Pentecost, Birthday of the Christian Church

Pentecost means “the fiftieth” in Greek and it represents the fiftieth day after Easter. It was fifty days after Christ’s resurrection that Jesus visited the Apostles. At this time the Holy Ghost descended upon them. Pentecost also represented the Jewish festival, “feast of weeks” where the Jews would bring the first fruits of their harvest to God, Shavuot.

In England it is called Whitsunday for the white robes worn to signify the baptism in the Holy Spirit. There are also symbols associated with Pentecost to reveal, the color red to symbolize speaking in tongues and the power of the Holy Spirit. Doves are a symbol representing the visit of the Holy Spirit as in Jesus’ baptism. Wind is another, commonly associated with the sound of the arrival of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles.

The Holy Spirit is its own entity. Scripture from the old and new testament help us to identify the Spirit as separate from God and Jesus yet all three one in the same. The Holy Spirit is a personality that we must understand and know to do God’s will.

In Ephesians 4:30-32 the bible says:

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Paul is asking us to not shut out the Holy Spirit. To live and work with the Holy Spirit we are asked to not grieve the Holy Spirit and to do what Jesus would do, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

It makes me think of taking care of a plant. Remember how it was all the rage to talk to your plants, they would get good vibes and fair better than plants we ignored or were angry with? Well it seems that the Holy Spirit can be nurtured by how we live a Christian life and in the same; it will lead us to live an even better Christian life. We only get out of something what we put into it. If we are kind and show the Spirit our desire to lead the Christian life, it is as if we put water on a plant to grow and it gives something back and bears us fruit. So it is with the Holy Spirit.

For some more on the history and traditions of Pentecost see New Advent where you can read about Whitsunday. This article shares how Pentecost is celebrated in various churches in the east.

Also see the Lighting to Unite celebration at the Washington National Cathedral from May 9 – 11, 2008.