A Sermon for The Day of Pentecost
The Baptism of Charlotte Eloise Hamilton
May 24, 2026
Text: Acts 2:1-21 and John 20:19-23
Now, O Lord, take my lips, and speak through them. Take our minds, and think through them. Take our hearts, and set them on fire. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend an ordination at Christ Church Cathedral in Mobile. Bishop Russell ordained three new deacons in the Church, and as always, it was a beautiful and moving service.
There’s something special about an ordination.
Many of you were present at Father Antwon’s ordination to the priesthood that we hosted here at St. Mary’s last November, and you remember how special it was.
The procession. The prayers. The hymns. Gathered clergy from all across the diocese. That feeling that God is doing something new and exciting in the life of the Church.
But for me, the most powerful moment of an ordination always comes right before the bishop lays his hands on the candidates.
At that point in the service, the ordinands kneel before the bishop, and the congregation begins to sing an ancient hymn to the Holy Spirit:
Veni Sancte Spiritus.
A Latin phrase, which means, “Come, Holy Spirit.”
And then, after the hymn, something remarkable happens.
Silence.
A long period of deep silence.
The entire church becomes perfectly still as we pray for the Holy Spirit to be present among us. No one is speaking. No one is moving. We’re simply waiting and praying.
And in moments like that, the presence of God feels almost palpable. You can feel the Holy Spirit moving through the church.
We’re asking God to be powerfully present in that moment and to breathe his Holy Spirit upon those who’ve been called to the serve as ordained leaders in the Church.
I think that image of the Holy Spirit as the breath of God is one of the most beautiful and profound ways Scripture speaks about the Spirit throughout the Bible.
That image goes all the way back to the very beginning in the story of Creation.
In the opening verses of Genesis, before Creation fully takes shape, we’re told that the Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters.
The Hebrew word used in that passage is ruach, which can be translated as spirit, breath, or wind.
The NRSV translation of the Bible says it this way: “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
Then, a little later in Genesis chapter 2, God forms humanity from the dust of the earth and breathes into Adam the breath of life.
Humanity comes alive because God shares divine breath with us. The breath of God—the Holy Spirit—brings life where there was none before.
And that same imagery continues throughout Scripture.
We see it again in the Gospels at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River when the Holy Spirit descends upon him like a dove.
Before Jesus begins his public ministry, the Spirit rests upon him and empowers him for the work God has given him to do.
Then we come to our Gospel reading this morning from John.
The disciples are gathered behind locked doors for fear of the Jewish authorities.
Mary Magdalene has announced to them that she’s seen the risen Lord, but they haven’t seen it for themselves. They are fearful. Uncertain. And afraid of what might happen next.
Jesus appears and says to them, “Peace be with you.”
Then, John tells us something extraordinary.
Jesus breathes on his disciples and says to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
That’s an important detail.
Jesus doesn’t just talk about the Holy Spirit. He breathes the Spirit into them.
The word John uses there is the same word used in the Greek Old Testament when God breathes life into the first human being.
Another beautiful example of the Holy Spirit as breath and giver of life is found in the story of the Valley of Dry Bones, when the prophet Ezekiel describes breath entering the bones and bringing them back to life again.
To me, that seems to suggest that the Spirit’s work is not just a one-time thing.
The Spirit is always creating.
Always renewing.
Always reviving what we thought was dead.
Even when we think God is finished with us, the Holy Spirit is still moving and working in our lives.
Still breathing life into tired hearts, weary souls, broken relationships, and even scared disciples hiding behind locked doors.
And then we come to the Day of Pentecost—the story told in our lesson this morning from Acts.
The disciples are gathered together in Jerusalem when suddenly the sound of a rushing, violent wind fills the house.
Again, the imagery of wind and breath.
The same Spirit that moved over the waters of creation…
The same Spirit breathed into Adam…
The same Spirit that descended upon Jesus at his baptism…
The same Spirit breathed upon the disciples by the risen Christ…
Now rushes through the house where the disciples are gathered and fills the Church with power and new life.
What I love about the Day of Pentecost is that it reminds us that God has not abandoned us.
As we heard last week in our lesson from Acts, Jesus promised his disciples before he ascended that they would not be left alone.
Pentecost is the fulfillment of that promise.
God abides with us through the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit strengthens us.
Guides us.
Comforts us.
And equips us with gifts for ministry.
The Church doesn’t exist by its own strength or power. The Church lives because the Spirit of God continues breathing new life into it.
We see it all the time.
We see it in newly ordained deacons and priests.
We see it in new ministries being born.
We see it every time we come to the altar rail to receive the Body and Blood of Christ.
We see it every time a person renounces the evil powers of this world and turns from the way of sin and death toward the abundant life offered to us in Christ Jesus.
That’s one of the reasons why we’re gathered here today.
In just a few moments, we will bring Charlotte Eloise Hamilton to the waters of baptism.
And even though Charlotte won’t remember this day…
Even though she doesn’t understand what’s happening…
God is moving in her life in a powerful way.
Baptism is a celebration of new life. We are buried with Christ in his death and raised to new life through his resurrection.
Just as the Spirit moved over the waters of Creation in Genesis, the Spirit still moves among us through the waters of baptism.
Isn’t that amazing?
The same Spirit that hovered over the waters before the world was formed…
The same Spirit that God breathed into humankind to give us life…
The same Spirit that descended upon Jesus at his baptism…
The same Spirit that rushed through the city of Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost…
That same Holy Spirit comes to us in baptism.
That same Spirit is poured into our lives, claiming us, strengthening us, and calling us into the life of Christ.
What that means, dear friends, is that baptism isn’t just a nice thing we do whenever a baby’s born.
It’s not just something we do to fulfill family traditions and obligations.
It’s not something we do just to say we’ve done it.
It’s about the very life and presence of God being poured out upon us.
Through the promises made by her parents and godparents…
Through the prayers of this congregation…
Through the grace of God…
Charlotte will be sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever.
And from this day forward, the Spirit will continue moving in her life.
We don’t know where the Spirit will lead her because like the wind, the Spirit often moves in unexpected ways, carrying us to places we never imagined we would go.
But we can trust, that no matter where she goes, the Spirit will always be with Charlotte.
Guiding and strengthening her.
Bringing her comfort and peace in times of uncertainty.
Equipping her with gifts for ministry and leading her deeper into the love of God.
And one day—by God’s grace—she’ll stand before God and the Church and claim the promises of Baptism for herself.
But even now, before she can fully understand it, God knows her and loves her completely.
And the breath of God is already moving in her life and in the lives of all of us who have committed our lives to Christ.
Every breath we take is a reminder of that gift.
And every movement toward love…
Every act of mercy…
Every stirring of hope…
Every moment of grace…
Reminds us that the Spirit of God is still breathing through this world and through the life of the Church.
Still creating.
Still renewing.
Still empowering.
Still giving life.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Breathe on us once again, and kindle in our hearts the fire of your love.
Amen.
The Rev. Eric Mancil 