“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal. 5: 22)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

We come to the feast of Pentecost this Sunday. Even in the time before Jesus lived, in the Hebrew Testament, we can find a few instances of where God through the Holy Spirit was visited upon on individual. For example, a repentant King David said to the Lord, “Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.” (Ps. 51:11). However, it was only at the time of Pentecost that God sent the Holy Spirit to live in many people, indeed, from now on to live in all believers. After Pentecost, we are instructed to “Guard the good treasure entrusted to you with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Tim 1:14) and this treasure is the Good News to which we are called to be Christ’s witnesses even to the remotest part of the earth baptising all nations. But how will other people come to accept our message? They will know us as we manifest the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Questions:

How does your life show that you manifest love, joy peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?

What are some steps you could take to further spiritually grow these virtues?

What role may prayer have in developing further these qualities?

What role may practice have in growing these qualities?

Are you comfortable verbally witnessing to your faith in Jesus Christ? Why or why not?

How effective do you think verbal witnessing is versus non-verbal witnessing? And which do you find most difficult and why?

Written for Pentecost, 2023 by Heather St. James Whitehouse, Vice President of Spiritual Life, Ontario Branch, International Order of the King’s Daughters and Sons, Inc.