Descent of the Holy Spirit. Holy and Glorious Pentecost; The Holy Apostle Hermas; the Holy Martyr Hermes (138-61)
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Acts 2:1-11; John 7:37-52; 8:12
What is Pentecost all about? I think we are so used to celebrating it with our customs that we might have forgotten its original meaning, and of course, without the original meaning, we won’t really get what it is that God is fulfilling. Originally this was an agricultural feast of offering God the first fruits and asking Him to bless the rest of the crop. But when the Hebrew people were led out of Egypt to Mount Sinai, Pentecost also became associated with thanksgiving for the Law that was given to Moses and the people.
The Law if you recall was given with fire and wind on top of the mountain and here we see the Holy Spirit fulfilling what was prefigured through Moses: another Wind, another Fire. And just as the people where divided by differing languages for trying to make it to heaven without God’s help, the Holy Spirit, God Himself, allows people of all lands to understand one another for the communication of the gospel. The Wind and Fire- the Breath of God “over the waters” at creation or Breathed into the earth to make our first parents, comes to set us on fire for mission!
At this time of the Covid pandemic tensions and worries are high. With this extra fear comes the temptation to divide ourselves or our effort. Although we have had to isolate ourselves physically, let us never choose to fail in love or divide our focus or zeal on the mission we have been entrusted with. Staying under the mission (“submitted”) will mean ultimate life for us and for the world!