Reflection/Homily: Pentecost Sunday Year
C (May 19 2013)
Theme:
“The Gift of the Holy Spirit”
The Word “Pentecost” is derived from the Greek word
“pentekoste (hemera)” meaning
“fiftieth (day). Pentecost Sunday is a Christian feast with a Jewish origin in
the Old Testament known as the “festival of weeks” (Shavuot) (cf. Ex. 34:22). Since
Shavuot is celebrated 50 days after
the “pesach” (Passover or Christian
Easter) in thanksgiving to Yahweh for the reception of the Torah, Hellenistic
Jews gave it a Greek name pentekoste and
that was the major reason why the
Jews gathered in the first reading. (Acts 2:1-11). In Christianity, we
celebrate Pentecost as the fiftieth day after Easter, commemorating the descent
of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. It is also the tenth day after the
Ascension.
Christians could find some relationship between the
Jewish and the Christian Pentecost.
Moses had to go up to Mount Sinai to receive the Law, as the apostles had to go
up to the Upper Room to receive the Holy Spirit. While the Law guided the Jews,
the Holy Spirit guides the Christians for they are no longer governed by the
Law but by the Spirit.
The descent of the Holy Spirit as we saw in the
first reading did not just occur in history. It was prophesied both in the Old
Testament and the New Testament. In Joel 3:1, God promised to pour out his
Spirit on all humanity in the latter days and in John 14:26 we see the promise
of the Holy Spirit who will teach us everything and remind us of all Christ
said. This Holy Spirit is the third person of the Blessed Trinity. He is also known
as the Paraclete (Comforter) and the promise of the Father. He performs the
function of sanctification and empowerment. At the Pentecost, He sanctified the
Apostles and empowered them to lead the Church.
