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PENTECOST SUNDAY (YEAR C)



1st Reading Acts 2:1-11

Resp. Psalm Ps. 104 (R. 30)

2nd Reading Romans 8:8-17

Gospel John 14:15-16. 23b-26

COME, HOLY SPIRIT

Today we bring the season of Easter to an end and we begin the Ordinary Time. This is sandwiched by the feast of Pentecost. This feast has been the focus of many Christians as we prepared towards it. 

The feast of Pentecost is traced to the Old Testament where it is called Feast of Weeks (Lev. 23:15-22; Num. 28:26-31), or Feast of Harvest (Ex. 23:16), or SHAVUOT and it is part of the three pilgrim feasts of the Jews (Deut. 16:16). All males shall appear before the Lord in the place which he chooses and they shall not appear empty-handed. The males in Jewish houses are leaders and, hence ensure that every member of the household travels to Jerusalem to worship and offer his thanksgiving offering to God for the blessing of harvest. If you like, the Feast of Weeks is a thanksgiving day for Divine Providence. On this day, first fruits are presented to the Lord. It is like new grain offering to the Lord (Num. 28:26). This brings to mind the image of newness, of freshness, of a new beginning, of strength and zeal.

Another detail about the Feast of Weeks is that it is to be celebrated seven complete Sabbaths after the celebration of Passover (Lev. 23:15). This helps us to get the link between the Feast of Weeks and Pentecost. They are to be celebrated seven complete Sabbaths or 50 days after Passover. 

The Greek name for this feast is PENTECOST which means 50 days after the celebration of Passover. Pilgrims will be in Jerusalem by this time to celebrate and offer first fruits to God. It is now clear to us why we hear in the first reading about the presence of "multitudes that were bewildered". There were the "Parthians and Medes and Elamites and the residents of Mesopotamia, Judea...Arabians" (Acts 2: 10-11).

The context of the first reading is rightly "the day of Pentecost" (Acts 2:1). It is remarkable to reflect that on this day God gave a gift to all who were in the upper room. It is the gift in response to the promise of Christ (Jn. 14:26). It is the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. It is the gift of newness. The Responsorial Psalm helps us to think in this direction as the Psalmist prayed, "Lord, send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth" (Ps. 104: 30). It is interesting to see how God gives 'a new grain' , 'first fruit' to man.

One thing we note is that the Holy Spirit came "as of fire" (Acts 2:3). We must note that the divided tongues as of fire were not literal flames but looked enough like fire that this was the best description that could be given. Fire in the Old Testament often indicates the presence of God, especially in his burning holiness and purity, consuming everything that is impure (Ex. 3:2; Ezek. 1:4). These tongues may portray the purity and the power of the speech of these disciples as they proclaimed "the mighty works of God" (Acts 2:11) as well as the holy presence of God.

Also, there is the indication of different tongues. The disciples "began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4). The word tongues is "GLŌSSA". This can be translated as LANGUAGES. It is not as if they were speaking languages that were difficult to understand but that "every man heard them speak in his own language" (Acts 2:6). 

The episode of Pentecost is different from the Babel because unlike that of Babel which is one of confusion and dispersion, the Pentecost occurence is one of togetherness. This relates that the Spirit generates a new family with diverse charisms to reach to the ends of the earth starting from Jerusalem. 

Different tongues does not mean different beliefs, but different witnesses to the same Lord. Let us bridge the gap of division in Christendom with the Pentecost event.

May God help us to live in unity as Christians, expressing his holiness and holy presence. May we always be people who day by day strive to live Pentecost.

Let us pray:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Pax et Bonum.

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