Sharing the Gift

When someone wins a big jackpot in the lottery, do you feel good for them or do you wish it was you?

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them. - Acts of the Apostles 19:1-7

In today's reading, Paul comes upon a group of disciples of Jesus and he asks them a strange question.  Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?

Why would he ask that?

Do you think he could see that they were lacking in some way?  Was it obvious that the Spirit was not with them?

I had a strange thought as I read this that perhaps they were like lottery winners who hadn't turned in their winning tickets.  They knew they were winners, but had not yet received any of the benefits of having won.

In the case of Paul and the disciples, receiving the Spirit had an immediate effect.  They suddenly started speaking in tongues and prophesying. 

I haven't witnessed that in any baptism.  Though I must admit, most of the baptisms I participated in were babies and young children.

I do remember one boy, though, who got so excited, he jumped up and down with a broad smile on his face.

What was the Spirit doing for him?

I tend to think of the Holy Spirit as a precious gift we received way too early to appreciate, those of us who were baptized as children.

We were given this amazing gift and we put it away in a safe place, without opening it and letting it envelope us in grace.

In a way, we are not much different than these disciples who had never heard of the Holy Spirit.

So, today, as we renew our baptismal vows, let us call upon the Spirit in a big way, with all our heart and all our soul. 

It may just be like winning the lottery.

More to come...