“I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams."

The 150^th anniversary of Juneteenth is quickly approaching.  One of the appointed readings for today is taken from the Acts of the Apostles.  It recounts the events of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit infused the gathered believers with the very life of God.  People from all over the world were there, and each one could understand what was being said in their own language.  Peter begins to preach and he says:

 

‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:  “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.  Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.  And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.  The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Acts 2: 14-21).

 

As we remember the proclamation of freedom 150 years on this Friday, let us keep in mind the words of Peter to the crowd gathered: “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.  Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.”  That same Holy Spirit that swept the Early Church is still sweeping the Church today.  Now is the time for us to dream, for us to have visions and for us to prophesy that all of us, sinners, have been redeemed, that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and that God’s invitation and love are infinite, and that we are called to respond to that love by the way we live our lives.

 

Let us pray: O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

This Sunday at 10 AM we will celebrate Juneteenth and Father’s Day at St. Augustine.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550