Pentecost On An Island

The Lord is king! Earth, be glad! Rejoice, you islands of the seas! Psalm 97: 1

Brendan and his crew at last sailed in to an island. Streams of water gushed down from the hills and there was an abundance of fish and sheep. It was Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ death, so they sacrificed the finest sheep in celebration of Jesus, whom Christians know as the Lamb of God. However, the hermit who lived on the island, and who had welcomed them lovingly, felt God wanted them to go to a second island nearby to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Day.

So off they sailed. One of the birds welcomed them, landing on Brendan’s shoulders and flapping its wings with joy. Then at dusk, as they sang God’s praises, the birds joined in, chirping in perfect harmony. The hermit brought over food from his island which was to last the monks forty days, for they were told to stay for the Pentecost celebration and then sail on. The day after Pentecost the hermit brought them another forty days’ supplies and they again embarked on the wide sea.
From the Life of Brendan the Navigator

I am bending my knee
In the eye of my Father who made me
In the eye of the Saviour who bought me
In the eye of the Spirit who cleansed me
In friendship and affection
I am bending my knee.
O Mighty One
O Holy Three
I am bending the knee
Bestow on us fullness
In our need
The smile of God
The trust of God
In our need
That we may do on the world you made
As angels and saints do in heaven
Each day and night
In bloom and in blight
We’ll be bending the knee
Carmina Gadelica (Adapted)