Pentecost: The Presence Continued and Continues

Rev. Erik Swanson
June 8, 2025

You can view the entire sermon here.

I want us to imagine ourselves in the upper room with the disciples, experiencing the dramatic arrival of the Holy Spirit. Imagine the rushing wind, the tongues of fire, and the sudden ability to speak in different languages. The disciples, once fearful and in hiding, are transformed and emboldened to go into the world proclaiming the Good News. As modern-day disciples we’re called to live with the same openness to the Spirit, allowing ourselves to be filled, inspired, and sent out into the world with courage and purpose.

An Ongoing Call to Action

Pentecost isn’t just a historical event; it’s a living, ongoing call to action and transformation. The Spirit is portrayed not as a tame or controllable force but as a wild, divine presence that challenges complacency and comforts. Drawing from both the Acts passage (Acts 2:1-13) and the Gospel of John (John14: 15-26), we’re reminded that the Spirit is our advocate, our guide, and a continuing teacher of Jesus’ ways. The Spirit does not merely dwell above us, but abides within us — equipping, strengthening, and sending us into the world.

Social Justice as a Spiritual Practice

This strongly relates to social justice. The Spirit stands us up from fear and smallness, nudges us into righteous protest, calls us  to provide resistance to injustice and advocacy for the vulnerable. My personal experiences of protest and witnessing injustice, connects me with the Spirit’s movement today. Watching the news or participating in demonstrations becomes a spiritual practice — a way of listening for the Spirit’s guidance and discerning what new action is being called forth.

The Spirit’s Unifying Power

Unity through diversity is also critical. The multilingual moment in Acts is highlighted not just as a miracle of communication but as a sign of the Spirit’s unifying power — a divine force that sees all humanity as one family. While religious traditions may divide, the Spirit offers a common ground that transcends differences, making space for all people, tribes, and nations.

A Transformative Journey

We are celebrating the end of the liturgical "Great 100 Days" as a transformative journey of prayer, service, and awakening to personal callings. Whether through new prayer practices, service opportunities, or the use of spiritual gifts, the Spirit is always inviting us into a deeper, fuller life. I encourage us to continue discerning our “cutting edge” — that place where we are being stretched into something new.

Embrace the Wildness of the Spirit

Finally, Pentecost is a launch point — a spiritual takeoff into renewed life and mission. The Spirit is both close and cosmic, gentle and fierce, comforting and disruptive. Let us fasten our seatbelts and embrace the wildness of God’s Spirit. We are not alone in our calling; the Spirit is within us, ready to lead us into transformation for ourselves and for the world. Happy Pentecost — and may the adventure begin.