Meaning
and Significance of Pentecost
by Jose Puliyeril
The importance, significance, and the greatness of Pentecost is beyond words for a Christian faithful, as the Holy Spirit was bestowed upon the first Christians on Pentecost day. The blessed Apostles and many other close associates including St. Mary the Mother of God, had remained together in prayer and meditation, expecting the abundant supply of the Holy Spirit, as promised and guided by Lord Jesus Christ at the time of His blessed Ascension (Refer Acts 1: 4-9). As per the command of our Lord, they did not depart from Jerusalem and waited together as mentioned in Acts 1: 12.
Verse 14 underlines two unique natures of the waiting of the team of 120 early Christians. It says, “they all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication”. This is how we have to behave when we gather for worship in churches, in one accord. Their only accord was to achieve the gift of the Holy Spirit. They ignored all other wishes, thoughts, and desires.
Let us examine ourselves as to all the accords we maintain while attending the worship in church. We are often alarmed by the celebrant to send our souls and minds to the heavenly presence where our Savior is seated. As soon as we hear this we all would reply and confess “our minds, thoughts and hearts do remain with Lord Jesus, who is seated on the right hand side of God the Father”. Are we serious about this proclamation? When we confess so, do we bother to realize what we are uttering? Most of us are repeating these verses automatically like a recorded media. At least when we would attend the Holy Eucharist, the crown of all the sacraments, let us attend with more care, attention, and devotion. We must find out the reasons for our lazy and inactive attendance during the Holy Sacraments and rectify them. Lack of proper preparation in attending the Holy Services may be one of the main reasons.
The second aspect is the prayers itself. We often neglect the fact that we must wait for the renewal of the Holy Spirit in us, which we have received through Holy Baptism and Holy Mooron. We should not forget the fact that waiting for the Holy Spirit is a pre-condition for the supply and renewal of the Holy Spirit. In all our Holy Sacraments there is an occasion when and where the Holy Spirit would descend up on the objects, i.e., upon a candidate during the Holy Baptism, or upon the ordained or couple to be married. We are sure of the occasion when the Holy Spirit would brood upon the Holy Mysteries of the Holy Eucharist service. Whenever we would attend either one of the Holy Sacraments, we must long for the abundant supply of the Holy Spirit during the celebration of the sacrament.
Acts 2:1-12 vouches for the supply of the Holy Spirit up on the early Christians including Mother of God and the Apostles. The Apostles were in need of the gift of language and the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak different foreign languages, which were essential for their mission work. Many foreigners who were watching the Apostles were surprised when they heard the Apostles praising God in foreign languages.
In conclusion, our Church gives us special prayers for the renewal of the Holy Spirit in us on the day of Pentecost. Prayers are offered in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. At the end of each prayer, the celebrant exhorts the congregation to kneel down. This is repeated thrice. At the end of each silent prayer of the celebrant, when the congregation utters Kuriyelaison, which means ‘Lord have mercy on us’, we hear the celebrant’s exhortation to “rise up in power”. In fact we are supposed to gain power of the Holy Spirit each time. Let us examine ourselves as to whether we stood with greater strength.
