Magazine /

May 06, 2008

Volume 125, Issue #9

Lectionary

Gifts all around us: John 20:19-23; Acts 2:1-21; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13

What happens to a person when the Holy Spirit descends like a tongue of fire? In Acts, those present were filled with the Holy Spirit. We all long for this. We all seek fulfillment. I saw this once when I was conducting a spiritual retreat for members of various 12-step groups. Each person spoke powerfully about how the pain of emptiness in his life had led him down wayward paths. Each had discovered that “you can never get enough of that which will not satisfy.”

Free Newsletters

From theological reflections to breaking religion news to the latest books, the Christian Century's newsletters have you covered.