THEME: THE PENTECOST AND THE NEW CHURCH
R1: Acts 2:1-11,
R2: 1 Cor. 12: 3-7; 12-13,
Gospel: John 20: 19-23
Dear friends, it is Pentecost. Today Christ fulfils his promise of sending the Holy Spirit to his disciples, to equip them for the work of spreading the gospel. Today, Christ fulfils the promise of not leaving his disciples as orphans. The Holy Spirit opens the doors that were shut by the disciples because of fear and gives them courage to proclaim the gospel fearlessly. On this day, Christ breathed a new breathe of life on his disciples making them a new creation, a people endowed with a divine character to forgive or to retain sins. The first reading of today describes fully what happened: (a) On the day of Pentecost (b) The disciples where all in one room (c) They heard a thunderous sound like a mighty mind (d) Something like tongues of fire rested on their heads...they spoke in foreign languages. These are wonderful symbolisms that need explanation.
*1. The Pentecost Day:*
‘Pentecost’ has a Greek origin, meaning fifty (50). The Pentecost was a Jewish celebration in remembrance of their arrival at Mount Sinai and their reception of the law from God, through Moses. This celebration was a remarkable one among the Jews since the Law was held in high esteem among them. Proud of their reception of the law directly from God, this feast was introduced in thanksgiving to God.
According to the Acts of the Apostles, it was on the day of the feast that the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples. This has a deep and symbolic implication. Since the Jews hardened their hearts towards keeping the old law, the decent of the Holy Spirit on this day is a substitute for the old law. This becomes a new dispensation and a fulfilment of the prophecy of Ezekiel, “I shall give you a new heart and put my spirit within in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies...I shall put my spirit in you and make you keep my laws (Ezk 36:26, 27). The Holy Spirit is the new spirit which changes the hardened heart of the Jews, making the receivers of the spirit productive. With the reception of the Holy Spirit, external laws become unnecessary because the law is now implanted in the heart of God’s people. When the law is written in the hearts of God’s people, they become no longer hardened but fruitful.
*2. The Sound of a Mighty Wind:*
In the book of Exodus, the Israelites gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai for the reception of the law, and these signs: peals of thunder, lightening, a heavy cloud and a loud trumpet blast (Ex 19:16), accompanied the reception. The decent of the Holy Spirit was accompanied by similar signs as well.
On the Pentecost day, instead of gathering at the foot of Mount Sinai, the apostles gathered together in a room. This room represents the Church, through which God communicates the new commandment, the commandment to love, love that is forgiving. Similar signs accompany the translation to this new spirit of love and forgiveness instead of revenge as in the old law, hence, sound of thunder at Sinai now becomes the sound of a mighty wind, flashes of light now becomes tongues of fire, the fear of the Israelites now becomes the courage of the disciples who preached fearlessly. The disciples in the room where the sole beneficiary of this spirit of God, hence, it is only through the Church that God dispenses this new spirit of mercy.
*3. Speaking in Tongues:*
According to the Acts of the Apostles, the reception of the Holy Spirit was accompanied by speaking in foreign languages by the disciples. It is strange to read that the foreign languages spoken by the disciples were understood by those who stood by. What does this mean?
Dear friends, Christianity is not limited to certain people, this is indicated by the different languages spoken by the disciples. Having replaced the old law, the gospel is for all people and not just for the Jews. Those who gather in the room (Church) should allow themselves to be transformed by the Spirit of God and should speak the language everyone understands. Which language is that? The only language that when spoken everyone understands, is love. Love does not change, it remains the same in all cultures and that is why John said, God is love (John 4:8) because God does not change. Following St Paul, Christians, having been baptised with this fire of the Holy Spirit, must speak this language without reservation by using their different gifts and talents as parts of the body to work for Christ who is the head of the Church. This is the spirit we were all baptised into, Jews and Greeks alike (1 Cor. 12:12, 13).
We ask the Lord, to send forth His Spirit and renew the face of the earth, Amen._
Reflection by
Rev Fr. Chukwuemeka V. Livinus, SMMM.
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