Posted: 5/27/2009 7:41:21 AM EDT
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Pentecost
May 31, 2009 Reading 1 Acts 2:1-11 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.Pentecost Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God." Reading II 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 Brothers and sisters: No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. or Gal 5:16-25 Brothers and sisters, live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Gospel Jn 20:19-23 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." Peace Be With You When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." or Jn 15:26-27; 16:12-15 Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you." 
Overview of the Gospel: * Since this Sunday’s Gospel is a reading that we just saw on Easter Sunday, for this Pentecost Sunday we will instead be looking at the First Reading taken from The Acts of the Apostles. * The setting is at Jerusalem in the upper room where the Last Supper had been held. It is10 days after the Ascension, at which time Jesus had left them specific instructions (Acts 1:45). About 120 people, including Mary, were present. It is the time of the Jewish feast of Pentecost. * Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks (in Hebrew, Shavout), was one of three major Jewish pilgrim feasts, celebrated seven weeks after Passover (Deuteronomy 16:16). Devout Jews from all over the known world would be in Jerusalem for these two feasts (verses 9-11). Originally a harvest festival where God’s people would offer him the first fruits (best part) of the harvest, it came to be also a commemoration of the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai on the fiftieth day after the Exodus from Egypt (from the Greek Petekoste, meaning “fiftieth”). * Christians now celebrate Pentecost as the “birthday” of the Church, and a celebration of the giving of the New Law of the Spirit written on the hearts of believers (Jeremiah 31:31-34; 2 Corinthians 3:4-6) as was promised to the Apostles by Our Lord (John 15:26;16:13; 20:22, Luke 24:49). Study Resources and CCC references here. Questions: * What was the original meaning of the Feast of Pentecost for Jews (Deuteronomy 16:9-10)? What theological significance did they add to this feast? Why do you think God chose the Jewish Feast of Pentecost to give the Holy Spirit to the Church? What is the meaning of Pentecost for Christians (Acts 2:32-33; CCC 715)? * How far have these pilgrims come (verses 9-11)? What attracts them to the disciples? Would you respond more like those in verse 12 or those in verse 13? Why? * When have you experienced an empowering from God to witness about Christ? How does being filled with the Spirit relate to bearing witness about Christ? * Have you ever had a strong religious conversion experience? If so, how did your behavior change, and what did your family and friends think about it? What did you think about it? |
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* What was the original meaning of the Feast of Pentecost for Jews (Deuteronomy 16:9-10)? What theological significance did they add to this feast?
From Wikipedia: Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai.
*** In the Bible, Shavuot is called the Festival of Weeks (Hebrew: חג השבועות, Ḥag ha-Shavuot, Exodus 34:22, Deuteronomy 16:10); Festival of Reaping (Hebrew: חג הקציר, Ḥag ha-Katsir, Exodus 23:16), and Day of the First Fruits (Hebrew יום הבכורים, Yom ha-Bikkurim, Numbers 28:26). The Mishnah and Talmud refer to Shavuot as Atzeret (Hebrew: עצרת, a solemn assembly), as it provides closure for the festival activities during and following the holiday of Passover. Since Shavuot occurs 50 days after Passover, Christians gave it the name Pentecost (πεντηκόστη, "fiftieth day"). *** Besides its significance as the day on which the Torah was given by God to the Jewish nation at Mount Sinai, Shavuot is also connected to the season of the grain harvest in Israel. In ancient times, the grain harvest lasted seven weeks and was a season of gladness (Jer. 5:24; Deut. 16:9-11; Isa. 9:2). It began with the harvesting of the barley during Passover and ended with the harvesting of the wheat at Shavuot. Shavuot was thus the concluding festival of the grain harvest, just as the eighth day of Sukkot (Tabernacles) was the concluding festival of the fruit harvest. During the existence of the Temple in Jerusalem, an offering of two loaves of bread from the wheat harvest was made on Shavuot. I believe that the original significance had to do with the harvest and the commemoration of God giving Moses the Torah came later. Why do you think God chose the Jewish Feast of Pentecost to give the Holy Spirit to the Church? One obvious (maybe too obvious) answer is that there were so any people gathered in Jerusalem, it was a perfect time to send the disciples out to spread the gospel. But, I'm sure there is something more here, maybe someone else would like to help out. *hint* *hint* What is the meaning of Pentecost for Christians (Acts 2:32-33; CCC 715)? This was the time that The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, as promised by Jesus, to guide them in their task of evangelization. This is the beginning of the Church. The difference in the disciples if like night and day. One minute they are praying in secret, fearful of the Jewish authorities, and the next they are emboldened to go out into the streets of Jerusalem and preach the good news to anyone and everyone. The power of the Spirit is just amazing! * How far have these pilgrims come (verses 9-11)? What attracts them to the disciples? Would you respond more like those in verse 12 or those in verse 13? Why? The people have traveled from many locations, ranging from east to west. They each hear the disciples speaking in their native tongue. I hope I would be more like v. 12 - I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt and hear what they have to say before making a judgment. Or maybe I am just naive and it wouldn't even occur to me that there are people who are actually drunk by 9 am! 
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* When have you experienced an empowering from God to witness about Christ? Fortunately God has used me to witness about Christ, and the way that God has worked through me is to give me the drive to learn and study my Faith which in turns makes me more confident to talk about it. I try to talk about it with coworkers and family, as well as through my website. The more I come to grasp my Faith the more I would be willing to suffer for it in any way. * Have you ever had a strong religious conversion experience? If so, how did your behavior change, and what did your family and friends think about it? What did you think about it? I had a strong religous conversion when i got baptized in 1996, and then later on I had one at least as equally strong when I was called to the Catholic Church. Some people took it good and very few had big problems with it. Despite the heartaches that I experienced and still do, the blessings from God and the joy it brings far outweighs it and makes me not regret it for a second. |
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* When have you experienced an empowering from God to witness about Christ? How does being filled with the Spirit relate to bearing witness about Christ?
After my surgery in October. While I was in the hospital, it suddenly dawned on me how powerless I was. I was hooked up to a bunch of machines that did everything for me and denied me the ability to even speak. I was totally dependent on God. I finally let him simply take care of the entire situation and quit worrying about it. The peace I received was tremendous. I still have what I'm told is permanent nerve damage on my entire left side. I had been complaining about it for a while. I then met an Army sergeant at the doctor's who was blind and has nerve damage in his brain from an RPG blast. All he cared about was the fact that two of his guys were killed in Iraq. He didn't once complain or even mention his own wounds until I asked. This was when I finally figured out how pathetic I had been. After all this I finally got the courage to tell others about it. It's gone well, and has helped other people Iknow and some I don't with different situations. |
