“PENTECOST 2024”
Saint John 14: 23-31
The Feast of Pentecost: 19 May Anno Domini 2024
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
For a Christian, this day has supreme importance.
The mighty Lord God active and present in you his people.
The incarnation of God the 2nd Person (Emmanuel) is celebrated on March 25th—The Annunciation—and December 24/25th—The Nativity. Yes, these powerful days of Grace do fall on Sundays from time to time. But Sunday as Son-day has Three cosmic Sundays that eclipse all others. The first Sunday was The Day of Creation, “Let there be light” spoke He Who is “light of light and God of God.” The Word IS and creates what IS. The second supernal Sunday is Easter, The Feast of The Resurrection of The Christ. This is the total assurance to you that you will live for ever and all The Saints of Light will have eternal life. And now, our celebration this morning is the third great Sunday. Three, how + felicitous. Whitsunday (White Sunday) The Feast of Pentecost brings that which was, 2,000 years ago to that which IS (today) and will be forever!
Yes, to be sure, Pentecost (meaning 50th) was an Old Testament Feast inaugurated by God for His Old Testament Saints. It was the day of bringing new offerings on the day, after the day, after the Sabbath (yesterday, Saturday) following the Passover. Today, this is the 50th day from Easter. Seven is of course creations’ number. There are seven weeks in Eastertide, for 7x7, 7 squared has all of creation, i.e., now creation is fulfilled—redeemed—accomplished, restored in our Creator who is our Redeemer.
And like as the number 8 (which is Sunday’s date) represents the step into the new order of life for all of + you, the eternal 8th day as Augustine teaches, so too this 50th day all is fulfilled, “Tetelestai” (it is finished) is yours! This mathematics of mercy is simply God’s magnificent ordering of His gifts of forgiveness and life to you.
The Holy Spirit, The Holy Ghost, is not a dove and He is not flickering cloven flame. He is God. He is God in you by Jesus The Word in you.
Saint Mark’s Easter Gospel (heard by you 50 days ago) is now Active, energized, bubbling over in your lives and the life of The Church.
You need not study and learn Hebrew in order to plumb the depths of God’s ancient revelation; though Pastors should, and do. You do not have to master Koine Greek so that you can read blessed Saint Luke’s Pentecost epistle: “kai egeneto aufo ek tu uranoo echoss…kai eplays-thayslon…pneumatos hagio…” records Saint Luke. And you, and all your fellow Gentiles, all the Redeemed are no longer bound by the curse of Babel. That crowd did not hear Peter’s (and the others) Greek good news, but the purest and sweetest Evangel in their own tongues/languages. This crowd hears Christ person and work in your own language.
The message, The Truth of He Who is and remains THE TRUTH, filled the “12” and they in turn filled the crowd gathered that day in Jerusalem with the same Christ Jesus—with The Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life.
You need absolution from your sins. You have it by The Same Word—The Incarnated Word of The Father—the same way—by The Holy Ghost preaching it into your ears. You need peace, comfort, and home. And you receive it the same way those pilgrims from around the known world did on that day, in your ears, on your forehead and + breast, and on your lips and tongues! When you need to be comforted, He, Who is The Comforter, comes to you with Jesus, bringing Jesus (and thus also The Father) and you are strengthened and fortified in Faith—The Faith, which is all that Jesus Is and has done for you.
Because you have been forgiven in Holy + Washing you now speak to others the new language of forgiveness—not a indulging, relativistic, namby-pamby “I’m okay you’re okay” narcissistic virtue signal. But rather a true forgiveness of trespassed done you as Jesus has forgiven you by His suffering and bleeding death in your place. Because you have been forgiven in Holy + Absolution you speak the new language of sacrificial love to your neighbor and praise and thanksgiving to your God. And because you are about to be ushered forth to your high and honored seats at The King’s banquet table, in this The Holy Nuptial Hall by your Counselor The Pneumatos Hagios—The Holy Ghost—to eat and drink Forgiveness and Love Itself, Himself—Incarnate—you are The Church. You are The Bride. You are The very Body of Christ.
If you desire to see The Holy Ghost and the transcendent miracle of Pentecost, look at the immanent and present miracle of who is preaching to you and serving you The Supper; look to who is sitting beside you, behind you, and in front of you.
THIS, is the Miracle of the sending, receiving, and indwelling of God The Holy Spirit.
In The Name of The Father and of + The Son and of The Holy Ghost
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