Pentecost 2024

Acts 2:1-21

Rev. Neli Miranda

 

The feast of Pentecost was one of the great Jewish feast days, instituted in the Old Testament. It was called the Feast of Harvest or the day of the first fruits; it was celebrated 50 days after Passover, hence its name Pentecost in Greek. It was a celebration of the beginning of the early weeks of harvest when the Israelites presented an offering of new grain to God. Among other things, two loaves of bread which were offered by the priest before God.  The first fruits’ day celebrated the Mother Earth’s gifts for a people who, having been slaves, now lived in freedom and enjoyed the fruits from a generous land. This was a celebration of freedom and abundance.

The celebration of the Feast of Pentecost, the day of the first fruits in Jerusalem is the great scenario of the arrival of the Holy Spirit upon the first community of Jesus’ disciples. In the book of Acts, we read that “when the day of Pentecost had come, the community of disciples were all together in one place.” (2, 1) So, at this great feast, at the beginning of the harvest of the Kingdom of God, the first fruits of the new community are offered before God. The community of Jesus are the bread offered before God, and this offering is received and blessed by God with the presence of the Holy Spirit.

While the community elevate themselves as an offering before God, the Holy Spirt moves over them. “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” (2,1-2). This image reminds us of the creation in Genesis where we read that the spirit of God moves over the face of the waters (1, 1-2), and life emerges in this world. Likewise, in Pentecost, the community of Jesus participate in a re-creation, and new life emerges in Jerusalem.

We read that the community are filled with the Holy Spirit, and then they begin to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them this ability. Why do they speak other languages and what do they speak? Luke’s account says that there were Jews from “every nation under heaven” living in Jerusalem, possibly visiting the city as pilgrims during Pentecost. So, while they celebrate in Jerusalem, they are able to hear and see what is happening with the first community of Jesus’ disciples. They are amazed because they can hear them speaking in the native language of each about the wonderful things God has done. The presence of God moving over the first disciples inspires them to speak about God in other languages, and then their message is intelligible to all who hear them. The presence of different languages reminds us of the inclusiveness of the kingdom of God. The re-creation in Pentecost includes all of humanity.

Dear sisters and brothers, the celebration of Pentecost brings us the announcement of an opportunity of re-creation and renewal. In Pentecost the Holy Spirit, the presence of God, moves over us and preludes Life.  Pentecost revitalizes us and shows us that Life emerges anew and is recreated in this world.

In Pentecost, we are renewed as a community and able to speak in different languages to proclaim the wonderful things that God has done for the poor, the sick, the despised, the hungry, the desperate, and hopeless. In a world that only speaks the language of violence, may we, Jesus’ disciples, speak the different languages of Life: love, respect, forgiveness, solidarity, justice and peace.   

In Pentecost, as Jesus’ disciples, we present ourselves before God as new grain that will bring abundant bread, the word of God, to the world.  In a world in need of bread, may we also offer/share today our bread to our brothers and sisters as a Pentecost offering. Amen.