What is Pentecost All About?

 Father Pothin’s Reflection for Pentecost, also called Whitsunday

The Gospel. St. John xiv. 15.

This coming Sunday, Christians across the world will celebrate Pentecost. In fact, not all Christians recognize this holiday (holy day). But it is generally honored in liturgical churches (such as Anglican Catholic, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox, for example). Pentecost is not as well-known or as popular as Christmas and Easter, though it commemorates a watershed event in Christian history.

In many ways, Pentecost is the birthday of the church. Pentecost is a holiday on which we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the early followers of Jesus. Before the events of the first Pentecost, which came a few weeks after Jesus’ death and resurrection, there were followers of Jesus but no movement that could meaningfully be called “the church.” Thus, from an historical point of view, Pentecost is the day on which the church was started. This is also true from a spiritual perspective, since the Spirit brings the church into existence and enlivens it. Thus Pentecost is the church’s birthday.

What changes happened after Pentecost?

The obvious change in the lives of the disciples was their spiritual strength. After Pentecost, they were different people. No longer did they felt like sheep without a shepherd. Instead, they turned the world upside down because they fully understood two simple things:  The “where” and the “why” of Jesus’ departure.

Great joy and spiritual strength are two of the benefits of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Let Him release these benefits in your life today.

–Fr Pothin