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Come Holy Spirit,
Enkindle in Us the Fire of Your Love!
One of the biblical names
for Pentecost is “the festival of firstfruits.” A “firstfruit” is the
first of a crop to ripen. These were offered to God in thanksgiving for
the abundant harvest. We usually don’t think of this time of year as a
harvest season – the tasty fruits of New Jersey won’t be ripe for a few
more weeks – but in mild climates, such as the lands around the
Mediterranean, the apricots, cherries and strawberries are already ripe
and so is the wheat and other spring grains. The grain harvest is the
principal harvest of the year, the crop that could feed people all year
long if it is abundant enough. Winter’s fast had become springtimes’s
feast – a time of great of rejoicing.
In the First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul uses the imagery of
Pentecost to speak of the resurrection of Jesus: “Christ has been raised
from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died. All will be made
alive in Christ, but each in proper order: First Christ, then all those
who belong to Christ.”
The Jewish people keep the festival of firstfruits fifty days after
Passover. This day is called Shavuot. Besides being a harvest festival,
it is also a celebration of God’s covenant with the people, made on
Mount Sinai, when God gave Moses the holy law. Shavuot means “weeks”
because it comes seven weeks (a week of weeks) plus a day for good
measure after Passover. Christians celebrate Pentecost fifty days after
Easter Sunday. Pentecost is a Greek word that means “fiftieth” day.
Pentecost sets a seal on the fifty days of Eastertime. It is a grand
finale and a celebration of God’s promise of eternal life. At Pentecost
we come to a fuller understanding of our faith and depth of salvation –
in so doing, we are ripened and become the “firstfruits” of the New
Creation in the harvest of the Spirit.
On Pentecost, Christians celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
John’s Gospel tells us that, when Jesus died, “he bowed his head and
gave up his spirit.” John tells us that the risen Christ breathed on the
disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” In the Acts of the
Apostles we hear today of the great outpouring of the Spirit, who
descended in fire and wind on the disciples, just as God appeared to
Moses. But that isn’t the only time Luke tells us of the coming of the
Spirit. His Gospel is filled with such stories. Luke tells us that John
the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit even before he was born.
Mary was filled with the Spirit in becoming the Mother of God. So were
Elizabeth and Zechariah, Simeon and Anna. At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy
Spirit appeared in the form of a dove that descended on him and the same
Spirit filled the apostles with courage to proclaim the Good News even
unto death.
Next Sunday in the celebrations of Confirmation, another group of young
Catholics receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Many more times in their
lives the Spirit will be given to them and to all of us in our
sacramental celebrations – the only question is whether or not we will
both accept the Spirit and follow the Spirit’s lead. Being open to the
work of God is the first step in the faith-ripening process. Taking the
risk to follow the Lord in His service comes next and is that which
keeps us from rotting on the vine!
Congratulations to our confirmandi in advance. We offer much thanks to
their parents, families, sponsors and catechists for making this day
possible. Today is traditionally observed as the Birthday of the Church
– may we celebrate the Church’s ripening into another year and do
everything we can to insure, by our words and actions, that She is alive
and productive for years to come!
Father Hughes |
