今天的讀經一講述在五旬節,聖神降臨在門徒身上:「好像暴風颳來,充滿了他們所在的全座房屋。有些散開好像火的舌頭,停留在他們每人頭上」。聖神以火的形態出現,祂煉淨我們,把我們的罪燒毀掉。在這個被淨化的過程中,我們可能會感到痛苦,但這是必須的預備。
聖神的火舌停留在門徒的頭上,舌頭的影像是反映聖神幫助他們宣講、作見證。眾人聽到他們說著自己的方言,因為聖神不單協助門徒,也開啟了眾人的耳朵,把本來聽不明白的,翻譯成他們聽得懂的語言。門徒不靠自己的能力,他們只讓聖神在身上工作已足夠。
聖神透過改造基督徒來更新大地的面貌,你願意被祂改造嗎?
Pentecost Sunday - Acts 2:1-11
Today's first reading describes how the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples: "And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them." The Holy Spirit appeared as fire, which refines us by burning away our sins and purifying us. This process of purification might be painful, but it is necessary to prepare us.
The tongues of fire rested on the disciples. The reference to tongues shows that the Holy Spirit moved them to speak and witness. The crowd heard their own languages, because the Holy Spirit did not just help the disciples, He also opened the ears of the crowd, and translated what they would not understand into something they could comprehend. The disciples did not rely on their capability, they only allowed themselves to be used by the Holy Spirit.
Through transforming Christians, the Holy Spirit renews the face of the earth. Are you willing to be transformed?