Sunday Lectionary: Fire Fall Down

If you are leading a Bible Study of these Readings, I would suggest reading them in the following order: Gospel, First Reading, Second Reading, Psalm.

Pentecost Sunday: May 27, 2012

This week is probably my favourite feast in the Church’s liturgical year: Pentecost. On the day the Holy Spirit came, three thousand people entered the Church. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit that we might see this again in our days…

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.

Reading 1 Acts 2:1-11

This week we pick up from where we left off last Sunday. Last week we read about how Jesus ascended into Heaven and told His disciples to remain in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The believers gathered together in prayer for nine days (the first Novena) and on the tenth day, something amazing happened…

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”

Questions:

• How is it that the text can say “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled…”? The sending of the Holy Spirit i.e. “Pentecost”, had not yet taken place!
• What signs accompanied the Holy Spirit? Which senses were engaged?
• What gift was given by the Holy Spirit? What does this indicate? Can you think of an Old Testament episode related to this?
• How do the disciples respond to coming of the Holy Spirit?
• Why were so many people in Jerusalem?
• How did the crowd react? Why?
• Have you ever had a powerful conversion experience like this?
• Why are there so many hard place names in this passage?! 😉

Commentary:

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, …

Prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit, “Pentecost”  was already a festival in the Jewish calendar (Exodus 23:14-17).

Pentecost is also known as the Feast of “Shavuot”, literally, “weeks”, marking the end of the seven weeks between Passover and the Feast itself (Deuteronomy 16:9-10). The word “Pentecost” comes from the Greek word “Petekoste”, which means “fiftieth”, the number of days between Passover and Pentecost.

The feast of Pentecost celebrated two things:

1. The giving of the Law. This is when Moses received the Law of God on stone tablets at Sinai.

2. The first fruits of the grain harvest. Pentecost is also known as the Feast of “First Fruits”  or “Cutting of the crop” (Exodus 34:22).  In the Temple the people would offer to God a choice portion of the crop known as the “first fruits”.

These two associations foreshadow the coming of the Holy Spirit and can enlighten our understanding. When the Holy Spirit came, the law of God was written on the hearts of Christians, rather than on the stone tablets of Sinai:

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel… It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors… I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people…” – Jeremiah 31:31-34;

When the disciples went out to preach filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, there was a great harvest of souls (3,000).

…they were all in one place together.

Literally, this means that they were physically together in one place. This was the Upper Room where the Last Supper was held. We are told that the Blessed Virgin was there, together with about 120 people. That house must have been packed! They were waiting for the Spirit which Jesus had promised to send:

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” – Acts 1:4-5

I think we may also see a spiritual meaning here, that they were united in heart and soul.

And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.

God gives them a sign to be heard. In Greek there is a phonetic relationship between wind (“pnue”) and spirit (“pneuma”). In Hebrew, the word for wind, breath and spirit is the same (“ruah”).

It “filled the entire house” may be read spiritually to refer to the Church. If the Church is thought of as the Body of Christ, the Spirit may be seen, in some sense, as the Church’s “soul”.

The Spirit hovered over the waters at Creation (Genesis 1:2). Now the Spirit is about to make a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Finally, I can never hear of the Pentecost account without thinking of the vision of Ezekiel and the “Valley of Dry Bones”:

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

“My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord” – Ezekiel 37:9-14

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

There is a sign for the eyes.

The symbolism Fire is important. Fire gives light. It is powerful. It has a purifying power, such as when it is used to purify metals.

Fire is also associated with the Holy Spirit and God’s presence. The Israelites where guided by a pillar of fire through the desert.

See Isaiah 66:15-20.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

They are now filled with the Holy Spirit which is manifested in the speaking of foreign languages. This is the same Spirit through which Christ ministered:

“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness…and Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee” – Luke 4:1,14

This is the same Spirit we receive in Baptism:

“The Spirit restores paradise to us and the way to heaven and adoption as children of God; he instills confidence that we may call God truly Father and grants us the grace of Christ to be children of the light and to enjoy eternal glory. In a word, he bestows the fullness of blessings in this world and the next; for we may contemplate now in the mirror of faith the promised things we shall someday enjoy. If this is the foretaste, what must the reality be? If these are the first fruits, what must be the harvest?” – St. Basil the Great, Treatise on The Holy Spirit

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.

They came for the celebration of Pentecost. It was required of all males over the age of twelve to make the journey to Jerusalem for the three major feasts: Passover, Pentecost and Booths.

At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

However, the crowd is “confused”. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament (The Septuagint) uses the same word to describe what happened at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-10). There God scattered the nations through different tongues. Now the effect is reversed and they are gathered together.

They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?

The crowd goes from “confused” to “astounded”. They do not understand how this is possible.

“…We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”

The places listed move from East to West. The people listed had come from all over the world yet they hear God’s praises. This foreshadows the proclamation of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

 

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

This psalm is a request for God to send His Spirit.

R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

When the Lord sends His Spirit the world is transformed.

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! How manifold are your works, O LORD! the earth is full of your creatures;

Praise of the Lord, like at Pentecost.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD be glad in his works! Pleasing to him be my theme; I will be glad in the LORD.

Joy in the Lord, like at Pentecost.

If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.

The spirit is necessary for life and renewal.

 

 

Reading II: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13

There was a choice of readings for the Second Reading. I chose the Corinthians passage over the one from Galatians. 

The Corinthians had asked Paul about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Which one was “best”? Unfortunately, it appears that the Corinthians had descended into elitism and spiritual snobbery. Paul decides to set them straight…

Brothers and sisters: No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.

As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Questions:

• What does Paul say about gifts? Where do they come from? Why are they given?
• How are we joined together by the Spirit? What kinds of people are joined together?

Commentary:

Brothers and sisters: No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

A confession of faith is the work of the Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 

Notice the structure here:

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone”

There are different gifts, but they all come from the same Giver. Because they all have the same origin, they are all precious.

To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.

Gifts are given for a purpose. Here it is worth considering the Parable of the Talents and the Lord’s response to the man who buried his talent.

Gifts are not given for our own self-indulgence. Here it is worth considering the Parable of the Rich Farmer.

As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. 

We are united together in the Body of Christ. A body has different parts, but they all need one another if the body is to be fully-functioning and healthy.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Even in diversity, we have unity. The great variety of gifts and people are united together by the Spirit.

Gospel: John 15:26-27; 16:12-15

Another choice here was made, for the earlier passage from John rather than the one from the end of his Gospel.

In this Reading we travel back to a point in time before the coming of the Spirit as described in our First Reading. Jesus is promising the Holy Spirit, and telling His disciples what will happen when the Comforter comes…

Jesus said to his disciples:

“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.
And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

Questions:

• Who will send the Spirit?
• From whom does the Spirit “proceed”?
• What will the Spirit do?
• How is the work of the Trinity described?

Commentary:

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, …

Why does Jesus call the Holy Spirit the “Advocate” (or “Comforter”)?

The Holy Spirit He calls the Comforter/Advocate, a name taken from His office, which is not only to relieve the sorrows of the faithful, but to fill them with unspeakable joy. Everlasting gladness is in those hearts, in which the Spirit dwells – Didymus

Jesus says He will send the Spirit. In what way is the Holy Spirit “sent”?

The Spirit…is sent by the Son, not as Angels, or Prophets, or Apostles, are sent… The Son when sent by the Father, is not separated from Him, but abides in the Father, and the Father in Him. In the same way the Holy Spirit is not sent by the Son, and proceeds from the Father, in the sense of change of place – Didymus

…the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, …

The title “Spirit of truth” is an interesting one:

He calls Him not “the Holy Spirit”, but “the Spirit of truth”, to show the perfect faith that was due to Him  – St. John Chrysostom

The Spirit proceeds from the Father. The question as to whether the Spirit “proceeds”  from the Father and the Son, or simply from the Father alone has been a source of historical theological clashes between the Eastern and Western Church. This is less of an issue today. For example, in Eastern Catholic Churches, the phrase “…and the Son” may be validly omitted in the Creed. Here is what some of the Church Fathers have to say on the matter:

He does not say, from God, or, from the Almighty, but, from the Father, because though the Father and God Almighty are the same, yet the Spirit of truth properly proceeds from God, as the Father, the Begetter. The Father and the Son together send the Spirit of truth: He comes by the will both of the Father and the Son – Didymus

Elsewhere He says that the Father sends the Spirit; now He says He [Jesus] does…thus declaring the equality of the Father and the Son. That He might not be thought however to be opposed to the Father, and to be another and rival source, as it were, of the Spirit, He adds, “From the Father”, i.e., the Father agreeing, and taking an equal part in sending Him…  – Theophyl

If it be asked here whether the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Son also, we may answer thus: The Son is the Son of the Father alone, and the Father is the Father of the Son only; but the Holy Spirit is not the Spirit of one, but of both; since Christ Himself said, “The Spirit of your Father which speaks in you” (Mat 10:20). And the Apostle says, “God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts” (Gal 4:6). – St. Augustine

Each of these Early Church Fathers have much more to say on this subject. If you are interested, I would invite you to consult the Catena.

 …he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

The Spirit will “testify” to Jesus. Christians will do the same thing in the world. In fact, it is through the Spirit that Christians will testify.

As if He said, “Seeing Me, they hated and killed Me; but the Comforter shall give such testimony concerning Me as shall make them believe, though they see Me not. And because He shall testify, you shall testify also: And you also shall bear witness; He will inspire your hearts, and you shall proclaim with your voices. And you will preach what you know, Because you have been with Me from the beginning; which now you do not do, because you have not yet the fullness of the Spirit. But the love of God shall then be shed abroad in your hearts by the Spirit which shall be given you, and shall make you confident witnesses to Me. The Holy Spirit by His testimony made others testify, taking away fear from the friends of Christ’s, and converting the hatred of His enemies into love“ – St. Augustine

“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth…”

Enlightenment by the Spirit is necessary before they can understand all that they need to know. Even at the end of Jesus’ ministry there is more which they “cannot bear”.

“…He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

We see the life of the Trinity here.