Shirin McArthur

Jesus said, “And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
—Luke 24:49

Dear Siblings in Christ,

In one of the quirks of the daily lectionary, we read about Jesus’ ascension again today—one week after our annual celebration of this event. So, instead of focusing on the ascension itself, let’s focus on the experience of the apostles after Jesus left.

The apostles found themselves living in liminal space—that holy in-between time that bridges what has been and not yet. They knew they couldn’t return to life as it was before Jesus. After all, he had told them to wait: “stay here in the city.” Don’t go back to Galilee. Don’t go back to catching fish.

Jesus wasn’t done with them. But they didn’t know when this being “clothed with power” would come, what it would mean, or how it would impact their lives.

Of course, we know what happens: the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles and they speak in tongues, bringing 3,000 people into their community in a single day.

What we tend to forget is that the Holy Spirit didn’t come just upon them. It comes upon us, too. The Holy Spirit dwells within us—as is clearly promised to every Christian.

The apostle Paul states this emphatically in his first letter to the Corinthians: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?”

Do you live as a vessel of infinite power and love? We don’t have to cower behind locked doors. We don’t have to wait in liminal space. We have the Holy Spirit living within us.

I embrace that reality by looking inward for inspiration and trusting what comes (such as the ideas in this blog post). I listen to the Holy Spirit when I meet with people in spiritual guidance. I’ve followed the Spirit’s guidance in saying yes to many ministry opportunities over the years.

How do you listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit within you? How can you embrace your God-given power to proclaim the love of Christ in a world that desperately needs hope?

Peace,

—Shirin

A version of this message first appeared on my blog on May 16, 2022.