The Basic Elements of Pentecost
Acts 2:1–11; Ps. 104; Gal. 5:16–25; John 15:26–27; 16:12–15
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The three basic themes here are: Holy Spirit, “Witness,” and “Power.” It simply explains that the Holy Spirit empowers believers to witness effectively, giving them boldness, courage, and wisdom to share the gospel. We need the Holy Spirit to be true witnesses. Hence, in John 15:26 (first reading), Jesus tells the disciples that he will send them the Holy Spirit, and then they will be his witnesses before the whole world. Witnessing here includes verbal proclamations and living proclamations.
Again, Pentecost presents us with the basic elements of “wind,” “fire,” and “tongues.” The element of wind comes from the Greek word pneuma, which means breath or the Holy Spirit. The wind has peculiar significance in the Scriptures. In Gen. 1:2, it was the wind that gave shape to the earth. Gen. 2:7 says God created man from dust and breathed into his nostril the breath of life. In 2 Sam 22:11, the Bible says the Lord was seen upon the wings of the wind; today’s psalm (Ps 104:3) says the Lord rode on the wings of the wind; verse 4 says he used the wind as his messenger. Ezek 1:4 also described the presence of the Lord as in a wind. In John 20:22–23, through breath, they received the Holy Spirit. Therefore, wind (pneuma) divinizes man. Hence, literally, a man without breath is dead. So, it is with a Christian without the Holy Spirit.
The second element in today’s celebration is fire. Acts 2:3 says, Divided tongues as of fire appeared among them. In the Old Testament, there are so many accounts of the Lord’s presence in the form of fire. Exd. 3:2 says, “The Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in the flame of fire.” In Exd. 13:21–22, the pillar of fire guided the people at night; in Exd. 19:18, “Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire.” Heb. 12:29 says, “Our God is a consuming fire.” Fire, therefore, symbolizes the presence of God. This fire implies passion and enthusiasm, which counter tepidity, lukewarmness, and laziness. Without spiritual fire, there is no zeal.
The third element in today’s celebration is the charism of other tongues. This has been a major concern in the church, especially in the face of present pentecostalism, where more people are made to think that ‘if you can’t speak in tongues, you are not born again.’ Speaking in tongues is both real and symbolic. It was so real that those present could hear them speak in their various languages. In this case, an individual is able to speak a language he never learned fluently. For this reason, Thomas Aquinas says that speaking in tongues is for evangelisation—the sharing of the faith. It is symbolic that in the church, language is not a barrier.
On the other hand, speaking in tongues is primarily a gift for prayer. When we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit speaks directly to God through us with wordless groanings (Rom. 8:26). The Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2003) teaches that “the gift of tongues is one of the special graces or “charismas” of the Holy Spirit; whatever their character, sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles. Generally, charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the church.” Hence, tongues is one of the charisms with rules and regulations in the Bible.
Finally, in the second reading, St. Paul calls us to ‘abide in Christ’ and develop the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; Galatians 5:22–23). Of what relevance is the charism of tongues if we cannot love, if we are not patient or kind? (1 Cor. 13:1). Therefore, the call to abide in Christ speaks of intimacy that guarantees our spiritual maturity.
Let us pray.
O God, who by the mystery of today’s great feast sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth and, with the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now once more the hearts of believers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
