The gift of the Spirit in Acts is a rather noisy and flashy event. The tongues of fire fill the assembled followers of Jesus with the divine Spirit enabling them to prophesy and speak in tongues. For Luke, this was the fulfillment of God's promise to undo human separation and confusion so that the world could be reconciled to God. This Spirit also gives them courage and boldness to live and proclaim the new life in Christ without fear. We should pray always for this gift of the Spirit, both for ourselves and the Church. John's account of the giving of the Spirit is quiet and rather private. Jesus breathes the Spirit onto his followers, reminding us of the divine breath at the moment of creation in Genesis. It creates us anew and gives us the power to continue the work of Jesus. This mission is to reveal the true nature of God - absolute love and light - to a world struggling in darkness. And as Paul reminds us, the Spirit connects us to one another and inspires us to work for the common good - no egoism allowed! The gift of the Spirit is not about 'getting saved' nor is it about exciting spiritual experiences. The Spirit is given for one reason only: love and service, and if we practise that, we will know God.