Today, we celebrate Pentecost. The word Pentecost comes from the Greek word meaning 50th. The reason for this title is that in the Old Testament, the Jewish feast day of Pentecost took place the day after seven weeks, on the 50th day. The Hebrew title for this feast is Shavuot, meaning weeks. These seven weeks of 49 days took place immediately after the feast of Passover, during which the Jewish people celebrated being delivered out of Egypt, where they were slaves. On Pentecost, the Jewish people celebrate the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. (Exodus 19:18-20, 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10) Before giving the Law to Moses, God “descended upon [Mount Sinai] in fire.” (Exodus 19:18)
Similarly, Pitre comments, the Acts of the Apostles describes the disciples gathered on the day of Pentecost and “suddenly… tongues as of fire” descended upon each disciple. (Acts 2:3) This time, though, God did not descend upon a mountain but descended into the hearts and minds of each of the disciples to transform them by giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives the disciples the ability to follow the Ten Commandments that were given to their ancestors.[i]
At baptism, we were given the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift was further strengthened within us at Confirmation. When we face difficulty in following the Ten Commandments, do we go to the source that will help us to persevere, or do we try to rely upon our own strengths while viewing God as secondary to our own efforts?
Today, on Pentecost Sunday, may we recognize that God is not secondary to our lives but primary. If we wish to follow the Ten Commandments and to love as Jesus loves, this is only possible by relying upon the Holy Spirit, relying upon grace, by participating in the life of the Trinity. This does not mean that God will replace our nature, but rather wants us to join our efforts with the divine help, the divine grace that God gave to us at Baptism.
A story that illustrates that God, specifically the Holy Spirit, is primary to our lives and we are secondary is as follows:
A retreat master once asked a group of retreatants, “Tell me,” he said, “how can I get the air out of this glass I have in my hand?” One man said, “Suck it out with a pump.” But the master replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass.” Finally, after many other suggestions, the retreat master picked up a pitcher of water and quietly filled the glass with water. “There,” he said, “all the air is now removed.” He then explained that victory for Christ’s disciples does not come by working hard to eliminate sinful habits, but rather by allowing the Holy Spirit to take full possession and filling up with virtue.[ii]
Gradually, by relying on God’s grace and cooperating with our whole selves – hearts, minds, and bodies – we will become ever more transformed into an image of Jesus Christ shining forth God’s presence in the world. In accordance with God’s mysterious providence, for some, this transformation will not be as noticeable as it is with others. What is important is to work with grace, to participate in the life of the Trinity so that we become transformed into images of Jesus Christ in the world according to God’s timing.
May God Bless You and Happy Pentecost Sunday – Father Peter
[i] Brant Pitre, “Pentecost and Speaking in Tongues (Year A),” catholicproductions.com.
[ii] Source unknown.
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