Christian Art | Descent Of The Holy Spirit At Pentecost
Acts 2 | King James Audio Bible
‘To prepare for Pentecost, we should cultivate a spirit of prayer and humility, asking the Holy Spirit to purify our hearts and minds, and to fill us with His love and grace.’ – Saint Teresa of Avila
“Let us prepare ourselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit by repenting of our sins, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation, and turning our hearts to God in prayer and worship.” – Pope Benedict XVI
It can be good to consider Pentecost as not having been only a once-in-a-lifetime event of the Church – indeed the birthday of the Church. It can be good to consider a renewal of our lives on the day of Pentecost, and to celebrate as such, just as we and our friends celebrate on our birthdays.
As we approach Pentecost, it seems good to re-evaluate ourselves and to consider past and future, and to depict both past and future in our present moment. We might like to think that, within this present moment, past and future reside.
After all, this is the proposition, namely that in prayer and sacramentally, we repeat and do not mimic the unrepeatable; this being the once in all of history moment when Christ lived and died for us. Perhaps there is a longer passage than from Easter to Pentecost we all might enact, namely from Gethsemane to Pentecost. That would be a lot to do in one prayer: from, say, confession of sin to celebration of Mass.
It is perhaps of great significance that, on the initial day of Pentecost, the disciples of Jesus did not know what their future and that of the Church might be. Yet they prayed with confidence. The company of Christians is said in Acts 1:15 to have been of around 120 people – the brethren.
Prayer For Renewal This Pentecost
Oh Holy Spirit,
On this day of Pentecost, we pray for a renewed sense of your power to transform our lives and the world around us. We ask that you fill us with your holy presence, that we may experience the transformative power of your love and grace. Help us to see the world with new eyes, and to approach our lives with renewed hope and purpose.
Grant us the courage to let go of our fears and doubts, and to trust in your guidance and direction. May we be open to the ways in which you are calling us to grow and change, and may we be willing to follow wherever you lead.
As we go out into the world, we ask that you go with us, filling us with your presence and your peace. May we be your instruments of love and mercy, spreading the Good News of your Kingdom to all whom we meet.
Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Amen.
The Apostles Pray In The Upper Room
The apostles were gathered together in the upper room, as Jesus had instructed them to do. It is notable that women including Mary, mother of Jesus, were present. Mary is present at the birthday of the Church, just as she carried and gave birth to Jesus.
Saint Peter has now emerged fully as the leader and spokesperson of the apostles. He plays a key role in opening up the Gospel to pagans – gentiles.
They prayed, waiting for the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit, which Jesus made before his ascension into heaven. The scene in the upper room is one of anticipation and prayerful waiting.
The upper room might have been the same place where Jesus had celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples. It was a place of special significance, where the apostles had experienced the presence of the Lord in a powerful way. Now they were gathered there again, waiting for the next stage in God’s plan to unfold.
The upper room was not only a physical location, but it was also a symbol of the spiritual state of the disciples. They had retreated to a place of safety and solitude, away from the chaos and confusion of the outside world. They were waiting patiently, with faith and hope, for the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise.
Prayer For Increase In Gifts Of The Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Knowledge, Discernment
Oh Holy Spirit,
Source of all gifts, we ask you to grant us an increase in your gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. Help us to discern your will for our lives and to use these gifts to serve you and others. May we never become complacent in our spiritual journey, but always seek to grow in wisdom and understanding. May we have the courage to use these gifts for the good of the Church and for the transformation of the world.
Amen.
Tongues Of Fire
On the day of Pentecost, Jews gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. Also known as the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot, it was even a time of excitement and expectation, as many Jews believed that the coming of the Messiah was imminent. Pentecost commemorates the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai and was an occasion for thanksgiving for the harvest of wheat.
The connection between the giving of the Law and the feast of Pentecost is significant. Just as the Law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai, so the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. In both cases, God revealed himself to his people in a powerful way, and established a covenant.
The significance of Pentecost was not lost on the early Christians. As Saint John Chrysostom wrote, ‘For just as on that day [at Mount Sinai] the law was given to the people, so here [on Pentecost] the Spirit was given to the Church.’ (Homily on Acts 2)
The account of the descent on the Holy Spirit begins with the sudden arrival of a sound like a mighty rushing wind that filled the whole house where the disciples were gathered. This sound was a symbol of the power and force of the Holy Spirit that was about to come upon them.
The next sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence was the appearance of divided tongues as of fire that rested upon each of the disciples.
Wind and fire were elements which typically accompanied manifestations of God in the Old Testament. See, for example, Psalm 104(/Vg103): The Lord ‘who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: / Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire…’
Saint Augustine explains the significance of the tongues of fire in his commentary on Acts 2:3:
‘The Holy Spirit came down in the form of tongues of fire because he wanted to purify the hearts of the disciples and inflame them with divine love. The fire of the Holy Spirit also symbolizes the tongues that the disciples would soon speak in different languages, which would enable them to spread the Gospel to people of all nations and tongues.’
The tongues of fire represent the purifying and refining power of the Holy Spirit. In his commentary on Acts, Saint Bede the Venerable writes, ‘The tongues appeared as fire to indicate the spiritual ardor and enthusiasm of the apostles, who were filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit.’ This interpretation suggests that the Holy Spirit’s presence purifies and empowers us to live lives of greater faithfulness and zeal for the Gospel.
The tongues of fire also represent the gift of tongues and the universal mission of the Church. As Saint Augustine wrote, ‘The Church, which is one and Catholic, is made up of people of all languages, and the gift of tongues indicates that the Church speaks in the languages of all people.’ The gift of tongues enables the Church to communicate the Gospel to all people, regardless of their language or culture, and thus embodies the universal mission of the Church to bring the Good News to all nations.
The tongues of fire represent the unity and diversity of the Church. As Pope Saint John Paul II wrote, ‘The tongues of fire symbolize the Holy Spirit’s gift of unity in diversity. The Spirit unites us as one body in Christ, while respecting and celebrating the diversity of each member.’ This interpretation reminds us that the Holy Spirit’s presence creates a community of believers that transcends boundaries of race, language, and culture, and that celebrates the unique gifts and perspectives of each member.
The Holy Spirit gives believers the courage and strength to spread the message of Christ and to live out their faith in the world. As Pope Benedict XVI stated in his encyclical letter Deus Caritas Est, ‘Only by being a witness to Christ are we able to lead others to the path of salvation.’ (DCE 15) This witness is not just through words, but through actions, through living out the love of Christ in our daily lives.
Pentecost is a reminder to us that the Holy Spirit is always with us, guiding and strengthening us in our mission to share the love of Christ with the world. We are called to be witnesses to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the lives of others. Pope Benedict XVI wrote, ‘The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church, the source of her life and the driving force of her mission.’ (Homily, May 27, 2012)
Prayer For Holiness And Purity Of Heart, So That We May More Fully Reflect The Love Of Christ To The World
Oh Holy Spirit,
We come before you with humble hearts, asking for your guidance and your strength. Fill us with a burning desire for holiness and purity of heart, so that we may more fully reflect the love of Christ to the world.
Help us to turn away from sin and temptation, and to embrace the path of righteousness and truth. Give us the courage to live out our faith with conviction and to seek your guidance in all things.
As we open ourselves to your transforming power, we ask that you help us to become the men and women that you created us to be. Help us to grow in faith and in love, and to become true disciples of Christ.
May our lives be a reflection of your grace and your goodness, and may we bear witness to your love in all that we do. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
Speaking In Tongues
Upon being touched by the Holy Spirit, the disciples began to speak in different languages that they had not previously known or learned. This phenomenon was witnessed by Jews from various nations who had gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. They were amazed to hear the disciples speaking in their own languages and declaring the wonderful works of God.
Some thought that the disciples were drunk, and then they listened.
Saint Peter begins his sermon by explaining that the events of Pentecost are the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, who spoke of the outpouring of the Spirit in the last days. He goes on to proclaim that Jesus, whom the people of Israel had crucified, is the Messiah and the Lord, and that through faith in him, they can receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Peter then links the message of salvation to the witness of King David, who prophesied about the resurrection of Christ and his ascension into heaven. Peter emphasizes that Jesus is the one who fulfills these prophecies and is now exalted at the right hand of God.
Throughout his sermon, Peter exhorts the people to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, promising that they too will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He reminds them that the promise of salvation is for them and for their children, as well as for all who are far off, emphasizing the universal nature of the Gospel message.
Saint John Chrysostom explains the significance of the speaking in tongues in his homily on Acts 2:4:
‘The disciples began to speak in tongues as a sign of the universal mission of the Church. They were given the ability to speak in different languages so that they could proclaim the Gospel to people of all nations and tongues. The speaking in tongues was also a symbol of the unity in diversity that characterizes the Church, which is made up of people from every race, language, and culture.’
Prayer For Courage To Boldly Proclaim The Gospel And Share Our Faith With Others
Oh Holy Spirit,
Source of courage and strength, grant us the boldness to proclaim the Gospel to all those we encounter. Give us the words to speak with confidence and conviction, even in the face of opposition or indifference. Help us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with joy and enthusiasm, and to be witnesses of his love and mercy in the world. May we be emboldened by your presence within us, and may we never be afraid to speak the truth in love.
Amen.
The Carrefour will be open, where I can buy nuts for the red squirrel, who lives in Campo Grande. The red squirrel is Valladolid’s best bit. Even as a child, I had never seen one before, apart from in picture books. It was last term’s discovery. The most beautiful encounter. I didn’t know it was there – in the park. A complete surprise. The tiny little thing bobbled and hopped, as it received in its little hands a nut from the man’s hands. Each surprising instant – it was childlike. I whispered: ‘Oh my wow.’ I walk toward the El Cortes Ingles. There is, for now, that settled feel of friends in bookshops. Though a null-affect, neutral day – it won’t glean, it is not to be scratched at. The queues are long in the Carrefour. Though, as it might be, on relatively modest incomes, many people live centrally. Their behaviours neither pinched nor stark. Yet the shop so busy while the street so empty… An error in the simulation, a glitch in the code. I potter about the aisles, which are pleasant enough, then at the tills I flinch at how expensive a little bag of up-sold nuts can be. Nonetheless, I queue for a packet of almonds. Two English men queue directly ahead of me. They are stocky, and have gay voices, their wheelie-bucket piled with soft drinks and party food, while they bitch to one another about the obviously terrible party they’re going to. The air heaves relief as I wander up the way to the broad plaza fringing Campo Grande. This is a place to see – a piece of Spain. There is a tourist information office, though unopened. At these fountains, three girls take selfies. Pompous-looking buildings, the military offices aside, line the park’s nearest vicinities. Hotel-bars have their patches. Liveried doormen idle time, for there are no paying customers, in and out the doorways’ shadows. A mixed group of kids play at the hoops on the pedestrian boulevard, and two boys practise on skateboards, working the thing out. I pass by them, touched by the thought, and happy that they are there. Wistful, I smile at the odds of the ball spilling over to me, and play in mind the agreeable scene of a fleeting connection. Then I am through the park gates. An air now – of humanity become self-selecting. Modestly understated. Understatedly modest. Campo Grande is nice but it isn’t grande… I walk slowly, and very soon hear for a second time English voices. Not them – it is an English family, just a little way ahead, a Dad and a Mum and a younger boy and an older girl, and theirs are Midlands accents. Dad seems to have been here and to know the place. He gestures panoramically. Mum wants her lunch. The girl at a difficult age. She carries a balloon-on-a-stick. Though she is sprouting – yet wears a loud dress. Then leggings, trainers. Her hair is nice… Maybe she is being okay about it. And not horrific. It’s okay once they get into it, but those months… Yet then, they mostly blossom, if they come from a good home, and become rounded personalities, entering into their womanhood. It was that… when yet they weren’t… I shudder to think of it. They walk toward the pond, and I trail, and would follow had I not been going that way. I wish I could say something so they might hear I am English too. (Fake a phone call?) How my voice might sound – there’d be all college hurling around in such matter I… a demented thing, ludicrous blurt – of Henry, Geoff, and all of them – not to mention the personal predicament. Maybe they’re a nice family. She is letting him explain what he needs to explain. And it would blow his fire, me being English. Mum and Dad. You’d probably see them all having their lunch in a little while. All sat round the table. With napkins and the menus out. Dad looks safe. I look into the pond. Terrapins live in there. But not today. I walk toward the join in the paths where the squirrel lives. There, I crumple the packet of almonds, making noise. I peer and I squat and crouch – chewing a mouthful. All the peacocks have perched right up in the trees’ branches. That never looks like something they should be doing. It’s disappointing that the squirrel isn’t here – but then the not-knowing-if is a part of it. Now, next, my visit to the National Sculpture Museum is an obligation. Canon Peter stood literally aghast when I hadn’t heard of it. Mortified, I made resolute promises. Though a few weeks have passed, it isn’t just any old something I could do on the hoof. A great commitment – it must command a known and prepared and anticipated not-just-any-old-time. But, rather, the sort you must wait for – and listen for. [ … ] Beyond Plaza Mayor, there would be a brief series of old-town alleyways. The National Sculpture Museum would be – just up there, this archway, this next…They are bleached and forgotten-looking walls, and the smoothed paving could be medieval. Not that it is making Tomàs anxious – I follow the map. A kind of place – uneasy credit-cards, and modern vaccinations, and a phone, might not help much. I fancy I feel the back-wall of a church, and that – fancifully – pressure-release drawn out of me. Only I am playing games in a nice way – making play-scared on the uncertainty – with only myself to see. The National Museum is there, modestly signed on stencilled plexiglass stuck to the stone wall. A uniformed lady sits just a little way inside the doorway. She reassures me there is no money required, and directs me over the courtyard into the planned route, showing me where I can pick up a free map. I get my […]
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