Fifty Days after Easter, Ten Days after the
Ascension, comes Pentecost, the feast of Holy Spirit: the Birth Day of
the Christian Church. The word Pentecost comes from the
Greek for "fiftieth" and carries much ancient history and tradition
along with its place on the Christian calendar. The fiftieth day after Passover,
on the Jewish calendar, is the ancient feast of Shavuot* [shah-vote or shah-vwote] Though
not explicitly named in the Hebrew Bible, in Judaic tradition Shavuot is considered
to be the day on which the Torah was revealed by God to Moses who then gave it
to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. Shavuot may perhaps be another reason the
disciples of Jesus were gathered. Being together, comforted by a familiar and
venerable ritual, they waited for the unknown sign promised by the resurrected
Jesus in his final in-person teachings.
Remember, that in just in the prior month and a
half, the disciples had experienced a confusing “Last Supper,” the arrest,
trial, and violent execution of Jesus, his resurrection, various appearances to
them, his ascension, and their own grief, fear, and uncertainty at these
inexplicable turns of events. Here they are gathered together again without
quite knowing what was next or when. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind
followed by tongues of fire resting on them, as they began speaking in multiple
languages, of course they were bewildered, astonished, and amazed! From that day
their ministry began in earnest, taking Christ's message far and wide.
Today we are blasé. We know the story too well; we
are immune to the thrill and amazement of it. The churches are packed at
Christmas and Easter yet come Pentecost, all seems routine even if a
"Festival Eucharist" is celebrated. Of course, Christmas, Good
Friday, and Easter are all critical to our Christian history. We can't have
gotten to this point at all without Christ's birth, death, and resurrection.
But it was the arrival of the Holy Spirit, on that Pentecost,
that fired up the Apostles. That was the moment that sent them around the known
world proclaiming Christ, converting, and making the way for us to
be the Church here, now, more than 2,000 years later. Without that Pentecost,
would we still know about Christmas, Good Friday, or Easter?
It is in these current times with fear,
frustration, anger, and intolerance swirling around in ever more intense and
too often violent levels, that we must take the time to stop and read the texts
with new understanding, a fresh awareness of what it must have been like for
those in that Upper Room. From the devastation of the Crucifixion, to the
confusion and the wonder of the resurrection, to the joy of his return among
them, and then suddenly mystified by his ascension, now, only 10 days after his
final leaving...they are waiting...and wondering...for what they
are unsure.
For us, today is the day to move beyond merely
knowing the story. Today is the day of knowing that the Spirit IS within US ~
to be as awe-struck, and dazzled and even as flabbergasted, or its Hebrew
equivalent, as the Apostles ~ and to be reinvigorated and
excited. God’s grace, and the love and Salvation of Christ is ours.
THIS IS the day that the LORD has made! Let us truly rejoice
and be glad and joy-filled, and alive in it! After all, what
else is faith for?
On this fiftieth day after Easter, let us accept
and welcome the extraordinary gifts and abilities bestowed on us, as in Paul’s 1st
Letter to the Corinthians, chosen for and unique to each of us. Let us be eager
and enthusiastic in embracing all that a true life of faith calls us to be and
to do, to live fully in the belief in Christ that we claim to have. Let us
strive to be all that Jesus and his imperfect disciples have shown us that we
can be. We, too, celebrate, with our Jewish heritage, the giving of the Law on
Sinai as our rules of life, transformed by Jesus into the Greatest
Commandment [see Matthew 22:37-39].
On this Birthday of the Church**, let us begin again to live as
Children of God, using the language of love with each other and especially with
those who aren't so lovingly inclined. Christmas is wonderful, and lovely, and
blessed. Easter is fragrant and joyful, but with Pentecost comes the true gift
that brings fire to our souls and lifts our life's journey to a new level with
our Faith in Flames!
*As an insight for
Shavuot, and a parallel for Pentecost, an alternative reading given for today
is from the Book of Numbers 11:24-30 which says, in part: So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord, and he gathered
seventy of the elders of the people…Then the Lord came down in
the cloud and spoke to him and took some of the spirit that was on him and put
it on the seventy elders and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. [Numbers 11:24-25]
**As
the Birthday of the Church, Pentecost marks the official beginning of the
ministry of the Apostles beyond their local area and into the world at large.
The descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire imbued,
instilled, and infused them, and each of us, by extension, with extra-ordinary
gifts to bring the message of Christ to everyone. This day is known as
Whitsun/Whitsunday in Ireland and the United Kingdom, a name descending from a
Gaelic celebration of medieval or perhaps even more ancient times, often
wearing whit or white robes.
~~For an Additional Pentecost Reading: see
John 7:37-39
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Most Holy Spirit, Breath of
God, fill our souls with Your sacred fire and the gifts that it brings into us,
onto us, and through us, to fuel our desire for faith-filled living and
moving and being the Church-in-Action, in the name of Christ Jesus, our
Lord.
Spirit of Grace
and Glory
RESPONSE: Fall afresh on us
~
Most Holy Spirit, Breath of God, set our tongues alight to speak in the
fervent language of Your Truth to the leaders of this Earth, this Country, and
this Community, as the voice of those crying in the continuing wilderness of
racism, poverty, intolerance, violence, and injustice. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
Spirit of Grace and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
~
Most Holy Spirit, Breath of God, lighten the burden of pain for those who are
weakened in body, spirit, and soul; and ease the worry of all who give comfort
and care. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add
your own petitions
Spirit of Grace and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
~
Most Holy Spirit, Breath of God, soothe the weary hearts of those who
struggle in the midst of grief, as You carry those who have left us, into the
loving and eternal arms of Jesus. We pray especially for… add your
own petitions
Spirit of Grace and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
~
Most Holy Spirit, Breath of God, we pause in this moment
to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and
memorials… add your own petitions
Spirit of Grace and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
~
Most Holy Spirit, Breath of God, grant an extra measure of Your gifts to those
who lead us in Your Church, as they steadfastly strive to guide our spiritual
journey through the trials of our times. We pray especially for: add
your own petitions
Spirit of Grace and Glory
Fall
afresh on us
The Celebrant adds: God of Creation, Redemption, and Wisdom, though
we are many, we are one body in the one Spirit, all equal yet unique by Your
design. Set our hearts ablaze again, to seek Your will, keep Your Commandments,
and use our earthly lives for the common good of all. We ask
through Jesus, our Redeemer Christ; and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom Source; who
together with You reign as One God, now and for eternity. Amen.
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