FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

PRAYER MOMENT

Thursday 26 December 2013

 FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Pause. “Be silent, be still, alone, empty before your God. Say nothing, ask nothing. Be silent. Be still, just wanting him with your whole being. Let his face shine on you – that is all.”

Reading. “Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59)  

Reflection.  It is perhaps puzzling why we move so rapidly from Christmas mode into the post resurrection life of the early church and the story of Stephen’s acts and death. I have not come across an explanation as to why we have Stephen on 26 December. I suspect it was an accident but we can make the most of it! The birth of Jesus is immediately followed by the birth of the early church. The tense days around the events in Bethlehem are mirrored by the tense days in the early Jerusalem community.  The power of the Spirit overshadowing Mary is paralleled by the pouring out of the Spirit on the early Church and particularly in the witness of Stephen to his adversaries. And this is coupled by the words Stephen says as he dies which are virtually the same as Jesus uttered as he was dying.

Prayer. Lord, as we relish the days of Christmas we recall how your birth led to the birth of the church and our new birth. We rejoice in your coming to us and all that it means for us. Amen.