May 23, 2021
Pentecost Sunday
Collect For the Day of Pentecost or Whitsunday
O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Today we celebrate with gratitude to God his gracious gift of the Holy Spirit to his children and to his Church.
Why did God give us the Holy Spirit? There are several reasons.
First, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, the reality of judgment, and our need to turn to Christ for his mercy and his righteousness. The fundamental work of the Spirit is to point and lead us to Christ as our Savior and the Lord of the world.
Second, the Holy Spirit regenerates us, enables us to repent and believe in Christ, and renews and revives us.
Third, the Holy Spirit gifts, empowers and emboldens us to live the Christian life and do the work of ministry.
Fourth, the Holy Spirit transforms us producing godly character in us as we surrender to him in obedience. He produces the fruit of the spirit in us and leads us to lead a holy life. He is the Spirit of holiness.
Fifth, the Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth and comfort who points us to the truth of the gospel and comforts us in our times of trouble.
Finally, God has given us the Holy Spirit to strengthen us and to be the divine guarantee of the certainty of the future inheritance he has promised us in Christ.
The Lord wants us to be filled with the Spirit, that is controlled by the Holy Spirit. And as Dr John Stott notes: “A Spirit-filled church is a New Testament church, in the sense that it studies and submits to New Testament instruction. The Spirit of God leads the people of God to submit to the Word of God.”
During this week of Pentecost, I urge you to pray this Pentecost prayer written by St Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
“Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.”
May God fill you with his Holy Spirit so that you may proclaim Jesus as Saving Lord in the world and live lives marked by holiness in word and deed. Amen.
Warm regards,
The Rt Rev’d Dr Felix Orji, OSB.
Diocesan Bishop
Anglican Diocese of the West.
Coordinating Bishop of CONNAM.
Holy Trinity Cathedral Church
8402 Howell Sugarland Road
Houston, Texas, 77083
