"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability."
     Acts 2:1-21

The rush of a violent wind! Tongues of fire! WOW! If any of the disciples or others who were there that day needed any more convincing that Jesus was the Messiah, this display of pyrotechnics should certainly have been done it! Not since Moses parted the Red Sea had there been such a show of the power of God. The disciples all began to speak, and "each one heard them speaking in the native language of each". This is the antithesis of the famous Tower of Babel narrative, when all the people began to speak in different languages and no one understood anyone else. Divided into nations in antiquity, now all humanity is one. This reading from Acts, combined with the Ezekiel reading of very dry bones returning to life and Psalm 104, which includes the lines about the Leviathan, the mythical sea monster and the marvelous works of God, make for a very exciting set of Lessons and Gospel for this Festival.

Pentecost is the account of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. After Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, his disciples met in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish feast of Shabuoth. Pentecost was originally an Old Testament festival since the time of Josephus, calculated as beginning on the fiftieth day after the beginning of Passover. It was called the Feast of Weeks, and in the Old Testament was originally an agricultural festival celebrating and giving thanks for the "first fruits" of the early spring harvest (Leviticus 23, Exodus 23, 34). On the Christian calendar, Pentecost falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter. As a Christian feast it dates back to the First Century of the church, although there is no evidence that it was observed as a Festival day.

For Christians, Pentecost Sunday is a day to celebrate hope, evoked by the knowledge that God through the Holy Spirit is at work among God's people. It is a celebration of our calling as God's people to mission, speaking, and proclaiming the good news to people everywhere in languages they can understand. The list of countries and cities in verses 9 and 10 includes Jews from the whole of the then-known world; the mission to the Gentiles began later.

The sanctuary color for Pentecost is red, the color of the church. The red symbolizes both the fire of Pentecost as well as the apostles and early followers of Jesus who were gathered in the Upper Room for the empowerment from God to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world. In Italy, it was customary to scatter rose petals from the ceiling of the churches to recall the fiery tongues, and in France the custom was to blow trumpets during Divine Service to recall the mighty wind which accompanied the descent of the Holy Spirit!

The Feast of the Pentecost is a special time for baptisms and confirmations, when the candidates wear white robes (Hence the alternate name, "Whitsunday"). Forty-nine years ago on Pentecost Sunday (on June 6, the date I am writing this piece), I was confirmed. After much study and soul searching, I became an "adult" member of the Lutheran Church, renewing the vows made for me when I was baptized as an infant.

It would really be incredible if each of us could have a startling and astounding experience such as on that Pentecost. All this "sonde et luminere" and yet, the Holy Spirit is most often portrayed as a dove: a simple, lowly white bird, with a soft, cooing voice. The voice of God does not often come in fire and thunder and rushing winds, but in a still, small voice, reminding us, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the ends of the earth."

>Hymn 731, "With One Voice"
"Thy holy wings, O Saviour, spread gently over me
And let me rest securely, through good and ill in Thee.
Oh, be my strength and portion, my rock and hiding place,
And let my ev'ry moment be lived within thy grace."
Amen

Contributed by Rosemary S.
Published Monday June 9, 2003
Week 28 of Liturgical Year B