Cover Articles Selected articles from the Front Page of The Orthodox Herald |
JUNE 2008 |
DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT On Sunday, June 15, the Church celebrates the descent of the All-Holy and Life-Creating Spirit. The same Spirit who descended upon the apostles and empowered them to go forth from hiding inside a locked room also descends upon us! Just as the apostles were empowered by the Holy Spirit to preach to the world even to the point of laying down their lives so, too, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out our Baptismal vows and follow in the footsteps of Christ. Just as the disciples were given the inner power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to face and withstand all outside pressures victoriously, so too, we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to live beyond our own strengths and capacities. Our Lord Himself told us, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you." (Acts 1:8) Therefore, we cannot excuse our sinfulness by saying that we "are only human." Christ incarnate showed us that to be truly human is to be in His image and likeness. Moreover, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon each of us on Pentecost Sunday once again empowers us with a grace that "perfects that which is imperfect and supplies that which is deficient." Our father among the saints, Saint John Chrysostom, said this regarding Pentecost Sunday, "The all gracious God today bestows upon us gifts too great to be adequately expressed in words. Let us, therefore, rejoice together and, while rejoicing, praise our God. For from this fountain flows all prophesies, the grace of healing, and all other gifts and fruits which adorn the Church!" |
CALLED TO BE SAINTS June 15th we celebrate the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. This day is considered the birthday of the Church because, on this day, the Apostles received the gifts that would enable them to courageously proclaim God's word and God's love. As they publicly shared their faith, they met with great opposition. They were subjected to ridicule, persecution, cruel physical treatment and, in many cases, to death. From that first Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has continually offered these same gifts to every baptized person and, throughout history, many have accepted these same gifts, trying to follow the way of Jesus. Over the years, countless people have been subjected to ridicule, persecution, cruel physical treatment and, in many cases, to death. They are our saints, whether publicly acknowledged by the Church, or known only to a very few. We remember these, our saints, on the Sunday following Pentecost as we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. It is only right to remember these "Holy Ones" who suffered and "gave their lives" for the Church born on Pentecost. Our baptism calls each of us to holiness to sainthood. Through our daily joys and struggles, we can witness our belief in God who is faithful, or we can miss the many opportunities given us. Do I recognize the opportunities to witness my faith? Am I willing to risk sharing my faith and holiness? |
TONGUES OF FIRE "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." Acts 2:3 What images came to you as you heard this verse read on Pentecost (June 15)? A gentle campfire offering warmth and conversation with friends? Flickering candles on a cake marking the passage of years? A raging fire devouring forests and homes? The comfort of the votive light before your ikon? Or Johnny Cash singing about the tongues of fire? Images of fire permeate our language, stirring fear and fascination. For those who have experienced fire's destructive power, the memories never go away. For those who have seen new growth in a charred forest, fire has provided occasion for hope. And who has not been drawn into contemplation or rest sitting before an open fire? On the other hand, we may well wonder how much of the spiritual fire is still burning in our lives and churches. What stirs the flame in us? In an increasingly diverse world, are we a church in which people hear and understand one another telling of God's mighty deeds, each in their own language? Are we on fire, eager to share the good news of Christ? Or do we gather together to share the experience of belonging and leave no room for anyone else? In the light of the Risen Christ (Christ is Risen from the dead, as we have been proclaiming for the past 50 days), who illumines the darkness of our lives, are we drawn to the glitzy lights of our consumer culture to drive our despair away? Or are we a church being consumed by smoldering fires of resentment, distrust and resentment? In Luke 3:16, St. John the Baptist speaks of the fire as the life-giving power of God that comes through Christ, "I baptize you with water, but the one who is more powerful than I is comingHe will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." "I come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled." We all look upon the Pentecost fire with different eyes. Some of us did not even notice the inclusion in the reading. But say a prayer and ask for God to rekindle the Spirit and gifts of the Spirit in your life. |
