Pentecost comes from the Greek Pentekoste which means fiftieth. It was the second of the three most important annual feasts in Jewish calendar which occurred seven weeks after the Passover. It was primarily a feast of thanksgiving for harvest. On that day, the first fruits of wheat crop were offered to God. It was later associated with the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. All Jews at home and in the diaspora were expected to attend. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles. This dramatic event is the birthday of the Church. Pentecost Sunday is the celebration of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity.
The word “Holy” means sacred, awesome and usually associated with God’s majesty. “Spirit” comes from the Hebrew word “ruah” which means breath, air or wind; it connotes the transcendent newness of Him who is personally God’s breath, the divine spirit as revealed to Nicodemus in his encounter with Jesus (Cf. John 3:5-8). The two words “Holy” and “Spirit” are divine attributes common to the three divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Liturgical Considerations The bible recounts the Pentecost event (Cf. Acts 2:1-11). It tells the story of the miracle of speaking in tongues on the day of Pentecost when a sound came from heaven like a mighty wind and filled where the apostles were. It relates how the spirit fell like tongues of fire on the apostles who spoke and Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene and visitors from Rome (Jews and proselytes), Cretans and Arabians could hear them talking in their own tongues about the mighty works of God.
Also, the Pauline Epistles are replete with teachings on the demands of the spirit. For instance, St. Paul assures that no one can say “Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (Cf. 1 Cor. 12.3b7.12-13)). He goes ahead to state that there are a variety of gifts but given by the same Lord. Paul noted that just as one body has many parts, so also we though many are one in Christ. He surmised that: “For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body – Jews and Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” St. John reveals how Jesus appeared to the timid apostles with the message: “Peace be with you” (Cf. John 20:19-23). We are told he showed them his hands and his side and they were glad to see him. He then gave them the Great Commission: “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” He breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Lessons for Pentecost First, Pentecost invites Christians to eschew any speaking in tongues that is bereft of concrete charity to our brothers and sisters amidst the current health crisis across the world while urging all to celebrate cultural diversity. The celebration assures that though many we may be, we are united in diversity which further calls us to live out the Church’s Catholicity (universality) to the full.
Second, since Pentecost makes the formal formation or birthday of the Church, Catholics should realise that their Church predates the Reformation of 31 October 1517 to 33AD when on Pentecost Sunday, the Church (Catholic) (Cf. Acts 2:1-4, 38-42) was born – We are charged to proudly celebrate the Church’s birthday. The message of Pentecost reminds us of the variety of gifts in the Church like the gift of speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues – Since the Lord adorns His Church with talented men and women, we are called to use our gifts and talents for the service of God and humanity.
Third, Pentecost invites people from different tribes, tongues, peoples and nations (Revelations 7:9) to embrace the unity of the Spirit by destroying the walls of racism, nepotism/tribalism, gender bias and discrimination of all forms – The United Nations, Presidents of nations and stakeholders across the globe should push the frontiers of establishing the New World Order of love and unity exemplified by Christ.
Fourth, the faithful are encouraged to be open to the Holy Spirit through prayer, mortification, bible study, spiritual silence and reflection so that his transforming power can manifest itself in our lifetime. This includes the call to embrace the Sacraments: Based on Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit would abide with us forever (John 14:16), the people of God are encouraged to patronise the sacraments which are administered by the power of the Holy Spirit to help us live the life of Christ.
Fifth, with particular reference to the sacrament of confirmation (Cf. Acts 8:14-17; 9:19; 19:6 & Hebrews 6:2), confirmed Christians are once again challenged to live up to their confirmation commitments by being soldiers of Christ who are ready for the battles of life such as trials, temptations and tribulations.
Sixth, the message of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples on the First Day of the Week (John 20:19- 23) further gives credence to the superiority of Sunday (first of the week) over Saturday (Sabbath) as day of worship – both the Ten Commandments and one of the Sixth Laws of the Church reminds us that it is a mortal sin to miss Sunday Mass without genuine reason.
Seventh, in a society that is often combustible along religious, ethnic and political fault-lines, Jesus’ “Peace be with you” is an imperative for peace in Nigeria and beyond. By the same token, Jesus vindicates the Catholic Church about questions surrounding the power to forgive sins when he said: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” – let us, therefore, seek reconciliation with one another and take advantage of the sacrament of penance for the forgiveness of our sins.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Holy Spirit is proper name of the one whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son (Cf. CCC). It transforms whatever it comes in contact with. Pentecost reveals the unification of the Church, the body of Christ. It also enables us to embrace Catholic Action so as to endure all forms of persecution for the sake of Christ. On the Church’s birthday, may the Holy Spirit revive the Church, sustain its unity, protect it from all harm and grant us divine enablement both now and forever more.
• Rev. Fr. Dyikuk, a Catholic priest, is a lecturer of mass communications, University of Jos; Editor, Caritas Newspaper; Pentecost as Birthday of the Church and Convener of Media Team Network Initiative, Nigeria. He can be contacted via email: justinejohndyikuk@gmail.com.