In 2020, my parish shut it’s doors on March 16th. In May, a church closer to me was opening their doors, holding a mostly outdoor service. Through friends of mine, I learned that this parish would open on May 30th, 2020 — the Feast of Pentecost.
In the church, Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the assembled crowds in Jerusalem. This divine event allowed the Gospel to “go viral” via the sudden ability to speak other known languages. The ancient texts also record that “tongues of fire” rested on the heads of those gathered in Jerusalem. This fire of God — like that of the burning bush in the Old Testament — did not consume, or burn anyone.
I was excited to resume in-person worship. After the service, I picked up a Geranium plant, filled with red flowers (symbolizing Pentecost’s tongues of fire).
The red flowers faded and fell in 2020. I don’t have a green thumb, but the Geranium plant has survived – even thrived, an equally mysterious event.
No flowers had reappeared, until just the other day.
One flower is now opening; they are small and delicate — the first red flowers to appear since Pentecost 2020. And they’ve arrived for Christmas 2022.
It’s the dead of winter, but these little flowers are a joy to behold. Have hope for this coming year!
Faith is the Substance of that Hoped for….