Bridestowe, Lydford, Pentecost, 27/5/2012
There is a flame moving through the nation, bringing joy and inspiration to those who witness its power.
There is a flame moving through the nation, passing its light from one person to another.
There is a flame moving through the nation, bringing people together in celebration and purpose, uniting people of different races, backgrounds, languages and creeds.
It is a flame of vision - for those who bear it, see themselves in a new light.
It is a flame of dreams - for those who witness its effects, begin to imagine new possibilities for the world.
The flame passes from old to young, from man to boy, from woman to girl. It is carried by sleek athletes and those with frailer bodies. By those who run and those who walk.
The flame illuminates those whose acts of love and devotion to their community are recognised by others.
The flame sparks up for those who attempt good things.
The flame lights up the lives of those who embrace its loving, liberating power.
The flame is on a journey through the nation.
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The flame of which I speak is the flame of God’s Holy Spirit.
For on this day - Pentecost - we celebrate the life and vigour and ongoing power of God’s Holy Spirit in the life of the nation.
The flame of God’s Holy Spirit moves through the nation in the lives of each and every one of the baptized - you and I, each of us who at our baptism received the Spirit, and have carried it, borne its power, every day since.
We received the Spirit in a process rather like a relay, going back to the first day of Pentecost when, gathered together in one place, the first followers of Jesus heard the sound like the rush of a wind, which filled the whole house where they were sitting. And divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a flame rested on each of them.
And immediately those first anointed believers, those first torch-bearers, found themselves spreading that flame, taking it to the crowds outside.
Prompting them to speak in other languages, the flame brought understanding to everyone in that international crowd.
Prompting Peter to remember the words of the prophet Joel, he gave name to the flame - the Spirit, who God promised to pour out on all flesh, causing sons and daughters to prophecy, young men to see visions, old men to dream dreams.
At your baptism the priest entreated God, saying, ‘Give thy Holy Spirit to this person, that they may be born again, and be made an heir of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ...’ And in that moment the flame came and rested on you. It still burns in you today.
There is a flame moving through the nation - the power of God alive in the baptised believers.
It is a flame which makes a difference to our lives, a flame which empowers us to break the cycle of sin in us and to be born again, over and over again.
It is a flame which empowers us into acts of love and devotion; which sparks us up to attempt good things; which lights up our lives as we embrace its loving, liberating power.
So today let us reach into our hearts and souls and kindle that flame again. Recognising how we may have let it burn low, but acknowledging that it will never go out, for it is the presence of God in us, a presence we can never extinguish. Kindle it, through prayer.
God, I give thanks for the flame you have planted within me, the flame of your Holy Spirit.
Because you passed it to me, because you planted it in me, it will never be extinguished.
Living God, kindle that flame of love in me today.
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