Pentecost

The Biblical feast of Pentecost marks fifty days from the conclusion of Passover, after seven weeks of seven.  Thus, in Hebrew, the festival is called “Shavuot” or “Weeks.”   As with all Biblical festivals, meanings are richly multi-layered and accumulate depth over time.  They are given by God to help form and shape Israel into a people that recall God’s mighty acts on their behalf, know His nature and His character, and express their love and gratitude in worship and witness.  

Shavuot marks the spring harvest of wheat and is celebrated by Israel’s offering of the first fruits of their labor.  It also recalls the period between Israel’s exodus from Egypt and their arrival at Mount Sinai.  Thus, Jewish tradition developed themes of mourning or sobriety during the seven weeks prior to Shavuot similar to Lent.  And it came to celebrate the giving of Torah.  

In fact, ancient Jewish traditions describe the giving of Torah accompanied by rushing wind and fire resting on the Israelites.   

We can see the richness of the Shavuot festival informing Luke’s description of Pentecost where we encounter the disciples gathered with Jews from around the world for Shavuot, experiencing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with wind and fire, proclaiming the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise, and experiencing the rebirth through baptism of 3,000 Jewish people—incidentally, the same number of Israelites who died in punishment on Mt. Sinai resulting in their worship of the golden calf.

As we celebrate Pentecost on Sunday, we are joining our worship with a long tradition of commemorating God’s relationship with His people.  Through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the bond of that relationship grows even stronger, the Torah now written on our hearts.