Let me carry it there. Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit. Amen.