REV. LOIS HART
This Sunday marks the day of Pentecost, the 50th day following Easter. It commemorates the day the disciples of Jesus received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and it is often referred to as the birthday of the church.
It supplants the Jewish feast of Pentecost, which takes place 50 days after Passover, and which celebrates the sealing of the Old Covenant on Mt. Sinai. In the Christian tradition it signifies that Christ’s mission here on earth is completed and a New Covenant is inaugurated.
The disciples received the Holy Spirit through tongues of fire which rested on each of their heads. Fire symbolizes light, purification and empowerment. But the Holy Spirit comes in many forms such as wind or breath, and oil. And the dove may be one of the most recognizable symbols of God’s Holy Spirit.
Wind or breath, (“pneuma” or “ruach” in Greek) signifies the breathing in of the Holy Spirit. “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” John 20:22. In the book of Genesis, God breathed the breath of life into Adam, and man became a living soul.
Surprisingly, oil also imparts the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, kings were anointed with oil to authorize them to rule on behalf of God. Prophets were anointed to signify the gift of prophesy. Priests were consecrated and ordained as oil was poured upon their heads. Oil is also used for healing purposes. Today the priest or minister places his thumb in consecrated oil, makes a sign of the cross on the forehead and says prayers of healing.
The dove may be the most familiar of all the symbols of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan, as he came up out of the water, the Spirit of God descended on him as a dove. The dove is the emblem of peace, and it signifies purity and innocence. Doves have been called “the sheep of the bird world” because of their gentle disposition, and they may be thought of as a representation of the feminine nature of God.
The events of Pentecost are not just something that took place 2,000 years ago. God’s Holy Spirit is alive and present in the world today. Do you need healing, comfort, direction, or strength and courage to face a great challenge in your life? Pray for the Holy Spirit to enter into your life, to dwell in your heart and surround you with the love of God. No one fully understands the process by which the Holy Spirit works in our lives. It is simply a manifestation of the mystery and miracle of God’s grace.
THE REV. LOIS HART is a deacon at Grace Episcopal Church in Bath. She can be reached at gracedeacon@gwi.net.
CLERGY COLUMN
¦ Local clergy wishing to write should contact Lois Hart at lhart@gwi.net.
Lay ministers as well as ordained clergy may contribute.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
