We find ourselves again in the week between Ascension Day and Pentecost. The first time I wrote one of these weekly reflections was the same week last year and I did not imagine that the pandemic would still be having such an impact on our lives a year later with ongoing uncertainty about the way ahead.
This week we remember the period between Jesus leaving his disciples and returning to his Father in heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It must have been a difficult and unsettling time for the disciples who had seen Jesus disappear into a cloud as they watched, just after he had told them they would be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. How would they possibly manage this with Jesus gone and just a promise that they would receive ‘power’ from the Holy Spirit?
Acts and the gospel of Luke differ on what happened next but what is clear that the disciples turned to God, praising him in the temple or praying in a room together. This week may we turn to God in hope, praying that we too will be filled with his Holy Spirit and equipped to be his witnesses in our uncertain world.
All-glorious God,
whose son Jesus called his disciples
to witness to him in all the earth,
guide and direct us
that we may also be your witnesses,
and stir us into action by your Holy Spirit in our lives,
for the sake of your people and to your greater glory.
Amen.
This prayer is taken from www.rootsontheweb.com and is copyright © ROOTS for Churches Ltd. Reproduced with permission.