Acts 19:1-8
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?”
They answered, “Into John’s baptism.”
Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.
He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Sharing the Story
Some of you may remember the radio commentator, Paul Harvey, who always concluded his daily radio show with, “…and now you know the rest of the story.” The Book of Acts tells what happened next, as the teachings of Jesus spread. Here we have a bit of Paul’s story – Paul, who was compelled to travel to distant lands to share the Good News of Jesus’ kingdom. Through the Holy Spirit, they (and we) have come to know the living presence of God in ourselves, and in each other.
The monk Thomas Merton described this presence God as Le Point Vierge:
“At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and by illusion, a point of pure truth, a point or spark which belongs entirely to God…. This little point of nothingness...is the pure glory of God in us…His name written in us…. It is in everybody, and if we could see it we would see these billions of points of light coming together in the face and blaze of a sun that would make all the darkness and cruelty of life vanish completely.”
—Donna K. Becher, M.S. is a certified spiritual director with the West Virginia Institute for Spirituality in Charleston, West Virginia. Her training is rooted in the Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Prayer
Veni, Sancte Spiritus, Veni, Sancte Spiritus….
Come, Holy Spirit, from heaven shine forth with your glorious light.
Come, Father of the poor, come, generous Spirit, come, light of our hearts.
Come from the four winds, O Spirit, come breath of God; disperse the shadows over us, renew and strengthen your people.
Most kindly warming light! Enter the inmost depths of our hearts, for we are faithful to you. Without your presence we have nothing worthy, nothing pure.
You are only comforter, Peace of the soul. In the heat you shade us; in our labor you refresh us, and in trouble you are our strength.
On all who put their trust in you and receive you in faith, shower all your gifts. Grant that they may grow in you and persevere to the end. Give them lasting joy!
Veni Sancte Spiritus. Veni Sancte Spiritus.
—Jacques Berthier, Taize Prayer from Pentecost Sequence