Beloved of the Lord,
The day of Pentecost has come! Today the promise of the Lord has been realized in its glorious fullness. The hopes of the faithful have been fulfilled by the descent of the All-Holy Spirit. The Prophet Joel proclaims: “it shall come to pass in the last days that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh … that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:28-29). The way is open! It remains for us to call upon the Lord day and night in the “upper room” (Acts1:13) of the heart that the Comforter might come and abide in us – that we too may be granted the grace to persevere “steadfast in prayer, in the breaking of bread and the Apostles doctrine” (cf. Acts 2:42). It is right-spirited, prayerful living that opens us to God’s presence, that keeps us before Him and Him before our eyes. God is near those who cry to Him with their whole heart but even more so to the one who humbly gives thanks for all things, be they trials, tribulations, or difficulties. Who can overcome the one who is thankful to God in even the most desperate circumstances? Such is the one who is convinced that “all things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to his purpose“ (Romans 8:28). As we bear the crosses the Lord provides, the contrite recognition of our spiritual poverty invites Him to turn aside and “abide with us” (Luke 24:29). We are thus inspired to invoke His mercy, aid, and blessing: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us and on Thy world.” Our task is to continue steadfast in humble prayer to the Lord, asking Him to be with us, to send His Spirit into our hearts, to abide with us always. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!” (Cf James 4:8). Our simple task is to give our heart to God, to keep the Gospel in our thoughts at every moment, and to constantly ask the Lord to help us in this work. Simple, but not easy; this is the nature of spiritual life. Let us witness the amazing mercy and work of God on this great day of Pentecost! It is the fulfillment of God’s promise and fills us with His everlasting life. God has given us all things; the treasure is His Church. Let us attend to the “one thing needful” (Luke 10:42). Let us press deeper into this dynamic mystery of our salvation, opening to the wonder, the love and the greatness of God’s plan for us – the miraculous union of our created spirit with the uncreated Spirit of God.
Thanking God for you all,
With much love in Christ,
Father Archimandrite Sergius
Abbot of St. Tikon’s Monastery
St John’s Adult Education 