A Pentecost Scripture Reflection

   "Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth." (Psalm 103) May 27th, Christians celebrate the feast of Pentecost when Jesus filled the Church with the power of his spirit and inspired his followers to bring peace, joy and forgiveness to all. Pentecost, the 50th day, (Pentekoste in Greek; Hemera in Hebrew) is originally a Jewish festival. It is listed in the book of Exodus (23:14-17) where it is called the Harvest festival. In Exodus 34, 22, it is called the Feast of the Weeks, the first fruits of the great harvest and the Feast of the Tabernacles recalling the Jewish people's wandering in the desert. It is mainly an agricultural celebration that eventually gained more spiritual significance, such as Moses' handing over the Law to the people and the renewal of the Covenant with their God. It became more prominent in the Christian Scriptures, especially in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter two, which celebrated the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, the gift of tongues, the discourse of Peter and the formation of the first Christian Church. The apostle Luke marks Pentecost as the birthday of the universal Church, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowering the apostles to preach the Gospel fearlessly. Peter's speech that day was the solemn proclamation of Jesus as Lord and Savior of the world. Divine intervention changed the attitudes of these early followers of Jesus who now bravely confessed their faith in him. At the end of their leader Peter's speech, the pilgrims present on that day were invited to accept Jesus as the Messiah and Lord. 3,000 people stepped forward and accepted Peter's invitation. Paul, a later follower of Jesus, emphasized "all sorts of service in a variety of gifts with the same Spirit." He stressed unity and diversity; as the old saying goes: "in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty and in everything, charity." 
   On this Sunday, Christian believe it is the same Spirit that motivates us today, reminding all to be open to that "cleansing fire" which frees us to love and work for the good of all. We believe that this motivation will encourage us to live out those gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, fortitude, knowledge, awe and wonder of the Lord, piety and counsel in our own particular circumstances of life.

   Congrats to all our young couples getting married this weekend in royal chapels and country churches. May your love continue to grow and flourish making a difference in our today. Shalom.