According to the Acts of the Apostles, Pentecost is the day upon which “the Comforter” and “the Spirit of Truth” arrived as Jesus had promised just before his execution. By tradition, the coming of the Holy Spirit of Jesus occurs on Pentecost.

That Spirit galvanized the despairing and frightened followers of Jesus into a courageous and outspoken new faith community – the Church, the Body of Christ. For that reason, Pentecost is observed as the Church’s birthday and is an appropriate time to reflect on the Christian mission and purpose of the Church both in general and in particular here and now where we live.

In the Jewish faith that Jesus followed, the “Festival of Weeks” (Shavu’ot) was observed 50 days after Passover. At this festival, some say the first-fruits of the corn harvest were offered at the Temple.

Others say Shavu’ot marked the offering of the first-fruits of the barley harvest. Jews also observe the giving of the Torah (10 Commandments) on this day. The Greeks re-named this festival ‘Pentecost’ (50 days).

The principle of firstfruits was important to Jews like Jesus. Eldest sons were dedicated to the service of God in some manner. One’s offering to the Templand to the local syna goguwas prod that came “off the top” a tithe of one-tenth pai paid before any other expenses or other obligations of living were met. Those who worked for money were expected to make a similar offering in cash.

Pentecost is also a Christian festival of firstfruits. The Holy Spirit comes with power to the early Christian community as the first fruit of the

arthly ministry of the risen and ascended ChristT h e Spiri transforms disciples (followers) into apostles (leaders who are sent) and the gift of tongues (with preaching and evangelization) is first.

The first-fruits of this ‘first harvest’ of the infant church are Jewish converts from many lands, drawn to Jerusalem to celebrate Shavu’ot and to offer back to God just a small portion of the things of God that God shared with them.

In the English church, at a time when most people at Mass did not even receive the Body and Blood of Holy Communion, English bishops insisted that the faithful make a Communion on Christmas, Easter and Pentecost to retain communicant status. After the English Reformation, the Church of England insisted on Christmas, Easter and Whitsun (Pentecost) communion as the ‘test’ of membership.

Just as the Ascension of the Lord tells us that the risen Lord is no longer ‘caught’ in one time (the Roman era) or in one place (ancient Judea), the feast of Pentecost tells us that the power of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit bursts into every age and time. Fearful, hurting and human though we may be, if we hold ourselves open to the possibility, God will explode into our lives and we can become ‘first-fruits’ of a new harvest in this place and in this time.

After Easter Sunday, Pentecost is the second most important day in the Christian calendar. Pentecost closes the Easter season. Pentecost celebrates an experience in the first Christian community – the outpouring of God’s spirit into the hearts and lives of apostles and disciples.

Members of the Church (the Body of Christ) continue to experience the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of love and compassion that is so evident in the ministry and message of Jesus and of the apostles who follow him down to our own day. Love is the sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit and the hallmark of the works of the Holy Spirit. Unloving actions and words lacking in Christ’s love and compassion never proceed from the Holy Spirit of the one who so loved this world that he was prepared to die to redeem it.

There are many ‘gifts’ (sometimes called ‘charismata’) that the Holy Spirit imparts to members of the Body of Christ. Saint Paul often writes about them and 1Corinthians 12 offers a very full list of these ‘gifts’ of the Holy Spirit.

As a member of the Body of Christ, the Holy Spirit has ‘gifted’ you in some way to promote the Gospel and to build up the Body of Christ, the Church. Exercising your gift is some of the reason God calls you into life.

Have tried to discern

discover) the ‘charismata’ God has entrusted to you? Prayer by yourself and with others and prayerful discussion with others is a good path for discernment. On this Pentecost, pray that the Holy Spirit will grant each of us clear knowledge of the gifts we were born to exercise.