Gerard David, Annunciation (detail), 1506
The heart itself is but a small vessel, yet dragons are there, and there are also lions; there are poisonous beasts and all the treasures of evil. But there too is God, the angels, the
life and the kingdom, the light and the apostles, the heavenly cities and the treasuries of grace—all things are there.
–– St. Macarius
Not, I’ll not, carrion comfort, Despair, not feast on thee;
Not untwist––slack they may be––these last strands of man
In me or, most weary, cry I can no more. I can;
Can something, hope, wish day come, not choose not to be.
––– Gerard Manley Hopkins
Even in the midst of immense and alarming crises, we remember to celebrate the Holy Spirit, who even now––especially now––broods over “the bent world. . . with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.” There is much more to be said, but for now, on this Whit Monday, let me simply share a video prayer I prepared for our parish Pentecost liturgy stream, combining the ancient supplication, Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit), with the biblical account (Acts 2:1-11) of a wondrous day when a power beyond all knowing dissolved the boundaries of separation and otherness, and a diverse crowd gathered in the streets experienced a oneness they had deemed impossible.
The religious imagineer 
I can imagine how much work you put into what you are doing at the moment and I wanted to say thank you Jim its all very much appreciated, love and prayers to you both, Neil and Helen x
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Thank you, Neil. Keeping the feasts may require all-nighters and the work of many hands and voices, but it is meet and right so to do.
Wonderful, Jim! Simple but very powerful.
Thanks, Bill. It was a way for many to participate. Parishioners photographed their hands, 3 readers recorded their lines, and a dozen singers made up two virtual choirs.
Beautiful and comforting. Thank you, Jim.
Thank you, Bob. “Beautiful” and “comforting” are primary effects or energies of the Holy Spirit. Writers and artists, as you well know, just try to get out of the way, even as they point toward the light.
The thought struck me that Pentecost was the Big Bang that birthed (if that’s an appropriate term) Christ’s church. Just hearing the reading impressed me (anew!) of the unstoppable movement of God’s spirit. The wonder is that God chose flawed (and redeemed!) beings to spread the news of mercy and love.
Well done. I may have viewed this much later than intended, but the mediation still packs a punch.
My posts have no expiration date! I like your Big Bang image. May we all continue to be propelled into richer and richer forms, and pass on the divine energy to everyone and everything we touch along the way.