Fifty days after the Resurrection…
“when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4).
And what were the results of this wondrous outpouring? Listen to the words of Holy Scripture:
“And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language. And they began to be amazed, and to marvel, saying, ‘Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? — we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.’ And they continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’” (Acts 2:6-8,11,12).
Moreover, Peter, who just fifty days ago had denied Christ, now hails Him publicly as Savior and Lord:
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ … Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 2:36, 4:12).
The Holy Spirit renews and regenerates humanity. The Holy Spirit brings new feelings, new senses, in order that a person might see and hear all the more clearly the wonderful and pleasant tidings of the Gospel — God’s good news for fallen humanity. The Holy Spirit enables a person to continue to live in the world, yet without being part of this world. The grace of the Holy Spirit led the Apostles, confessors, fathers, mothers, preachers, righteous, and the cloud of martyrs to disregard suffering and affliction and persecution, and even the loss of their own lives, for the glory of Christ.
May the Holy Spirit of God direct and enlighten our lives as those of the Apostles and martyrs over the centuries. Amen!
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