Pentecost, commonly called Whitsunday AD 2025

Some people who have had the opportunity to fly in a hot air balloon have mentioned as one of the most interesting experiences the fact that there is no wind at all up there – contrary to what they had expected. In fact, of course there is wind – but they didn’t feel it, because the hot air balloon moves with the wind.

This analogy helps us to understand what happened at Pentecost, and it opens up an interesting perspective on some of Jesus’ words. For example, in John chapter 3, Jesus says to Nicodemus: “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

We cannot command or direct the wind. We can try to defy it, but we cannot really stop it. Attempts to defy the storm wind often end in disaster for the defiant. But we can turn the wind to our advantage: for example, when we sail or fly in a hot air balloon or use the wind to generate electricity.

If we try to defy God’s Holy Spirit, the results will be even more disastrous than if we defy the wind. Jesus says: “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” However, if we let the Holy Spirit fill us and lead us, we can be sure that what happens to us is the best.

The Spirit of God is the Spirit of life. The Spirit of does not enslave us, as evil spirits do. The Spirit of God makes us truly free and enables us to live the life God has prepared us for, bearing the good fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

God wants to continue to bless us with the gift of the Holy Spirit, to teach, enlighten, guide, and sanctify us through Him and cause us to bear the fruit of eternal life in righteousness, goodness, and love.