Last Sunday we celebrated Pentecost – a powerful moment in our history when the Holy Spirit entered the followers of Jesus.
Pentecost seems neglected when it comes to Christian celebrations. I am trying to honor this event more intentionally both at church and at home. I compiled a Pentecost Celebration Idea Guide that you can download at no cost by clicking on the button below.
What do you visualize when you think of the Holy Spirit?
In the front of our church, painted high, close to the ceiling is a dove – one of the more familiar symbols of the Spirit.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
Matthew 3: 16
I guess I have always thought of the spirit as a quiet, gentle voice of God. The Lord passed by Elijah as a whisper.
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
1 King 19: 11-12
But on Sunday when we heard once again the reading from the Book of Acts – the Spirit of God barged into the lives of God’s followers with wind and fire. Quite a different entrance, I would say. More explosive and awakening.
Did you know the Celtic symbol for the Holy Spirit was the wild goose?
Doves are docile and delicate, but the wild goose is untamable, free, and unpredictable. This way of seeing the spirit reminds us that God cannot be controlled or contained. Geese can be noisy and protective. The spirit is passionate and driven to defend those she loves.
Puts a new spin on the expression: A Wild Goose Chase – doesn’t it? Instead of the normal meaning of us dashing down a path that leads to nowhere, a Wild Goose chase could be God’s spirit within us leading us on the journey he planned for us.
The day of Pentecost with all the noise, fire and wind transformed the disciples and set the church on fire for the Lord. Their lives and their faith forever changed by the power of the Pentecost. They did embark on a new journey/chase with God. Pentecost reminded me of what I read last week about the word transformed.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin used the word transposed instead of transformed. He wrote of his increased need to be transposed. In music to transpose means to change to a new key. The melody stays the same but the music sounds different. Possibly the instruments adjust to different notes; maybe one who had only played in the background now is the featured soloist. Changed yet the same. The Holy Spirit remains the same but I am perceiving a new aspect of the spirit as I am transposed.
The power of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and in our everyday lives reorders our souls. I like to think it tunes us into better reception to hear God’s voice. Maybe it aligns us better to his will and desires.
Dare we ask God to send us a wild goose spirit? To be honest, it takes courage to ask God to fire up that ember within my heart to roaring fire. The image of a goose, loud, obnoxious and biting as people approach them doesn’t appeal to me. But their unflinching passion and undefeatable nature gives me new insight to the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps I have watered down the Spirit’s image way too long in my life. Maybe the image of the dove lingers in my comfort zone, more benignly than adventuresome. Is my faith too predictable, limited and complacent? Time to be transposed?
Then I remember the Holy Spirit already dwells within a believer’s heart and does give us strength and the words to witness. She draws us closer to God and gives us the words to spread the Good News. We are called to be bold for Christ. Pentecost lives on within us in a powerful way that can’t be controlled or limited.
Ahhh, lots to ponder and discuss with God about when it comes to the Spirit.
What image do you have of the Holy Spirit?
I love the image of the wild goose, Jean (never knew that before) and the idea of being transposed instead of transformed. Certainly much to ponder here, that’s for sure! Blessings!
I thought the image of the wild goose was fascinating and certainly gave me lots to ponder. Happy Pentecost, Martha!
Indeed, you have given us much RICH instruction here on the Holy Spirit, Jean. I did not know that the goose was a Celtic symbol for the Spirit. Your list of reasons make a compelling argument for that choice. I’ve heard that geese mate for life, offering another reason for that bird to symbolize the Holy Spirit. He never leaves us, never lets us go. He’s always present, always ministering, always guiding. We have a pond in our neighborhood, and often hear the Canada geese coming and going. They will now offer a new reminder of the Holy Spirit and his numerous, glorious attributes! Thank you, Jean!
I think there are lots of lesson from the geese, Nancy but they can be a nuisance too. not sure how far that image goes… Those crazy Celts! Happy Pentecost!
Agreed: the goose as a Holy Spirit symbol can only be carried so far. For one thing, they’re terribly noisy. That’s why I’m glad we don’t live any closer to that pond than we do!
Hi Jean! Happy Pentecost! (a day late). When I think of the Holy Spirit, I think of a dove, and of ‘love’. I believe that the Spirit is the love between the Father and Son incarnate.
Interesting wording, and thinking about ‘transposed’. I suppose just being changed is the goal. After the Holy Spirit came, those Apostles were charged up!! That ‘transposition’ was very powerful, and I’d like to think that we are all capable of that kind of change.
Leave it to those crazy Irish to come up with a Wild Goose, right? But I do like the way you describe the un-tamed quality of the goose. The Spirit blows where it will, and I guess the wild goose does too.
Hope you had a great weekend!
Ceil
Reading your comment Ceil I was struck about the little difference, one one letter from the word changed and charged. That gives me some insight too. Fun texting each other tonight. Yes let;s get together this summer.