Sunday Reading

Acts 2:1-21
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. 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 own 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.” They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, “What does this mean?” But others said, scoffing, “They have had too much new wine.” Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘It will come to pass in the last days,’ God says, ‘that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. And I will work wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below: blood, fire, and a cloud of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord, and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord.’

John 14:15-20
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.

At Pentecost, the Lord sends the Holy Spirit, and the disciples become children of God and brothers to each other. The holy and life giving Spirit is poured out upon the disciples and they are given life. The spirit of fear is replaced with the Spirit of truth and adoption (we are not left as orphans). The disciples were born of fire and Spirit, filled with fire and Spirit, and begin to set the world ablaze. The pillar of fire which led the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 31:21), the fire that consumed armies (2 Kings 1:14), and

accepted sacrifices (1 Kings 18:38) foreshadowed the fire of the Holy Spirit that descends upon the apostles. This fire leads the apostles, delivers armies into their hands, and makes them acceptable to offer themselves to God. The Apostles were on fire and could not, but light those around them on fire. Fire is unable to restrain itself. Fire, like the fire of zeal, quickly spreads. The fire that lit and the fire that caught are indistinguishable, the Apostles on fire give to their listeners the same fire, and so it is that in regards to Pentecost, Christians are
equal to the Apostles.

Paradoxically, this fire is spread through water. It is baptism that ignites the fire of adoption and truth in the new Christian and this fire is the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:37-42) The Apostles on the morning of Pentecost, preach, convict, and baptize. This likewise is foreshadowed in Exodus and in 1 Kings 18 because both fires come through water. When Moses calls for salvation from the armies of pharaoh, God instructs Moses to divide and cross the Red Sea and the Pillar appears (Ex 14:19-20). Likewise, Elijah first has water poured three times on his sacrifice and then the fire of the Lord comes(1 Kings 18:30-40).

At our baptism, we receive fire and Spirit to lead, protect, and make us acceptable for offering. The time of our baptism, no matter the day, year, month, or liturgical season is always Pentecost because we are adopted, born anew of fire and spirit. So, if we too receive the Spirit of adoption and truth and the spirit of fear is taken away, then we too, on fire with the Holy Spirit, can light the world on fire. However, this does not mean that we will not be afraid, but that we will have no reason for fear, because we have access to, “happiness of life, confidence, and victory (Rite of Kneeling, Saint Maron Publications 1994)

What do we do, on fire as we are? We grow that fire through seeking heat (the Church, the mysteries) and oxygen (prayer, holy reading) and spread that fire to new fuel (non-Christians) through word and deed, evangelization and love. For the fire put under the bushel basket (Matthew 5:15) will become dim, dull, and lackluster, but the fire properly cared for will set the world ablaze (Luke 12:49).

PRAYER – Third Prayer from the Psalmody for Safro for the Feast of Pentecost according to the Prayer of the Faithful of the Maronite Rite
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O Lord, may we drink of this wine which you gave to Your apostles in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost. Then we shall be inebriated with Your love, You will strengthen us, and our souls and lips will be sanctified by Your Spiritual Fire. We shall praise You and give glory and thanksgiving to the adorable, glorious and consubstantial Trinity., Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.