Pentecost: Its Remnants And Mandate
"Brothers and Sisters, what shall we do?"

Rev. Fr. Paul Lelen Haokip *

An icon of the Christian Pentecost, in the Greek Orthodox tradition. This is the Icon of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. At the bottom is an allegorical figure, called Kosmos, which symbolizes the world.
Pix - wikipedia/Phiddipus

INTRODUCTION:

The Day of Pentecost marked a turning point in the early Christian church. Pentecost, a Jewish feast, was celebrated 50 days after Passover, and pilgrims come to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate the event. But it is generally honored in liturgical churches (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, etc.), in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, and in many other Protestant churches as well.

Pentecost is not as well-known or as popular as the Christmas and Easter, though it commemorates a watershed event in Christian history. It many ways, Pentecost is the birthday of the church. So, then, what difference does it make for us today that the first Christians were filled with the Holy Spirit almost two millennia ago on the Jewish festival of Pentecost? There is no simple, one-size-fits-all answer to this question, because Pentecost knits together several themes, emphases, and experiences.

PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST:

Many traditions accompany this feast. Since originally it was the last of the spring feasts, after the crop was harvested, a portion was brought to Jerusalem and offered along with special sacrifices of thanksgiving at the Temple. The Feast of the Harvest was enriched by Deuteronomy 16, to include a sharing what they had, in keeping with the Torah commands to feed the stranger, orphan, widow and other poor and unfortunate people within the redeemed community.

Milk dishes were customary foods, symbolizing the Torah which is likened to milk, according to an allegorical interpretation of the Song of Songs. In synagogues, it is customary to read the book of Ruth whose setting also takes place in spring and at harvest time. Ruth was the ancestor of King David, and according to the Talmud, David was born and died on Shavu'ot.

"PENTECOST" MEANS:

The English word "Pentecost" is a transliteration of the Greek word pentekostos, which means "fifty." It comes from the ancient Christian expression 'pentekoste hemera', which means "fiftieth day." But Christians did not invent the phrase "fiftieth day." Rather, they borrowed it from Greek-speaking Jews who used the phrase to refer to a Jewish holiday. This holiday was known as the Festival of Weeks, or, more simply, Weeks (Shavuot in Hebrew).

This name comes from an expression in Leviticus 23:16, which instructs people to count seven weeks or "fifty days" from the end of Passover to the beginning of the next holiday (pentekonta hemeras in the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scripture). Shavuot was the second great feast in Israel's yearly cycle of holy days. It was originally a harvest festival (Exodus 23:16), but, in time, turned into a day to commemorate the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai.

This day became especially significant for Christians because, seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus, during the Jewish celebration of Shavuot/Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon his first followers, thus empowering them for their mission and gathering them together as a church. The number 'fifty' points to fullness, to ripeness, to a time that is ready for something to happen.

INCLUSIVENESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

The "Paraclete" in the original Greek literally means, "one called alongside to help." He fills with fire, melting the chill of our cold and hardened hearts and giving us a love towards Christ. He is no idle, empty breeze. He is the proclaimer, the comforter, and counselor. After the Holy Spirit fell upon the first followers of Jesus, Peter preached a sermon to help folks understand what had just happened. In this sermon he cited a portion of a prophecy from Joel: 'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants–men and women alike – and they will prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18; Joel 2:28-29)

Later, Peter explained that the Spirit would be given to all who turned from their sin and turned to God through Jesus (Acts 2:38). Amongst us there are also selfish spirits, and false spirits donning the cloth of the servants of God. Discernment is a must application for non deception.

FROM BABEL TO UNITY:

Genesis 11 depicts the total confusion at Babel due to pride and wish for independence from God. Pentecost re-unites all people of differences (Acts 2:1-11). He unites: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.'' (1 Corinthian 12:14). This unity is got with the presence of the Holy Spirit.

CHRISTIAN LIFE AND PENTECOST EXPERIENCE:

Interestingly, many Christians wish or claim to live in the presence and power of the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit helps us to confess Jesus as Lord (1 Cor 12:3), empowers us to serve God with supernatural power (1 Cor 12:4-11), binds us together as the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12-13), helps us to pray (Rom 8:26), and even intercedes for us with God the Father (Rom 8:27). The Spirit guides us (Gal 5:25), helping us to live like Jesus (Gal 5:22-23). The presence of the Spirit of God led to the birth of Jesus through Mary. From baptism to temptation, the spirit led him. His public ministry was a Spirit filled life.

DO YOU HAVE THESE FRUITS:

When a fruit tree does not bear fruits, we are upset and further curse the tree. But when we ourselves bear no/minimal fruits do we apply the same principle? The fruits of the Holy Spirity are love (nungsiba), joy (haraoba), peace (ingthaba), patience (kuina khangba), kindness (chanbiba), generosity (aphaba), faithfulness (thajaba), gentleness (pukning tappa) and self-control (masa khudum chanjaba). Check yourself whether you have become a recipient of these fruits of the Holy Spirit of God.

CONCLUSION:

The Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful as in a temple. He prays in them and bears witness in them as adopted sons and daughters. By the power of the Gospel he enables the Church to become young, perpetually renews it, and leads it to complete union with its Bridegroom (Vatican Council II).

Pentecost is not simply a feast. It is an event. THE event in the life of the Church. Unfortunately few Christians really celebrate it. Few Christians see its relevance to their everyday life. Without the Holy Spirit: God is far away; Christ stays in the past; The gospel is a dead letter; The Church is simply an organization; Authority is a matter of domination; Mission is a matter of propaganda; The liturgy no more than an evocation; Christian living a slave mentality (Bishop Ignatius of Latikion at a Council of Churches meeting at Upsala).

The question that led to change was "Brothers, what shall we do?" The crowd was so moved when Peter told them of their part in Jesus' crucifixion that they asked the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37, NIV). And the mandate is "As the Father has send me, even so I send you." May Pentecost experience work in you, with you and for the common good of the community.