late, great pentecosts
"Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of Judah, where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." —Luke 1:39-41
About two weeks ago, the Lord gave you the Holy Spirit in a new Pentecost. Did you receive the gift of the Spirit? If so, you are acting as Mary did. You're probably visiting people to share with them Jesus in you. As you do this, they too are filled with the Spirit.
Pentecost is contagious. It is catalytic. One Pentecost leads to another. 120 people received the Holy Spirit the morning of the first Christian Pentecost, and by evening 3,000 had received the Spirit (Acts 1:15; 2:41). Pentecost is a movement with momentum. This is how the Spirit renews the face of the earth (Ps 104:30).
If you are out of the upper room, moving in the Spirit, and visiting, don't stop. Witness for Jesus right where you are and eventually to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
If you are still in the upper room, ask Mary to visit you so that you can get into the Acts of the Apostles. Consider this feast day a visitation and an opportunity for late, great Pentecosts. Come, Holy Spirit, again and again!
Prayer: "My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my Savior" (Lk 1:46-47).
Promise: "Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit; He Whom you serve is the Lord." —Rm 12:11
Praise: Mary's "Magnificat" has been prayed in the liturgy daily since before the year 502.
Reference: (For a related teaching on Staying Filled with the Spirit, order, listen to, or download our CD 57-1 or DVD 57-CH. 2 at presentationministries.com or order our tape on audio AV 57-1 or video V-57.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 6, 2015
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